Is there a common format MBA programs use for grading classes? In law school, the overwhelming majority of courses are graded by just one final exam at the end of the semester. Do MBA programs follow a similar pattern? Does it vary from school-to-school or class-to-class (like undergrad courses)?
Similarly, law schools use a hard curve in grading their first-year subjects (and often apply that curve for all classes w/ sufficient number of student). Do MBA programs uniformly apply a curve to their classes? Is that a school-by-school decision?

Thanks,
Robbie_Squire

It varies massively. Most top schools will combines scores for assignments, class participation, exams and projects. Many schools use a forced curve -for example at London Business School the average mark is rebased to 65%.

Thank you Duncan. I appreciate the quick reply. Looks like I have to take a closer look at the practices at my target schools...

It does vary. There's a forced curve at Harvard, but some schools like MIT Sloan don't curve. At other schools like Emory Goizueta, students are graded not on letter grades but a tier (with categories like "distinction," "performance standard," and "no credit."

It's worth noting that, beyond the huge variety of grading systems among MBA programs, many top schools have grade non-disclosure policies. Under these policies, schools can't give out your grades to potential employers until after you've signed a contract. These policies stand in contrast to many other kinds of graduate-level courses.

What this means is that arguably, as long as you pass your courses at a top program, your grades aren't as relevant to your career progress as other things you may gain from school, like letters of recommendations from your professors or networking contacts.

This is something to keep in mind if you end up going to a school like Columbia, Chicago Booth or Stanford.