Annexure 3: US Grading System

In 90% of the undergraduate programmes, a fairly uniform and yet complex grading system is followed. The practice of numerical ranking was first changed gradually to scoring by percentiles and then to letter grades for purposes of standardisation as under:

Grade	Meaning	Meaning in% correct
A	Excellent	c.91% +
B	Good	c.82% to 90%
C	Fair/Average	c.75% to 81%
D	Poor/Passing	c.69% to 74%
E	Failing	c.68% or less

It is often made more precise by using “pluses” and minuses”, e.g., A-, B+, B-, etc. Letter grades may be based on absolute numerical standard. Grading may also be relative. In the former, a percentile score higher than 50% (often 60%) is generally necessary for getting a passing grade. In a more rigorous system, the range for each grade may be like this: A = 93-100%, C = 78-85%, D = 70-77%. Even in a generous system usually 60% is considered

Minimum passing mark. In relative grading known as “grading on the curve”, on the other hand, Students are measured against each other. The average grade in a class is considered as “C” – the most common grade. There would be several “B” and “D” grades, but a very few As and Fs. This reflects a “normal curve”. In this system students are not affected by subjective factors, if any. For example, if a test is difficult, no student would be able to get an “A” grade in the absolute scale system. In such a case, those who score highest would receive “A” grade. If, however, in and easy examination students who score lowest would be given Fs, no matter how high their scores are.

The A.F scheme is only part of the grading pattern. Graduate schools have long used an A-B-C system. According to this system, the average student at graduate level is, by definition, a good student and so the average grade should be “Good” (B), a graduate student who receives a C has effectively failed. A number of undergraduate programmes are also elimination the D or F. The point of such grades is to show insufficient learning, but they tend also to characterise the student as “weak” or “a failure”.

Besides the letter grades, a variety of other symbols are also used. In some courses, student may get a “Pass” (P) grade which would simply indicate mastery of the material without affecting the grade-point average. An alternative is the “Credit” (CR0 grade, where failure would be noted as “No Credit” (No Cr or NC).

In addition, if students are unable to complete a course within the fixed period set by the university, they are eligible for other types of grades. For example, withdrawal form the course result in a grade of W. When the student is unable to take the final examination, an “Absent” (Abs or SF) may be given. Inability to complete a class project by the end of the term may be records as “incomplete” (inc. or 1). The professor may change this grade to a letter grade (A_F) when the student has been given sufficient time to finish the project.

The Grade-Point Average

The only grades which really matter are the five letter grades. These are averaged to determine the student’s grade-point average (GPA). Thus letter grades which were adopted in preference to numerical scoring, are resource-converted to numbers. Generally, A = 4 grade (or quality) points per credit, B = 3, C = 2 and D = 1. Thus, An A in a 3-credit equals 12 quality points. The average is calculated by dividing the total quality points by the total number of credits.

There are, of course, term averages and cumulative grade-point averages (CGPA) or as students call it a “cum” (Kyume). A “B average” indicates a GPA of about 3.0. A cumulative C Average (2.0) is usually the minimum requirement for graduation. A student with a 3.5 or better cumulative GPA would receive awards and distinctions. (Source: Barnes, Gregory A: The American University – a world Guide. Philadelphia, ISI Press, 1976).