Assessments | Emory School of Medicine

Assessments are used as a measurement of student performance using instruments such as written exams or observational checklists. Grades are assigned based on data collected from both assessments and summative evaluations.

For more information regarding student assessment, grading, and grade appeals, please review the Student Handbook.

A wide variety of assessment tools are used to measure the medical student’s academic and professional performance in relation to the Emory University School of Medicine Student Physician Activities (SPAs) and are incorporated into grades for courses and clerkships. In addition to written exams, instructor observational assessments are often used during small group work, during patient care on clerkships, for elective courses, and in research labs. Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCEs) are also a regular and vital element of student assessment.

The assessment process is coordinated and managed by OMESA’s Medical Education team. Students use the following assessment software tools for different phases of the curriculum:

Pre-Clinical Years: Foundations
- ExamSoft
Clinical Years: Applications, Discovery, & Translations
- NBME
- Aquifer
- Canvas