All entering first-year students are required to take the tutorial. Students select a tutorial from the list of those to be offered each year (see Tutorials). The tutorial is graded on an "A" through "F" basis, with no S/D/F option (a designated replacement course for the tutorial also has no S/D/F option).

A student must complete the tutorial with a grade of "C" or higher to meet the tutorial graduation requirement and to be eligible to enroll in a 'Plus-2" or independent project (297, 299, 387, 397, 399 and 499). Any student earning a grade of "D" or "F" in the tutorial will be placed on academic probation. A student earning a grade of "D" or "F" in the tutorial will be required to complete an appropriate course determined by the associate dean of the College and the director of academic advising in order to fulfill the tutorial requirement. This course must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher during his or her next semester at Grinnell. After the successful completion of this course and removal from academic probation, the student will be eligible for a "Plus-2" or independent study project. The previous work of transfer students is evaluated for possible exemption from this requirement, third-year transfers are automatically exempted.