{{Short description|Term used in academia}} {{more citations needed|date=July 2007}} In academia, an '''audit''' is an educational term for the completion of a course of study for which no assessment of the performance of the student is made nor grade awarded.<ref name="Flinders">{{cite web|url=http://www.flinders.edu.au/future-students/courses/auditing-a-topic.cfm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322095142/http://www.flinders.edu.au/future-students/courses/auditing-a-topic.cfm |archivedate=2019-03-22 |title=Auditing a topic|website=Flinders University}}. Retrieved on 8 March 2010.</ref> Some institutions may record a grade of "audit" to those who have elected not to receive a letter grade for a course in which they are typically awarded.

In this case, 'audit' indicates that the individual merely has received teaching, rather than being evaluated as having achieved a given standard of knowledge of the subject. The term 'audit' is Latin, translating as, 'he/she hears'. In other words, the '''audit student'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> has experienced the course, but has not been assessed.

Some students audit a class merely for enjoyment, including purposes of self-enrichment and academic exploration, with no need or desire of academic credit.<ref name="University of Wisconsin KnowledgeBase">{{Cite web|title=Information on Auditing Courses for L&S Undergraduate Students|url=https://kb.wisc.edu/ls/page.php?id=26734|access-date=2021-01-08|website=kb.wisc.edu}}</ref> Sometimes this technique is employed by individuals who wish to take a specific course without the risk of under-performance resulting in a poor or failing grade. This may be helpful when reviewing a long-unstudied subject, or when first beginning or exploring the study of a discipline where one has little experience or confidence.

Auditing is generally an option at institutions of higher learning, such as colleges and universities, rather than grammar school or secondary school.

== See also == * Academic administration

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Audit}}

Category:Types of auditing