A wide variation in grades when different instructors of general chemistry graded the same essay-type examination paper in first-semester general chemistry was previously noted by us.2 A number of those instructors suggested that the type of examination was responsible for the variation. In order to investigate the influence of the type of examination on the variation in grading this study was undertaken. A mimeographed objective examination paper, question and answer, was submitted for grading to one hundred instructors of general chemistry. Fifty graded lists were returned. The objective examination is diveded into four parts: A, problems on solutions; B, oxidation and reduction reactions; C and D, a completion aid a true-false test, respectively, of descriptive and theoretical work. There are 3 parts in A, 2 in B, 5 in C and 20 in D-a total of 30 questions. The weighting of parts A, B, C and D was not stated and introduced the first variation in grading. Seventeen persons gave equal weight (25 per cent) to each part; seven gave A a value of 15, B of 10, C of 25 and D of 50 per cent; three gave A, B and C each a value of 20 and D of 40 per cent. Although a study of the grades given by each instructor on each of the thirty questions which make up the examination doubtless might present opportunities for interesting deductions, nevertheless the consideration of the grading of the individual parts is believed to be of more detail than value and is omitted. However, the grading of the four divisions A, B, C and D offers sufficient variation to be taken up in some detail. Inasmuch as part A consists of 3 problems of which 2 solutions are wrong and 1 is right, the grading would be expected to be fairly consistent and fixed. However, contrary to instructions no calculations of any kind are shown and the variation in grades from 1.6 to 8.7 is not altogether unexpected. As may be seen there is a strong centering of the grades around the predicted 30 per cent with a scattering equally above and below. Part B is composed by 2 parts, each an equation for an oxidation-reduction reaction to be balanced by a specifically named method. To expedite the attack on the questions there is an indication that the oxidation and the reduction be set down as separate formulations. In the first equation, the oxidation is correctly stated, but not so the reduction. In the second equation, the element copper is to be oxidized as the sulfur is reduced. The student has confused the classification of these reactions as well as misstated them. Therefore it is of interest to note that the grades given on part B range from zero to 5.2.