{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T21:21:40Z","timestamp":1790716900608,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"American Chemical Society (ACS)","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788393600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100008321","name":"Pennsylvania State University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100008321","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"National Science Foundation (NSF)","award":["CHE-2339405"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CHE-2339405"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,28]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>In recent years, alternative grading strategies to traditional points-based systems have gained popularity, particularly in STEM. Specifications grading is one type of alternative grading that focuses students on meeting course learning objectives rather than accumulating points, sets a threshold for satisfactory work, and often includes frequent, low-stakes assessments, feedback, and opportunities for reattempts or revision. However, the contribution of these features to student learning in authentic courses remains difficult to isolate. This study provides course-scale evidence that frequent, feedback-rich, reattemptable learning-target assessment is associated with higher standardized exam performance in large-enrollment Organic Chemistry I. Students in multiple sections that adopted this assessment structure, whether embedded in full specifications grading or in a hybrid points-based system, scored significantly higher on the same custom ACS Organic Chemistry Exam than students in a traditionally graded comparison section. Higher scores were observed in both same-instructor and cross-instructor comparisons. Improvements were concentrated among students with lower incoming preparation, as well as among women and students who did not identify exclusively as white. No corresponding losses were observed among students with higher incoming preparation, men, or students who identified exclusively as white. Overall, these findings suggest that frequent, feedback-rich, reattemptable learning-target assessments may be a useful mechanism within alternative grading systems for supporting student performance in organic chemistry.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1021\/jacsau.6c00531","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T17:06:58Z","timestamp":1790701618000},"page":"4956-4967","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Learning Gains in Organic Chemistry from Full and\nHybrid Specifications Grading"],"prefix":"10.1021","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Joseph D.","family":"Houck","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"The Pennsylvania State University , , , ,","place":["University Park, Pennsylvania, United States, 16802"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8124-8451","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Brandon J.","family":"Yik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Georgia , , , ,","place":["Athens, Georgia, United States, 30602"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8543-7193","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Eric D.","family":"Nacsa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Pennsylvania State University , , , ,","place":["University Park, Pennsylvania, United States, 16802"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"316","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003447061","volume-title":"Specifications Grading:\nRestoring Rigor, Motivating Students, and Saving Faculty Time","author":"Nilson","year":"2015"},{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003559658","volume-title":"Specifications Grading\n2.0: Restoring Rigor, Motivating Students, Saving Faculty Time, and\nDeveloping Career Competencies","author":"Nilson","year":"2026"},{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit3","volume-title":"Grading for Growth: A\nGuide to Alternative Grading Practices that Promote Authentic Learning\nand Student Engagement in Higher Education","author":"Clark","year":"2023"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026092913065116700_cit4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"83","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci15010083","article-title":"Delving into the Design and Implementation\nof Specifications Grading Systems in Higher Education","volume":"15","author":"Howitz","year":"2025","journal-title":"Educ. Sci."},{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1186\/s43031-024-00106-8","article-title":"Alternative Grading Practices In\nUndergraduate STEM Education: A Scoping Review","volume":"6","author":"Hackerson","year":"2024","journal-title":"Discip. Interdiscip. Sci. Educ. Res."},{"issue":"4","key":"2026092913065116700_cit6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"846","DOI":"10.1039\/D5RP00035A","article-title":"Why Chemistry Instructors\nAre Shifting to Specifications Grading: Perceived Benefits and Challenges","volume":"26","author":"Wang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Chem. Educ. Res. Pract."},{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1021\/bk-2023-1448.ch007","article-title":"Specifications\nGrading and COVID","volume-title":"In Chemical Education\nResearch during COVID: Lessons Learned during the Pandemic","author":"Anzovino","year":"2023"},{"issue":"11","key":"2026092913065116700_cit8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4318","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.3c00473","article-title":"Specifications-Based\nGrading Facilitates Student\u2013Instructor Interactions in a Flipped-Format\nGeneral Chemistry II Course","volume":"100","author":"Bunnell","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Chem. Educ."},{"issue":"2","key":"2026092913065116700_cit9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"672","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.2c00860","article-title":"A Specifications-Graded, Sports Drink-Themed General\nChemistry Laboratory Course Using an Argument-Driven Inquiry Approach","volume":"100","author":"Howitz","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Chem. Educ."},{"issue":"6","key":"2026092913065116700_cit10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2593","DOI":"10.1021\/jacsau.5c00210","article-title":"Balancing Equity in General Chemistry Laboratory Courses:\nThe Complex Impact of Specifications Grading on Student Success and\nOpportunity Gaps","volume":"5","author":"Yik","year":"2025","journal-title":"JACS Au"},{"issue":"9","key":"2026092913065116700_cit11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3723","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.4c00698","article-title":"Students\u2019 Perceptions of Specifications Grading:\nDevelopment and Evaluation of the Perceptions of Grading Schemes (PGS)\nInstrument","volume":"101","author":"Yik","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Chem. Educ."},{"issue":"6","key":"2026092913065116700_cit12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2159","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.2c00731","article-title":"A Bridge\nto Specifications Grading in Second Semester General Chemistry","volume":"100","author":"Noell","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Chem. Educ."},{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1021\/bk-2019-1330.ch007","article-title":"Introducing\nComponents of Specifications Grading to a General Chemistry I Course","volume-title":"Enhancing Retention in Introductory Chemistry Courses:\nTeaching Practices and Assessments","author":"Martin","year":"2019"},{"issue":"10","key":"2026092913065116700_cit14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3903","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.3c00433","article-title":"A Specifications-Graded,\nSpice-Themed, General Chemistry Laboratory Course Using an Argument-Driven\nInquiry Approach","volume":"100","author":"Saluga","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Chem. 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Chem.\nEduc."},{"issue":"2","key":"2026092913065116700_cit17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.0c00450","article-title":"Developing and Implementing a Specifications\nGrading System in an Organic Chemistry Laboratory Course","volume":"98","author":"Howitz","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Chem. Educ."},{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1400058","DOI":"10.3389\/feduc.2024.1400058","article-title":"Alternative\nGrading Strategies in Organic Chemistry: A Journey","volume":"9","author":"Mio","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front. Educ."},{"issue":"9","key":"2026092913065116700_cit19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3230","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.0c00749","article-title":"Transition to Remote Instruction Using Hybrid Just-in-Time\nTeaching, Collaborative Learning, and Specifications Grading for Organic\nChemistry 2","volume":"97","author":"Houseknecht","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. 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Educ."},{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"269","DOI":"10.1021\/bk-2022-1409.ch015","article-title":"Alternative\nAssessment of Active Learning","volume-title":"Active Learning\nin the Analytical Chemistry Curriculum","author":"Hunter","year":"2022"},{"issue":"10","key":"2026092913065116700_cit23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4268","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.4c00784","article-title":"Application\nof Specifications Grading to an Analytical Chemistry Lab","volume":"101","author":"Cerkez","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Chem. Educ."},{"issue":"1","key":"2026092913065116700_cit24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.4c00953","article-title":"Implementation of a Specifications\nGrading System in Four Upper Division Chemistry Courses","volume":"102","author":"Drummond","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Chem. 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Chem. Educ."},{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit37","volume-title":"Ungrading: Why Rating\nStudents Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead)","author":"Blum","year":"2020"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026092913065116700_cit38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.5951\/MT.97.1.0034","article-title":"EMRF: Everyday Rubric Grading","volume":"97","author":"Stutzman","year":"2004","journal-title":"Math. Teach."},{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit39","unstructured":"R Core Team.\n          \n          R: A language and environment\nfor statistical computing; R Foundation for\nStatistical Computing: Vienna, Austria, 2026."},{"key":"2026092913065116700_cit40","volume-title":"Statistical Power Analysis\nfor the Behavioral Sciences","author":"Cohen","year":"1988"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026092913065116700_cit41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"rm1","DOI":"10.1187\/cbe.16-03-0113","article-title":"Fidelity of Implementation: An Overlooked Yet Critical\nConstruct to Establish Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Instructional\nPractices","volume":"16","author":"Stains","year":"2017","journal-title":"CBE Life Sci. 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