At 80% of M.D.-granting schools, the foundational courses in basic science and clinical skills are now graded pass/fail.
The first part of the national licensure exam that determines residency placement has also been changed to pass/fail, further blurring the distinction between mediocre and excellent.
At UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine … more than 50% of students failed basic tests on family medicine, pediatrics and emergency medicine.
Nationwide, the percentage of medical students who pass the first part of the licensure exam has fallen every year since 2020, dropping from 97% to 89% for students pursuing an M.D.
