The American academic grading system is diverse, employing various methods to evaluate student performance. Traditionally, grades are assigned as letter grades, percentage scores, or a combination of both.
If you need to calculate your grade, use the Online Grade Calculator, select the American Grading System, enter your data, and receive your grade based on that system.
Check out the following writing for a detailed discussion on each of these grading systems:
Letter Grades and Their Meanings
The most common letter grades range from A+ to F, with A+ being the highest and F denoting failure. Here's an overview of how these grades are typically structured and applied across different educational levels:
Standard Letter Grades:
In some schools, variations like A+, A-, B+, etc., provide a more nuanced evaluation. For instance, an A+ might represent 97-100%, while an A- could range from 90-92%.
Grading Scales in Higher Education:
Numeric and Percentage Grades
Grades can also be given as percentages and then converted to letter grades based on a specific scale. For instance:
90-100% corresponds to an A
80-89% to a B
70-79% to a C
60-69% to a D
Below 60% to an F
These percentage grades are often used to calculate a student's Grade Point Average (GPA), a key metric in U.S. education.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
The GPA is a numerical representation of a student's overall academic performance. It is calculated on a 4.0 scale in most institutions:
Some schools offer weighted GPAs for honors or Advanced Placement (AP) courses, where an A might be worth 4.5 or 5.0 points.
How to Calculate GPA?
To calculate the GPA, you would:
Convert each grade into its numerical equivalent.
Multiply each grade by the number of credits (or weight) of the course.
Sum these values.
Divide by the total number of credits (or weights).
Here's an example to illustrate. Imagine you are enrolled in three courses: Chemistry (3 credits), Mathematics (2 credits), and English (3 credits). Your grades are as follows:
Chemistry: C (2.0 on the GPA scale)
Mathematics: B (3.0 on the GPA scale)
English: A (4.0 on the GPA scale)
To find the total grade points, multiply the grade by the credits for each course: Chemistry earns 6 grade points, Mathematics earns 6, and English earns 12, totaling 24 grade points.
To determine your GPA, divide the total grade points (24) by the total number of credits (8). Therefore, GPA 24/8 =3.00
Variations in Grading
Grading scales can vary significantly. For instance, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) uses a 5.0 scale. Other variations include the six-point scale used by Phillips Academy at Andover and the eleven-point system used by Phillips Exeter Academy.
Standards-Based and Rank-Based Grading
Standards-Based Grading: Students are graded against set standards rather than each other. Grades reflect whether students are exceeding, meeting, or falling below these standards.
Rank-Based Grading (Curving): Grades are distributed based on the performance of the group. For example, the top 20% might receive an A, the next 20% a B, and so on.
Special Grades and Alternatives
Special Grades:
XF: Denotes failure due to academic dishonesty or withdrawal after the refund period.
FN: Failure for non-attendance.
W: Withdrawal without academic penalty.
I: Incomplete.
Alternative Approaches:
Some colleges use narrative evaluations instead of letter grades to provide a more detailed assessment of a student's performance.
Certain institutions, like St. John's College, emphasize a de-emphasis on grades in favor of comprehensive assessments.
Conclusion
The American grading system, with its multitude of scales and methods, aims to offer a comprehensive assessment of student performance. Whether through traditional letter grades, percentages, or narrative evaluations, the goal is to accurately reflect a student's understanding and mastery of course material.