Understanding grades (2024)

Degree classifications

UK degree classifications are as follows:

  • First-Class Honours (First or 1st) (70% and above)
  • Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1, 2.i) (60-70%)
  • Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2, 2.ii) (50-60%)
  • Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd) (40-50%)

Visit theRegulationsfor further information on degree classifications.

In your first year at university, achieving a grade of 50% or more is a good thing. You can build on your work and improve as you work towards your final grade. Scores above 70% are classed as “First”, so you should be very excited to get a grade in that range.

It is rare for students to achieve grades higher than 90%, though this can happen. Remember as well that you will be surrounded by other highly motivated and capable students, so you may not automatically be top of the class anymore! Don’t worry – lots of your fellow students will be feeling the same, and there is always someone you can talk to about this. Having realistic expectations about your grades will help to reduce the possibility of feeling disappointed with yourself.

Understanding grades (2024)

FAQs

Is 70% an OK grade? ›

C - this is a grade that rests right in the middle. C is anywhere between 70% and 79% D - this is still a passing grade, and it's between 59% and 69%

How do you say you have good grades? ›

Example #1. Yes, I feel my grades are a very accurate indication of my success in college and graduate school. I took my academics very seriously and worked very hard for the grades I received. I am proud of the achievements I have made.

Is 60% a bad grade? ›

Numerical and letter grades

However, there are some schools that consider a C the lowest passing grade, so the general standard is that anything below a 60% or 70% is failing, depending on the grading scale. In college and universities, a D is considered to be an unsatisfactory passing grade.

Why do I study so much but get bad grades? ›

The solution: Take advantage of studying opportunities like in class discussions, peer study groups, and reviewing your notes after class. Studying a little bit each day makes it easier to study (and remember) the material, giving you a head start when it comes to test time.

What GPA is all C's? ›

To convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale:
Letter GradePercent Grade4.0 Scale
C+77-792.3
C73-762.0
C-70-721.7
D+67-691.3
8 more rows

Is A 1.5 GPA bad? ›

The answer is No. The national average for a GPA is around 3.0 and a 1.5 GPA puts you below that average. A 1.5 GPA means that you've gotten only C-s and D+s in your high school classes so far. Since this GPA is significantly below a 2.0, it will make things very difficult for you in the college application process.

Do good grades matter in life? ›

Grades by no means define a student, but that doesn't mean they aren't very important. They can influence your class, college, scholarship, and career opportunities.

What do decent grades look like? ›

A+, A, A- indicates excellent performance. B+, B, B- indicates good performance. C+, C, C- indicates satisfactory performance.

Can I get a good job with bad grades? ›

You can put your GPA on a job application, but to a lot of employers, experience trumps grades. And while you can't drum up better grades, you can most certainly get the kind of experience that will lead to a good job—by doing an internship or two.

Is a 2.1 GPA bad in college? ›

Is a 2.1 GPA good? The answer is No. The national average for a GPA is around 3.0 and a 2.1 GPA puts you below that average.

Is C a failing grade? ›

A grade of C or better is required to earn a Passed; a C- or below will earn a Not Passed grade. A grade of C- may satisfy many requirements (e.g., General Education, elective) but a Not Passed grade will not earn any credit or satisfy requirements.

Why is there no e grade? ›

In the 1930s, as the letter-based grading system grew more and more popular, many schools began omitting E in fear that students and parents may misinterpret it as standing for “excellent.” Thus resulting in the A, B, C, D, and F grading system.

Why you shouldn't obsess over grades? ›

there is a significant amount of evidence that 'their mental well-being is at risk'.” So there you go, physical evidence: if you overthink your grades, it's going to affect your health, which is far more important than that perfect score? Stress can do bad things – learn to relax, have a break, have a Kit Kat.

Why do I cry because of grades? ›

It could be that you have set your expectations for yourself too high. That you see a bad grade as a pattern of failure. That the pressure from one bad grade is so distracting that it leads to another. That you care too much about what others think.

Why am I failing school all of a sudden? ›

A rapid reduction in grades could be caused by anything simple, such as failing to turn in a large project on time, or something more serious, such as bullying at school, health challenges, or family issues.

Is a 70 still passing in college? ›

Depending on the grading scale of a college or university, anything below 70% is considered failed. However, there are colleges and universities that have different standards and designate grades below 60% as failing.

What is 70% for grade? ›

PercentLetter Grade
77 - 79C+
73 - 76C
70 - 72C-
67 - 69D+
8 more rows

What grade is 70% equal to? ›

Grade Scale
PercentageLetter Grade
98-100A+
70-72C-
67-69D+
63-66D
9 more rows

Is 70 percent a grade 7? ›

A student who gets grade 7 (lower A) must have scored approximately 70-82 per cent in their examinations. According to the GCSE 2022 grade boundaries, securing grade 7 is considered a pretty decent score.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Sen. Emmett Berge

Last Updated:

Views: 6774

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Emmett Berge

Birthday: 1993-06-17

Address: 787 Elvis Divide, Port Brice, OH 24507-6802

Phone: +9779049645255

Job: Senior Healthcare Specialist

Hobby: Cycling, Model building, Kitesurfing, Origami, Lapidary, Dance, Basketball

Introduction: My name is Sen. Emmett Berge, I am a funny, vast, charming, courageous, enthusiastic, jolly, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.