Much of the effectiveness of college instruction depends on the quality of the methods that are used to evaluate student progress. After developing a test or examination that is a valid and reliable measure of student performance, the college instructor must evaluate the results of the examination and report the level and quality of student learning. Methods of using letter grades as a basis for evaluating student achievement include grading on the curve and percent grading, both of which have the disadvantage of imposing relative or arbitrary standards. A more informative grading method would clearly define levels of achievement in terms of quality and characteristics. An accurate and meaningful grading system may take at least a year to organize, but the students and the instructor will be more satisfied with the instructional efforts as a result. (FG)