The effect of two student characteristics (sex and grade point average) and two class variables (educational level and expected grade) were investigated as they pertain to the validity of college student ratings of teaching effectiveness. Students completed the Teacher Effectiveness Questionnaire (TEQ) the last week of the semester. The TEQ yielded scores on three factors: teaching style, class organization, and workload. Results suggest that student and class characteristics do influence end-of-course ratings of instructors. Significant effects for the educational level and expected grade variables were found as well as significant sex by expected grade interactions. (GK)