What you need to know

First-year students who enter MIT in Fall 2019 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 as part of CUP’s Experimental Grading Policy. Students are allowed to take up to 9 units of First-Year Discovery (FYD) subjects (and related approved exceptions) designed to help them discover an interest in a new field, major, minor, or HASS Concentration early in their academic careers. Early sophomore standing will not be offered. All other first-year grading policies remain in effect.

View the complete policy here.

Fall 2019 and IAP 2020

grading

  • You will receive a grade of Pass or No Record in all subjects.
    • P (passing) indicates a C- or better performance and will appear on both your grade report and transcript.
    • No Record (NR) indicates a D or F and does not appear on your transcript. You will earn no credit for science core subjects receiving a No Record grade and will need to repeat the class.
  • Instructors still submit standard letter grades to the Registrar’s Office. These “hidden” grades, which are available on WebSIS, are used for advising purposes only.

credit limit

  • You will have a credit limit of 48 regular units plus 9 units of FYD subjects and related approved exceptions.
  • The credit limit for IAP is 12. Subjects taken for credit during IAP will not count toward fall or spring term credit limits.
  • Advanced Standing Exams (ASEs) taken in December will count toward the first-year credit limit for the fall term. Exams taken in August/September or January/February will not.
  • You may not petition to exceed the credit limit.

Spring 2020

grading

  • After your first semester, you may designate up to three science core GIRs to be graded as P/NR. Do this when you register or by Add Date, using the normal Add/Drop form and process.
  • All other subjects are graded on an A, B, C, or No Record basis. Subjects with a grade of A, B, or C appear on both your grade report and transcript.
  • Subjects with a grade of D, F, O, or OX are only reported internally.

credit limit

  • You will have a spring credit limit of 60 regular units plus 9 units of FYD subjects and related approved exceptions. A recommended load is 48 to 54 units.
  • Advanced Standing Exams (ASEs) taken in May will count toward the first-year credit limit for the term.
  • Due to the change to the spring credit limit, early sophomore standing will not be offered.

After your first year

  • You may continue to designate science core GIRs as P/NR until you reach the limit of three beyond your first semester.
  • Upper-level students who earn a grade of NR in a science core GIR they have designated to be graded P/NR may retake it as many times as needed to pass on P/NR without using up an additional P/NR opportunity.
  • Upper-level students who receive a hidden grade of D in their science core GIR taken under P/NR may choose to switch to regular grading by Registration Day of their next semester at MIT. Final-term seniors must make this request prior to the Committee on Academic Performance’s SB degree candidates meeting. Under regular grades:
    • The D is passing, and the grade will be reflected on your transcript and calculated in your GPA.
    • This will still count against your limit of three subjects designated as P/NR beyond the first semester.