CalTech adds REA (replacing prior EA), extends test blind policy for 2 years

DroidsLookingFor
Mon, 10 Apr 2023 21:44:05 +0000

mtmind:

standardized test scores have little to no power in predicting students’ performance in the first-term mathematics and physics classes that first-year students must take as part of Caltech’s core curriculum.

Question - do I recall correctly that a fair number of these classes at CalTech (1st term? year?) are pass/fail? If so, I can’t help but wonder whether the grades underlying a Pass are in fact how those kids would score if the actual grade counted. IOW there may be some noise in the data. I’m sure the intrinsic motivation level is “high” but they’re still human. If you know that an 86 or whatever is more than enough for a Pass, maybe you settle for the 86 rather than grind for the 90, 95, whatever.