What you need to know

The Experimental Grading Policy to Increase Flexibility for Exploration and Discovery in the First Year was designed to provide you with greater opportunity to explore fields of study at the beginning of your academic career. The Committee on the Undergraduate Program (CUP) licensed it in two phases.

Phase One

Phase One of the policy applies to first-year students entering MIT in Fall 2018. These students may designate up to three science core General Institute Requirements (GIRs) to be graded on a Pass/No Record (P/NR) basis after their first term. This option applies only to the science core GIRs — 3.091, 5.111, 5.112, 7.01, 8.01, 8.02, 18.01, 18.02, and their equivalents, including the Concourse and Experimental Study Group (ESG) versions of these subjects.

Phase Two

Phase Two of the policy was implemented for first-year students entering MIT in Fall 2019. The P/NR grading policy described under Phase One above continues. Additionally, the first-year credit limit is adjusted to encourage students to discover new interests through enrollment in First-Year Discovery (FYD) subjects and related approved exceptions.

Some key points to remember:

  • Other regular policies remain in effect.
  • The complete experiment licensed by the CUP can be found here: Phase One and Phase Two.

What you need to do

  • Designate a science core GIR as P/NR during registration. Note that this is not the default grading option.
  • After registration, request P/NR changes through our Add/Drop application.