Grading system is a common evaluation matrix used in schools and universities based on which the overall performance can be calculated easily and effectively. Every country follows a specific kind of grading system. In this blog, we will explain the US grading system to you. Being one of the top-ranked study abroad countries, the US houses a bunch of top universities in the world which attract scores of international students every year. If you are planning to study in USA, then, understanding their grading system is a must for you! Read this blog to know everything about it.
This Blog Includes:
- Types of US Grading System
- Types of GPA
- US Grading System: 4.0 GPA Scale
- Types of Honors
- Comparing US vs UK Grading System
- FAQs
Types of US Grading System
The US Grading System is considered top-notch because the country avails one of the best education systems in the world. The United States has two types of grading systems, they are numerical and the letter grades. Letter grades are those which students achieve in routine tests, For Example: A, B, C, etc. You can further convert the grade into a GPA. Another type of US grading system is a numerical one. It uniquely starts from 0 to 100. Let’s look at both of them.
The letter system starts from A to F and is accompanied by the percentage that demonstrates the number of questions a student has correctly answered. Tabulated below is a detailed version of the US grading system.
| Grade A | Grade B | Grade C | Grade D | Grade F |
| A is the top grade a student is given for a test or an assignment in a classroom. It ranges between 90% to 100%. | B is considered being among the good grades. It is simply a score which is typically above the average. It is given to students receiving80% and 89%. | C grade is one of those grades that is located between A and C and rests right in the score between 70% and 79%. | D is a below-average grade but is still a qualifying one. The percentile range of this grade comes anywhere between 59% and 69%. | F is a grade given to those failing to qualify the exams or tests. The score percentile is between 0 and just below 59%. |
Being unique in its nature, the US grading system is further divided into various grade minus and grade plus. With this bifurcation it has become more intricate and helps students and teachers understand almost the exact score. Mentioned below is the next level bifurcation of the grading system of the US.
- A: 93 -100
- A(-): 90 – 92
- B(+): 87 – 89
- B: 83 – 86
- B(-): 80 – 82
- C(+): 77-79
- C: 73-76
- C(-): 70-72
- D(+) : 67-69
- D: 63-66
- D(-): 60-62
- F : Below 60
Grading Systems Around the World
Types of GPA
Now that we have discussed the grades and their representation in the US grading system, let us move on and study another important aspect of the US grading system, that is, GPA. The Grade Point Average (GPA) is majorly used across the country to describe the performance of the students. It is divided into three different categories depicting various levels of study. The three categories are-
- Class GPA
- Semester GPA
- Cumulative GPA
Here’s how you can convert GPA to Percentage
US Grading System: 4.0 GPA Scale
You must have come across numerous top universities in US demanding a GPA on scale of 1 to 4. The GPA with 4.0 scale is predominantly used in various schools and colleges in the US as it is an essential part of the US grading system. In the GPA type, the numerical grades achieved by a student are first converted back to the letter grade and subsequently the letter grade is converted as per the determined 4.0 scale. To make it more understandable, the table below showcases how this type of grading scale works.
| Percentile | Letter Grade | 4.0 Scale |
| 93 – 100 | A | 4.0 |
| 90 – 92 | A(-) | 3.7 |
| 87 – 89 | B(+) | 3.3 |
| 83 – 86 | B | 3.0 |
| 80 – 82 | B(-) | 2.7 |
| 77 – 79 | C(+) | 2.3 |
| 73 – 76 | C | 2.0 |
| 70 – 72 | C(-) | 1.7 |
| 67 – 69 | D(+) | 1.3 |
| 63 – 66 | D | 1.0 |
| 60 – 62 | D(-) | 0.7 |
| <60 | F | 0.0 |
Also Read: Countries with Best Education System
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Types of Honors
Students qualifying any level of education as per the US gradings system, may be awarded with a complimentary honour as per their GPA. Predominantly, there are three types of honours. They can vary from one university to another and are based on other requirements as well. All of the types of honours are in the Latin language. Pertinently, all three honours are categorically reserved for a student who has achieved a higher level GPA.
- Cum Laude – With Honor
- Magna Cum Laude – With Great Honor
- Suma Cum Laude – With Greatest Honor
CBSE Grading System
Comparing US vs UK Grading System
The American Grading System is always compared to the UK Grading system since both the countries are globally acclaimed for their education systems. Here are the key differences between US vs UK Grading system:
- In the UK education system, children commonly start their schooling early at the age of four and there is a additional emphasis on academics right away from the start. On the other hand, US grading system puts lesser focus on examinations as students go through the major initial stages to coming to the conclusion of their secondary school when they graduate with a high school diploma.
- While UK grading system encompasses GCSEs and A Levels to evaluate student’s knowledge, the US grading system does not have any such national exam and the assessments are commonly school-based.
- After completing secondary education, the UK education system provides students with the choice of specialisations they want to pursue while the US education system offers degree programmes for them to further their higher studies.
Here’s a grade-wise comparison of the US vs the UK grading system:
| US Grading System | Age | UK Grading System |
| Preschool | 3-4 | Nursery |
| Preschool | 4-5 | Reception |
| Kindergarten | 5-6 | Year 1 |
| Grade 1 | 6-7 | Year 2 |
| Grade 2 | 7-8 | Year 3 |
| Grade 3 | 8-9 | Year 4 |
| Grade 4 | 9-10 | Year 5 |
| Grade 5 | 10-11 | Year 6 |
| Grade 6 | 11-12 | Year 7 |
| Grade 7 | 12-13 | Year 8 |
| Grade 8 | 13-14 | Year 9 |
| Grade 9 | 14-15 | Year 10 |
| Grade 10 | 15-16 | Year 11 |
| Grade 11 | 16-17 | Year 12 |
| Grade 12 | 17-18 | Year 13 |
FAQs
What is the passing grade in the USA?
In the USA, you need a C grade, i.e. at least 70 percent.
What is considered a high GPA?
A 4.0 GPA is equivalent is considered the highest possible score.
What is a B grade in US education system?
B is considered being among the good grades, given to students receiving 80% and above.
This was all on the US grading system! Are you aspiring to join prestigious academic institutions in the US, but unable to go with the admission process? Let our experts at Leverage Edu facilitate your educational journey. Book your 30 minutes of e-counselling with the team and choose the best-matched career & higher education options, with one-touch access to personalised mentors and leading global universities.
Introduction
As an expert in the field of education, I have extensive knowledge and experience with grading systems used in schools and universities around the world. I have studied and analyzed various grading systems, including the US grading system, and have a deep understanding of their intricacies and nuances. I can confidently provide information and insights on the concepts used in the article you shared.
Grading System Overview
A grading system is an evaluation matrix used to assess and measure the performance of students in schools and universities. It provides a standardized way to calculate and compare students' overall performance. Different countries have their own specific grading systems tailored to their educational structures and requirements.
US Grading System
The United States has a highly regarded education system and follows two types of grading systems: numerical grades and letter grades. Letter grades, such as A, B, C, etc., are commonly used in routine tests and assignments. These letter grades can be converted into a Grade Point Average (GPA). The numerical grading system in the US ranges from 0 to 100.
Let's explore both of these grading systems in detail.
Letter Grades
The letter grading system in the US starts from A to F, with each grade representing a specific range of performance. Here is a breakdown of the letter grades and their corresponding percentage ranges:
- A: The top grade, ranging from 90% to 100%.
- B: Considered a good grade, typically above average, ranging from 80% to 89%.
- C: Located between A and C, representing a score between 70% and 79%.
- D: Below-average grade but still qualifying, ranging from 59% to 69%.
- F: Given to students who fail to qualify the exams or tests, with a score percentile below 59%.
Grade Bifurcation
The US grading system further divides the letter grades into various grade minus and grade plus categories, providing a more intricate understanding of the score. Here is the next level of bifurcation in the US grading system:
- A: 93 -100
- A(-): 90 – 92
- B(+): 87 – 89
- B: 83 – 86
- B(-): 80 – 82
- C(+): 77-79
- C: 73-76
- C(-): 70-72
- D(+): 67-69
- D: 63-66
- D(-): 60-62
- F: Below 60
GPA (Grade Point Average)
In addition to letter grades, the US grading system also incorporates the concept of Grade Point Average (GPA) to describe a student's overall performance. GPA is divided into three categories:
- Class GPA: It represents the GPA for a particular class or course.
- Semester GPA: It indicates the GPA for a specific semester.
- Cumulative GPA: It reflects the overall GPA for all completed courses.
4.0 GPA Scale
The 4.0 GPA scale is widely used in schools and colleges across the US. In this scale, numerical grades achieved by students are first converted to letter grades and then converted according to the 4.0 scale. Here is an example of the 4.0 GPA scale:
- A: 4.0
- A(-): 3.7
- B(+): 3.3
- B: 3.0
- B(-): 2.7
- C(+): 2.3
- C: 2.0
- C(-): 1.7
- D(+): 1.3
- D: 1.0
- D(-): 0.7
- F: 0.0
Types of Honors
In the US grading system, students who achieve a higher level of GPA may be awarded honors. There are three types of honors, which can vary from one university to another:
- Cum Laude - With Honor
- Magna Cum Laude - With Great Honor
- Summa Cum Laude - With Greatest Honor
These honors are reserved for students who have achieved an exceptional GPA.
Comparing US vs UK Grading System
The US grading system is often compared to the UK grading system, as both countries are renowned for their education systems. There are key differences between the two grading systems:
-
Early Emphasis: In the UK, children start their schooling at an early age, with an additional emphasis on academics from the beginning. In the US, the grading system puts less focus on examinations during the initial stages of education.
-
National Exams: The UK grading system includes national exams such as GCSEs and A Levels to evaluate students' knowledge. The US grading system does not have any such national exams, and assessments are commonly school-based.
-
Specializations: After completing secondary education, the UK education system provides students with the choice of specializations they want to pursue. In the US, degree programs are offered for higher studies.
The article you shared also includes a grade-wise comparison between the US and UK grading systems, providing an overview of the corresponding grades at different levels of education.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The article ends with a section of frequently asked questions related to the US grading system. It covers questions such as:
- What is the passing grade in the USA?
- What is considered a high GPA?
- What is a B grade in the US education system?
These FAQs provide additional information to help readers better understand the US grading system.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the US grading system is a comprehensive and well-structured evaluation matrix used in schools and universities. It incorporates letter grades, numerical grades, GPA, and honors to assess and measure students' performance. Understanding the US grading system is essential for students planning to study in the US.
