Evening Capital And Maryland Gazette

EXAM. STANDARD LOWERED,
Semi-Annual Tests Made Easier at the Naval Academy for the Midshipmen-Now 2.2 Instead of 2.5
Practically the examination standard at the semi-annuals at the Naval Academy has been put into effect.
An order lowering the standard of requirements in the semi-annual examinations was recently put into effect at the Naval Academy, and as a result it is understood that a number of midshipmen were enabled to qualify in the tests, thus saving them from being dropped back into the next lower class, or forced to resign on account of deficiency.
The standard was not reduced in all subjects, but only in those that have proved the most difficult to the students. These include navigation and mathematics. In several instances the passing mark has been lowered to 2.2 and 2.3.
Just what moved the academic board to this action is not known. For many years the passing mark in all subjects has been a 2.5, while the highest perfect mark is a 4. The administration in this year's semi-annual tests recently completed departed from the custom that had been in vogue for a number of years by compelling all midshipmen to take the examinations.
Formerly any midshipman who had attained an average mark of 3 in one or more branches was not required to take the mid-year tests in those subjects.
While the report of the academic board on the recent examination has been in the hands of the Navy Department for about two weeks, no formal announcement of the complete result has been given out. It is understood, however, that there was a large number of failures. All that has been made public are the names of fifteen middies who were so far behind in their work that they were compelled to quit.
Their resignations have been accepted. All but one of these were members of the fourth class. It is said that a number of second and third classmen, not so badly deficient, were given a chance to continue in the service by dropping back into the next lower class.