The UK grading system is not very different from the grading systems in many countries, like China, India, the USA, or European Countries. The top grades go to students who get very high percentages, and the pass grades are given to anyone who manages to achieve the minimum grade required.
The Difference Between the US vs UK Grading Systems
The United Kingdom uses letter grades, but not in the same way that the United States does. In the UK, an A is anything above 70%, rather than each letter representing 10%. And each letter after that represents a 10% reduction. A failing grade is also unique.
It is difficult to compare grading systems across different countries as they may have different objectives and criteria for assessment. However, the UK grading system is generally considered to be rigorous and challenging, and students must demonstrate a high level of knowledge and skills to achieve the top grades.
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%)
Master courses are graded on a very similar scale to undergraduate classes in the UK. A 70% is considered excellent and equates roughly to an American grade of A. If you graduate with a 70% or above in the UK, you'll be granted a distinction. Students with a 60-69% grade average may earn merits or commendations.
Is 75 an A in Australia? Most of the universities in Australia will consider anywhere between 70 and 84 score as a Distinction which is equivalent to A in the states.
What Grade Is 70% In Australia? In Australian universities and colleges, scoring 70% typically corresponds to a Credit (C), Distinction (D), or High Achievement (B) grade.
What are letter grades and how do they convert into percentages? Common examples of grade conversion are: A+ (97–100), A (93–96), 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 (65–66), D- (below 65).
In the UK they grade on what amounts to a seven-point scale. 70% or above is the top band of marks. It is still relatively rare for a student to receive higher than an 80%, though it does happen. Anything in the 60% range—what is known as a 2:1—is considered a “good” grade.
High Distinction and Distinction are among the top honours that you can receive as a student in Australia; these can range from obtaining 80 or 85 out of 100 in all courses for a High Distinction to 75-84 or 70-79 for a Distinction.
It is much harder to get a top mark in a top University. This is reflected by the statistics on the number of top grades handed out by Universities, in which the lower quality Universities hand out the highest awards to students most frequently. It is much harder to get a top mark in a top University.
The UK uses the honours system from First Class to Third Class while Australia separates grades through high distinction to a fail. Australia also has a seven scale Grade Point Average (GPA) system where the marks transfers as below: High Distinction = 7. Distinction = 6.
Evaluation System of the UK
The UK ranking scheme is one of the world's most powerful systems, which is why similar assessment approaches are used by countries such as Australia, Canada and India.
First-class degree
In more simple terms it means that your overall academic score is equal or above to 70% of the total score you could have achieved in your undergraduate degree course. It is like saying your average grade at the undergraduate level was an A.
Schools assess the National 5 courses, the Highers and Advanced Highers with letter grades from A to D, with D being a fail (below 40%). A = 70-100% (good to very good); B = 60-69% (more than sufficient); C = 50-59% (sufficient);
A Grade Point Average is a numerical calculation, weighted by credit points, of the mean grades received over a defined study period (eg. semester/teaching period/year) or program, and is calculated by dividing the Grade Points achieved by the Credit Points achieved for each term/year/program.
The Universities in Australia provide 6 and 7 as their top scores. Recruiters recruit students with this GPA range; thus, if you have 6 as your GPA score, then you have got distinction in the course. However, if you have scored a GPA of 7, then it is the highest possible score.
If you are pursuing an undergraduate, master's or doctoral degree at an Australian university, you will be assessed according to the higher education grading scheme, which includes the following terminology. P – Pass. A pass is awarded to students who receive between 50% and 64%.
While 7 represents the highest GPA in Australia, 0 represents the lowest. The word GPA alludes to the average result of all your grades, and it works on the basis of a seven-point academic grading scale.
Outplacement Australia director Gillian Kelly says a student's GPA is more relevant in some industries than others. “Some (employers) don't look at anyone with below a 5 or 5.5 (out of 7),” she says.