
Academic grading systems are used to evaluate a student's performance and can vary between institutions and disciplines. The most common grading system in the United States consists of letter grades, with A+, A, and A- representing the highest levels of achievement, followed by B and C grades, and so on. The specific percentage ranges associated with each grade can differ, but generally, a C grade is considered passing, with percentages below 60%-75% considered failing. Some institutions use a seven-point scale with seven percentages between each letter grade, while others employ a normal distribution model, where grades are assigned based on deviations from the mean performance. While letter grades are prevalent, some schools take a different approach, opting for narrative evaluations or anecdotal reports to promote learning and improvement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Grades | A, A+, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C- |
| Passing Grades | D or C |
| Failing Grades | F or E |
| Grade Percentages | Varies depending on the grading scale, typically 60-70% for passing, 75% for failing |
| Grade Point Average | Varies, e.g. 2.00/4.00 in Florida |
| Grading Curve | Based on standard deviations from the mean |
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What You'll Learn

Grading systems vary between disciplines and institutions
Grading systems are a long-standing method of evaluating students' academic performance, with the earliest known example of a grading system coming from ancient China. However, grading systems vary widely across institutions and disciplines, with some being simple and others extremely complex. For example, in the United States, academic grading commonly takes the form of five, six, or seven letter grades, with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest. However, there are variations, with some schools including +/ - to indicate grades just above or below the full letter grade. For example, a B+ is a better grade than a plain B. Some schools also use a numerical system, with 4.00 being the highest possible grade-point average.
In other cases, grading systems can be far more complex. For instance, some liberal arts colleges in the US do not issue grades at all, instead focusing on narrative evaluations. Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn is one such example, where teachers write anecdotal reports for each student. This method promotes learning and improvement rather than the pursuit of a particular grade.
Grading systems also vary between countries. For example, in Afghanistan, the highest score awarded at schools is 100, with a minimum passing score of 40. In universities, the highest score is still 100, but the minimum passing score is 55 (previously 50). In Vietnam, students rarely score higher than an 8.0 on their final results. In Panama, universities use a 0-100 point grading scale, while schools use a 1-5 point system.
Even within countries, grading systems can vary between institutions. For example, in India, most universities follow a percentage system, while the Indian Institutes of Technology and other technical institutes follow a 10-point GPA system.
Finally, grading systems can also vary depending on the level of education. For instance, in Panama, universities use a 0-100 point grading scale, while schools use a 1-5 point system. Similarly, in the US, the six-point grading system is commonly used in elementary schools, but a seven-point system is more common in high schools.
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A grade is usually the highest
Grading systems vary across educational institutions, but generally, the A grade is the highest grade a student can achieve. The traditional grading scale in the United States includes grades A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, and F, with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest. In some cases, the grades can also be numerical, with the most common numeric grading scale being 4.00. The numeric grading scale is often used in conjunction with the letter grading scale, with each letter grade corresponding to a range of numerical values. For example, an A may correspond to a numerical grade of 90-100, while a B may correspond to 80-89, and so on.
The specific percentage required for an A grade can vary depending on the institution and the subject. However, generally speaking, an A grade typically corresponds to a percentage between 90 and 100. This means that a student who achieves a grade within this range has demonstrated a strong understanding of the material and has performed at an excellent level.
In some cases, the grading system may use a curve, where the grades are assigned based on the relative performance of the students in the class. In this case, the A grade is typically given to students who exceed the mean by more than 1.5 standard deviations. This means that the percentage required for an A grade can vary depending on the average performance of the student group.
While the A grade is typically the highest grade that can be achieved, some institutions may offer an A+ grade as an even higher distinction. The A+ grade typically requires a slightly higher percentage or a higher level of performance than the A grade. However, not all institutions use the A+ grade, and it is not as commonly used as the A grade.
Overall, achieving an A grade is a significant accomplishment and indicates a high level of achievement and understanding of the material. Students who strive for an A grade are often motivated by the desire to excel and push themselves academically.
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B grades are for performance above the mean
Grading systems vary between educational institutions, and there is no universally agreed-upon standard for what constitutes an A, B, or C grade. However, in the United States, academic grading commonly takes the form of five, six, or seven letter grades, with the letter "A" being the highest and the letter "F" being the lowest. The traditional grading scale includes grades such as A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, and C-, with A+ being the highest and C- being the lowest passing grade. Some institutions may also include D and F in their grading scale, with D usually being the lowest passing grade, although some schools consider a C the lowest passing grade.
The specific percentages that constitute an A, B, or C grade can vary depending on the institution and the specific grading scale used. However, generally, a B grade is considered to be above average performance and typically corresponds to a percentage range between 80% and 89%. This places it above a C grade, which typically corresponds to a percentage range between 70% and 79%, and below an A grade, which typically corresponds to a percentage range between 90% and 95%.
It is important to note that the grading system may also include plus (+) and minus (-) designations, which can further subdivide the percentage ranges. For example, a B+ grade might correspond to a percentage range of 87%-89%, while a B- grade might correspond to a percentage range of 80%-83%. These designations allow for a more nuanced evaluation of a student's performance and can be used to differentiate between different levels of achievement within the same letter grade.
In some cases, the boundaries between letter grades may not be set at exact percentage points. For example, in the context of grading on a curve, the boundaries between letter grades may be determined by the distribution of scores within the class. In this case, a B grade might be assigned for performance that falls between 0.5 and 1.5 standard deviations above the mean, regardless of the exact percentage score. This approach to grading takes into account the relative performance of the students within the class and can result in variations in the percentage ranges that correspond to each letter grade.
While the specific percentages that constitute a B grade may vary, the general understanding is that it represents above-average performance. Students achieving B grades are typically considered to have a good understanding of the material and have demonstrated a strong level of achievement. B grades often serve as a benchmark for satisfactory or above-average performance and can be used by educators and institutions to assess the overall performance of a student or a group of students.
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C is sometimes the lowest passing grade
In the United States, academic grading typically takes the form of five, six, or seven letter grades. The traditional grades are A+, A, A−, B+, B, B−, C+, C, C−, D+, D, D−, and F, with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest. In some cases, grades can also be numerical. The typical letter grades awarded for participation in a course are (from highest to lowest) A, B, C, D, and F. In primary and secondary schools, a D is usually the lowest passing grade. However, some schools consider a C the lowest passing grade, so the general standard is that anything below 60% or 70% is failing, depending on the grading scale.
In post-secondary schools, such as colleges and universities, a D is considered an unsatisfactory passing grade. Students will usually still earn credits for the class if they get a D. However, a C or better may be required to count some major classes toward a degree or to satisfy a prerequisite requirement for a class. For example, in nursing school, the minimum passing grade is a C, and anything below a C or 70 is failing. In Florida, Standards of Academic Progress require a student to maintain a grade point average of 2.00 or above on the 4.00 numeric grading scale.
The letter grading system was first used by Mount Holyoke College in 1887. The college used a grading scale with the letters A, B, C, D, and E, where E represented a failing grade. This grading system was far stricter than those used today, with a failing grade defined as anything below 75%. The college later redefined its grading system, adding the letter F for a failing grade (still defined as below 75%). This system of using a letter-grading scale became increasingly popular within colleges and high schools, eventually leading to the letter-grading systems typically used today.
While the letter grading system is the most common, some schools take a different approach. Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn, for example, is one of several secondary schools that do not use letter grades. Instead, teachers write anecdotal reports for each student. This method of evaluation focuses on promoting learning and improvement rather than the pursuit of a certain letter grade in a course.
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A failing grade is usually below 70%
Grading systems vary between educational institutions, and even between different departments within the same institution. In the United States, academic grading commonly takes the form of five, six, or seven letter grades. The letter grades used are typically A+, A, A−, B+, B, B−, C+, C, C−, D+, D, D−, and F, with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest. In some cases, grades can also be numerical.
Numeric-to-letter-grade conversions vary from system to system and between disciplines and status. The typical letter grades awarded for participation in a course are (from highest to lowest) A, B, C, D, and F. In primary and secondary schools, a D is usually the lowest passing grade, but some schools consider a C the lowest passing grade. Therefore, the general standard is that anything below 60% or 70% is a failing grade, depending on the grading scale.
Some grading systems use a normal distribution model of educational performance, where the top grade, A, is given for performance that exceeds the mean by more than 1.5 standard deviations, a B for performance between 0.5 and 1.5 standard deviations above the mean, and so on. In this system, the best score in the group receives the top grade, and the worst score receives a failing grade.
Standards of Academic Progress (SAP) are the standards set by the school, state, Board of Education, or other agencies that students must meet to continue attending classes. For example, in Florida, students must maintain a grade point average of 2.00 or above on a 4.00 numeric grading scale and finish 67% of their courses, including previous failures, retakes, and withdrawals.
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Frequently asked questions
An A grade is given for performance that exceeds the mean by more than 1.5 standard deviations.
A B grade is given for performance between 0.5 and 1.5 standard deviations above the mean.
A C grade is generally considered a passing grade, with anything below constituting a failing grade. However, the exact percentage varies, with some schools failing students with scores below 60% and others failing those with scores below 70%.
A failing grade is generally considered to be anything below a 60% or 70%, depending on the school's grading scale.
























