Grading System (2024)

I use percentages to map to letter grades.The percentages mirror the 4.0 scale, except that where a GPA difference of 1.0 corresponds to a full letter grade,I use a percentage difference of 10. The table below shows the conversion from numerical grades to letter grades.

Number → Letter Conversion

Numerical Grade

Letter Grade

≥ 97.5

A+

≥ 92.5

A

≥ 90.0

A-

≥ 87.5

B+

≥ 82.5

B

≥ 80.0

B-

≥ 77.5

C+

≥ 72.5

C

≥ 70.0

C-

≥ 67.5

D+

≥ 62.5

D

≥ 60.0

D-

< 60.0

E

Often I will grade with letter grades on subparts of an assignment, convert to numbers for averaging (or weighted averaging), and then back into letter grades using the above table. For conversion from letter grades to numerical grades, I use the middle of the numerical range above. Thus, an A is a 95, halfway between 90 and 100. An A- is a 91.25, halfway between 90 and 92.5. Etc.Grades between these are averages. For example, an A/A- is numerically (95+91.25)/2=93.125, which is an A slightly lower than 95/A.

A frequent complaint is that you "lose 5 points" for a 95=A. But I treat 100 as more like an A++. So the few students who achieved a perfect score in all 7 quizzes deserve 100.

Here is the letter → number conversion more precisely:

Letter → Number Conversion

Letter Grade

Numerical Grade

A+

98.75

A

95.00

A-

91.25

B+

88.75

B

85.00

B-

81.25

C+

78.75

C

75.00

C-

71.25

D+

68.75

D

65.00

D-

61.25

E

55.00

Why I don't round grades

It is my practice not to round the numerical grade before mapping to letter grades by the table. This can be a sore point, so let me explain. For example, I use ≥90.00 as the transition from a B+ to an A-. This means that if your numerical grade is 89.9, I map it to a B+ and not an A-. It can be heartbreaking to miss a grade boundary by -0.1,—or even by -0.01—I know! This is exacerbated by me mostly grading with A's and B's, with C's and D's rare, so that many grades hover around the 90.00 boundary.

But to round up, say, every numerical grade ≥89.50 to 90.00 and map that to an A-, means that the transition from B+ to A- is actually 89.50, not 90.00. And that would mean that a grade of 89.4 would miss a grade boundary by -0.1. (It would also mean that me announcing the grade boundary of 90.00 is inaccurate.) No matter what policy is followed, some could miss a grade boundary by a hair. Even though there may be some psychological difference between the two situations, I prefer to keep it straightforward by announcing the sharp grade boundary from day one and then following it strictly. I find it helps keeps the process more objective, and does not allow room for subjective grade adjustments, which are almost always unfair.

Grading System (2024)

FAQs

Grading System? ›

Academic grading in the United States commonly takes on the form of five, six or seven letter grades. Traditionally, the grades are A+, A, A−, B+, B, B−, C+, C, C−, D+, D, D− and F, with A+ being the highest and F being lowest. In some cases, grades can also be numerical.

Is 70 A or B grade? ›

Most Common
GradeScaleUS Grade
A70.00 - 100.00A
AB70.00 - 100.00A
B60.00 - 69.99B+
BC60.00 - 69.99B+
5 more rows

What are the types of grading system? ›

The two most common types of grading systems used at the university level are norm-referenced and criterion-referenced.

What is 70% a grade? ›

Grade Scale
PercentageLetter Grade
98-100A+
73-76C
70-72C-
67-69D+
9 more rows

Is a 93 an A? ›

An A letter grade is equivalent to a 4.0 GPA, or Grade Point Average, on a 4.0 GPA scale, and a percentage grade of 93–96.
...
List of Common GPA Conversions.
Letter GradePercent Grade4.0 GPA Scale
A93–964.0
A-90–923.7
B+87–893.3
B83–863.0
8 more rows

Is a 66 an F? ›

D - this is still a passing grade, and it's between 59% and 69% F - this is a failing grade.

Is a 70 a D+? ›

Contact your high school counselor or colleges on your list to learn more about GPA and use in the admissions process.
...
To convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale:
Letter GradePercent Grade4.0 Scale
C-70-721.7
D+67-691.3
D65-661.0
E/FBelow 650.0
8 more rows

Is a C passing in college? ›

[A grade of "C minus" (1.7) or lower is not a passing grade.]
...
Definition of Grades and their Corresponding Grade Points.
Letter GradeAchievement LevelGrade Points
CAcceptable2.0
C-1.7
D+1.3
DPoor1.0
9 more rows
Apr 13, 2022

Is the grade E pass or fail? ›

Passing Grade -The grades O, A, B, C, D, E are passing grades. A candidate acquiring any one of these grades in a course shall be declared as pass. And student shall earn the credits for a course only if the student gets passing grade in that course. F Grade -The grade F shall be treated as a failure grade.

What are the 5 levels for grading? ›

These can discourage students" (pg 41).
  • Three Levels. Weak, Satisfactory, Strong. ...
  • Four Levels. Unacceptable, Marginal, Proficient, Distinguished. ...
  • Five Levels. Poor, Minimal, Sufficient, Above Average, Excellent. ...
  • Six Levels. Unacceptable, Emerging, Minimally Acceptable, Acceptable, Accomplished, Exemplary.
  • Sources:

Is a C+ a passing grade? ›

C+, C, C- indicates satisfactory performance. D+, D, D- indicates less than satisfactory performance. F indicates unsatisfactory performance (no credit: always include last date of attendance). P indicates Pass (A-, B and C will automatically be replaced by "P" when the Pass/No Pass option has been requested.

What's the highest GPA? ›

High school GPAs are measured on one of two scales: weighted or unweighted. The unweighted scale is most common, and the highest possible GPA on this scale is a 4.0. The unweighted scale doesn't take the difficulty of a student's classes into account.

Is 60% a grade D? ›

Academic grading in the United States commonly takes on the form of five, six or seven letter grades.
...
Grade conversion.
Letter GradePercentageGPA
B80–89%3.0
C70–79%2.0
D60–69%1.0
F0–59%0.0
1 more row

Is 3.40 A Good GPA? ›

A 3.4 is comfortably above the national average GPA for high school graduates and is considered competitive at most colleges and universities. It also approaches the 3.5 GPA that more selective schools use as an unofficial benchmark.

What is a 5.0 GPA? ›

How to calculate GPA on 5.0 Scale?
GradePointPercentage range
A+5.097-100
A5.093-96
A-4.790-92
B+4.387-89
8 more rows
Apr 4, 2022

Is 3.8 GPA good in college? ›

A 3.8 GPA is considered to be a very good GPA and is often an indicator of strong academic performance.

Will one F ruin my GPA? ›

The failing grade will NOT calculate in your GPA, but it will still show on your transcript. On your transcript, an "E" will show to the right of your failing grade to mark the course as "Excluded". On your transcript, an "I" will show to the right of the second time you took the class, marking it as "Included".

Is F+ a grade? ›

In Academic grading in the United States, F+ is a rarely used grade above F.

Is 4.0 the highest GPA? ›

Most colleges and school report GPA on a 4.0 scale. The unweighted GPA scale is the most frequently used GPA scale. Basically, the highest GPA you can earn is a 4.0, which indicates an A average in all of your classes.

Is a 4.0 GPA good in high school? ›

In most cases, a 4.00 GPA is considered to be excellent. However, the number of students from a student's high school who also have 4.00 GPAs may affect whether that score is considered good or average.

What is a 100% grade? ›

Calculating Your GPA
PercentageLetter GradeGrade Points
94 – 100 PercentA4.0
90 – 93.9 PercentA-3.7
87 – 89.9 PercentB+3.3
84 – 86.9 PercentB3.0
8 more rows

Will one D ruin my GPA in college? ›

If you have one bad grade, a D , most colleges will allow you to re-take the class ( especially if below a C, since D isn't passing for grad school standards). The D still shows on your transcript but it isn't averaged into your GPA.

How bad is a 2.5 GPA in college? ›

A 2.5 GPA is equivalent to80% or a B- letter grade. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 2.5 is below average.

What does S+ mean in grades? ›

S=Satisfactory. N=Needs Improvement. U=Unsatisfactory. E=90-100. S+=80-89.

What is a passing GPA? ›

The grade-point-average system in U.S. colleges designates an A with four points, a B with 3 points, a C with two points, and a D as one point and an F is equivalent to zero. Undergraduate students need to have a minimum of 2.0 GPA while graduate students need a 3.0 GPA.

What does N mean in grades? ›

The grade N (grade), may be used to indicate that one or more course requirements (e.g., course report) have not been completed.

Does F exist in grades? ›

Most grading systems in the United States typically go by A, B, C, D, then F.

What does F stand for in grades? ›

The following definitions will be used as a guide for the assignment of All Courses grades. F – Failed, Unacceptable Level of Achievement. AB– Absent from Final Examination.

Which grading system is the hardest? ›

Like Canada, Australia has one of the most complex grading systems in the world that varies for different regions.

What is the grading rule? ›

What are grade rules and grade rule libraries. The grading rule determines how much each POM (point of measurement) is made larger or smaller in order to fit a wide range of sizes. The main purpose of it is to ensure good fit and overall balance of shape in a manufactured garment.

Is grade 5 a low B? ›

Grade 5 is a 'strong pass' and equivalent to a high C and low B on the old grading system.

Will a C+ ruin my GPA? ›

Yes, it will affect your GPA. So if you have all As, you're at 4.0, then a C would bring you to 3.66 — as an example. If you have a 3.0 GPA, a C would bring you to 2.75. (all this depends on the class weight too.)

Will a C+ ruin my grade? ›

One C in your transcript will not greatly impact your GPA and if it is a rare occurrence some colleges will just consider it a fluke.

What's the ideal GPA? ›

What Is a Good GPA in High School? The average high school GPA is around 3.0, or a B average. This also happens to be the minimum requirement for many college scholarships, though a 3.5 or higher is generally preferable. GPA plays a key role in college admissions.

How can I get a 7.0 GPA? ›

To earn a perfect GPA on the weighted scale, a student must take all Advanced Placement or Dual Enrolled courses and earn an A+ in every class.

Does a 5.0 GPA exist? ›

Typically, high schools that employ weighted GPAs use a 0–5 scale, with 5.0 being the best score available. Although a GPA above 5.0 is uncommon, schools occasionally design their point systems so that students enrolled in difficult courses might accrue extra points.

Is a 4.3 GPA good for Harvard? ›

To get to Harvard your GPA has to be at least a 4.0 and even then if you get in your lucky but they require at least a 4.18 GPA only .

Is 64 failing in college? ›

You'll usually need to receive a letter grade between A and D to pass a class, often the numerical equivalent of 65 percent or higher. Receiving an F—which stands for “fail”—indicates that you did not pass the class. The cutoff to receive an F is usually 64 percent.

What is a 69 in college? ›

A 1.4 GPA is equivalent to 69% or D+ letter grade.

Is a 99 a good grade? ›

99% A+ A score of 99 out of 100 on a test, assignment or class is a 99% percentage grade. 1 questions were wrong or points missed. A 99% is an A+ letter grade.

Is a GPA of 5.0 good? ›

Whether an average GPA is good or not depends on your personal and academic objectives and on the university and study programme you choose. Usually, a GPA of 3.0 - 3.5 is considered good enough at many high schools, colleges, and universities. Top academic institutions usually require GPAs higher than 3.5.

Is a 3.0 GPA bad in college? ›

A 3.0 GPA indicates a grade average of “B” and makes you eligible to apply to a wide range of schools, so yes! A 3.0 GPA is generally considered “good.”

Is a 3.2 GPA bad in college? ›

A 3.2 GPA is a grade point average that falls between a B and a B- on the 4.0 grading scale commonly used in the United States. It represents a moderately good academic performance, indicating that the student has maintained above-average grades but may have some room for improvement.

What is a 7.0 GPA? ›

High School GPA Conversion
Original ScaleMultiplierEX. GPA on 4.0 Scale
5.00.80003.096
6.00.66673.000
7.00.57143.257
8.00.50003.250
5 more rows

What GPA does Harvard require? ›

The GPA requirements for Harvard University are between 3.9 to 4.1. You will need an incredibly high GPA and will likely be graduating at the top of their class in order to get into Harvard University.

Can u get a 6.0 GPA? ›

Not All GPAs are Created Equal

There is wide variability in the scale used to calculate GPA. GPAs can be based on a 4.0, 5.0 or 6.0 scale.

Is 3.8 GPA too low for Harvard? ›

If you achieve a 3.8 GPA, your grades are likely above many of your peers. However, classing a 3.8 GPA as “good” depends on your chosen colleges and the difficulty of your courses. For example, Harvard's average GPA is 4.18, so you'll have to get straight As in nearly all of your classes to be a competitive applicant.

Can I get into Yale with a 3.8 GPA? ›

You should also have a 4.14 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Yale, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.

Is a 3.8 GPA bad for Ivy League? ›

For most of the Ivy League schools, they expect as close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA as possible.

Is 70 percent B or C? ›

PercentLetter Grade
80 - 82B-
77 - 79C+
73 - 76C
70 - 72C-
8 more rows

Is 75% an A or B? ›

Grade Scale
A+= / >100%
A-= / >90%
B+= / >85%
B= / >80%
B-= / >75%
10 more rows

What is an A or B grade? ›

A+, A, A- indicates excellent performance. B+, B, B- indicates good performance. C+, C, C- indicates satisfactory performance. D+, D, D- indicates less than satisfactory performance. F indicates unsatisfactory performance (no credit: always include last date of attendance).

What is an A minus percentage? ›

Thus, an A is a 95, halfway between 90 and 100. An A- is a 91.25, halfway between 90 and 92.5.

Is A 3.5 A Good GPA? ›

Is a 3.5 GPA Good? As a top-letter grade, a B+ or A- is considered "good." A 3.5 GPA means that a student consistently performs well on homework, tests, and projects in every subject, making it a desirable GPA across the board.

Is grade D pass or fail? ›

At most schools, a D is the lowest passing grade. That means students who earn a D or higher receive credit for the course. However, some schools set special policies around D grades. For example, at Lehigh, a D counts as a passing grade but does not meet prerequisite requirements.

Is 84 a bad grade? ›

A 2.9 GPA is equivalent to 84% or a B letter grade. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 2.9 is an okay GPA, just a tiny bit below average and with a few quick tips can easily be improved to stand out from the crowd.

Is 79.5 an A or B+? ›

SIAT grading scale (recommended)
Letter gradeSIAT recommended % gradeNumerical equivalent
A-85-89.53.67
B+80-84.53.33
B75-79.53.0
B-70-74.52.67
16 more rows

Is a B good in college? ›

Definition of Grades

The following grades are used: A — excellent; B — good; C — fair in undergraduate courses and minimum passing in courses for graduate credit; D — minimum passing in undergraduate courses; F — failed.

Is there such thing as an A ++ grade? ›

Traditionally, the grades are A+, A, A−, B+, B, B−, C+, C, C−, D+, D, D− and F, with A+ being the highest and F being lowest. In some cases, grades can also be numerical. Numeric-to-letter-grade conversions generally vary from system to system and between disciplines and status.

Is a 94 an A or a minus in college? ›

GPA Scale
Letter GradeGrade PointsNumerical Grade
A+4.097–100
A4.094–96
A-3.790–93
B+3.387–89
9 more rows

Is C+ a good grade? ›

First and foremost, C+ is a passing grade. It is equivalent to a 2.3 GPA and 77% to 79%. However, a C+ high school grade isn't exactly what many colleges and universities, especially competitive ones, want in applying students. Still, for some institutions, a C+ grade is enough for admission.

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