Evaluating a grading change at UCSD school of medicine: pass/fail grading is associated with decreased performance on preclinical exams but unchanged performance on USMLE step 1 scores

Table 1 Demographic characteristics for members of the constant-grading classes\and the grading-change class

Description	H/P/F grading			P/F grading			Total			t‒test
Description	Mean		SD	Mean		SD	Mean		SD	t‒sta.s.c		p‒value
Number		243			117			360			-
Sex (0 = Male, 1 = Female)	0.492	0.501	0.479	0.502	0.487	0.501	0.232	0.816	0.492	0.501	0.479	0.502
Age	23.34	3.10	22.94	2.76	23.21	2.99	1.192	0.234	23.34	3.10	22.94	2.76
In-state applicant (0 = No, 1 = Yes)	0.923	0.267	0.910	0.288	0.919	0.273	0.427	0.669	0.923	0.267	0.910	0.288
MCAT: Biological sciences	11.62	1.40	11.70	1.47	11.65	1.42	0.489	0.625	11.62	1.40	11.70	1.47
MCAT: Physical sciences	11.31	1.88	11.58	1.74	11.39	1.84	1.308	0.192	11.31	1.88	11.58	1.74
MCAT: Verbal	10.16	1.69	10.16	1.72	10.16	1.70	0.009	0.993	10.16	1.69	10.16	1.72
MCAT: Total	33.09	3.79	33.41	3.72	33.18	3.76	0.752	0.453	33.09	3.79	33.41	3.72
Medical school - First year exams	83.93	5.21	84.66	5.32	84.17	5.25	1.231	0.219	83.93	5.21	84.66	5.32
Medical school - Second year exams	82.28	5.17	81.41	4.93	82.00	5.10	1.518	0.130	82.28	5.17	81.41	4.93
USMLE - Step 1 score	229.95	18.86	231.72	18.01	230.54	18.57	0.844	0.399	229.95	18.86	231.72	18.01
Major: Biology	0.560	-	0.709	-	0.608	-	-	-	0.560	-	0.709	-
Major: Chemistry	0.165	-	0.145	-	0.158	-	-	-	0.165	-	0.145	-
Major: MECS	0.165	-	0.051	-	0.128	-	-	-	0.165	-	0.051	-
Major: Non-Science	0.074	-	0.085	-	0.078	-	-	-	0.074	-	0.085	-
Major: Missing	0.037	-	0.009	-	0.028	-	-	-	0.037	-	0.009	-

Notes and sources:
Medical school exams represent the average exam score across a common set of exams.
MECS stands for mathematical, engineering, & computer sciences.
Mapping from undergraduate major to undergraduate major category are provided in Additional file 2.

ISSN: 1472-6920