Examinations and Grading

Taking Final Examinations

In many courses, students are evaluated by an examination at the end of the course. Faculty may use other types of assessments as additional or alternative bases for evaluating student achievement. Exam times and room assignments are distributed by the Registrar.

Anonymous Grading

Law School exams are anonymous and self- identification of any kind is not permitted. Students are not to put their name, class level or personal comments (which could be used to identify a student) anywhere on exam materials. Instead, students are given an exam identification number each term by the Registrar’s Office. Faculty grade examinations anonymously, referring only to the exam identification number.

Each exam period students will receive a new exam identification number. Students should memorize or bring this number to each exam. Numbers will not be given out over the phone or to a third party.

Examination Accommodations

For information about requesting accommodations, including examination accommodations, based on disability visit the Student Resources page.

Rescheduling a Final Examination

Students are required to take all of their exams at the times scheduled unless granted approval by the Registrar to reschedule an exam. A student may request that a scheduled exam be rescheduled when the student has two exams within a 24 hour period.

The student has the burden of seeking approval to reschedule an exam, and exams will not be rescheduled unless a student seeks such approval. In order to protect anonymity, students should not contact their professors if they need to reschedule a final exam.

The Registrar will determine which exam will be rescheduled and when the rescheduled exam will be administered. Exams that qualify for rescheduling due to multiple exams within a 24 hour period will generally be rescheduled for the individual student’s next available exam slot that does not create a new conflict under this rule. Rescheduled examinations are generally scheduled for after the regularly scheduled examination slot.

All requests for rescheduled examinations based on a scheduling conflict must be in writing and presented along with any supporting documentation to the Registrar. The form to request rescheduling of an exam based on a scheduling conflict is available here. All such requests must be made at least twenty one (21) calendar days prior to the beginning of the examination period.

An illness or death in the family, illness of the student, or other compelling circumstances may also warrant a change in exam scheduling. If an emergency situation arises that prevents exam attendance, the student should immediately notify the Registrar.

Failure to Take a Final Examination

If an exam is not taken, the student will receive an “F” for the exam and may fail the course for the semester or trimester.

Grading Scale

Students are graded in most courses on a letter and number grading scale, as set forth in the chart below:

First-Year Courses

First-year courses are subject to a mandatory grade distribution as follows:

1. At least 15% of the class must receive a grade of 3.33 (B+) or above
2. At least 10% of the class must receive a grade of 1.67 (C-); or below
3. At least an additional 5% of the class must receive a grade of 1.33 (D+) or below;
4. The median grade for the class must be between 2.67 - 3.00;
5. In exceptional circumstances the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs has the discretionary power to waive compliance by a faculty member with the requirements of the mandatory curve.

Upper-Level Courses

Upper level courses are not subject to a mandatory grade distribution, but are subject to a mandatory mean of between 3.0-3.33. This mandatory mean is not to be applied in any course that is assessed on a pass/fail basis. In exceptional circumstances the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs has the discretionary power to waive compliance by a faculty member with the requirements of the mandatory mean for upper-level courses.

Other Grading Information

Certain courses in the curriculum may be graded on a pass/fail basis. Students in a pass/fail course may receive one of the following:

“H” – Honors – indicating that the student performed with distinction in the course.

“P” – Pass – indicating that the student satisfied course requirements at an expected level of performance.

“LP” – Low Pass – indicating that the student satisfied course requirements but below the expected level of performance.

“F” – Fail – indicating that the student failed to satisfy course requirements.

Assuming a student receives an “H”, “P”, or “LP” in a pass/fail course, the student will receive credit hours for the course but will not receive any quality points and the course will not factor into the student’s grade point average. A student who receives an “F” in a pass/fail course does not receive credit hours for the course and the failure will be included in the calculation of the student’s grade point average.

In addition to the other grades discussed herein, students may receive a grade of “I” for Incomplete. As a general rule, a grade of “I” for incomplete must be removed within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the “I” grade is posted. Unless an “I” is removed by the date designated, or the date is extended by the Dean or Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, an “I” grade is automatically changed to an “F”.

A student may also receive a grade of “WD” (Medical Withdrawal) upon documentation of a medical condition that has impacted the student’s ability to complete coursework and any exam in the course.

Generally, a student’s grade point average is computed by dividing the total quality points on work attempted at Elon by the number of hours attempted, except for pass/fail courses in which the student passed and courses with grades of “I” (Incomplete), “WD” (Medical Withdrawal), or “W” (Withdrawal).

Dissemination of Grades

Once received by the Registrar, all grades will be posted through the University’s OnTrack system. Generally, students can expect to receive grades within 30 days following the last examination of the term. Students are able to review their current as well as past grades through the OnTrack system. As a general rule, grades for first-year students will not be available until grades for at least three first year courses have been received by the Registrar’s Office.

Feedback on Grades

Students are encouraged to review their exams with faculty members after grades have been posted. While exams are not allowed to leave the building, students will have access to their exam to have a productive meeting with faculty. Generally, items may not be copied, and in no instance may an exam be copied without the permission of the professor. Each faculty member may have individual policies regarding setting an appointment to discuss an exam. Students should review the class syllabus for more information.

Change of Grades

After a faculty member has submitted a grade to the Registrar, a faculty member may change the grade only if it was incorrect due to mathematical, administrative or other mechanical error. If a faculty member discovers a mathematical, administrative or other mechanical error in one student’s grade, then discovers the same error was also made in the grading of other students’ papers, the faculty member must change the grade of all the students affected by the error. A grade may not be changed as a result of a substantive reevaluation of a student’s work or otherwise.