Many adopters of specifications grading report that students find the grading system to be more transparent than points-based courses. For some students, this transparency refers to the clarity of assignment expectations and the associated rubrics . For others, the transparency refers to knowing what assignments need to be completed to earn their desired final letter grade and what their standing is in the course at any point throughout the term . In three publications, authors commented that their students appreciated that the transparency of the specifications grading system allowed them to choose what assignments they needed to complete to achieve the grade they aimed for ]. Jones and Tierney indicated that their students found that the choices afforded by the specifications grading system led to a greater ability to balance coursework in other classes and their life obligations . In three cases, authors noted that their students felt that the transparency allowed them to direct their efforts in the course because the grading system provided guidance about which topics they understood well and which they needed to continue working on .