Grading Scale Chart [Letter, Percentage, GPA]

A grading scale chart typically outlines the criteria and corresponding grades or scores used to assess student performance in a course or assignment.

To calculate your grades, use the Online Grade Calculator for the easiest calculation.

What is the Grading Scale?

A grading scale is a standardized system used to evaluate and assign levels of achievement or performance in academic courses or assessments. It typically consists of a set of categories or descriptors, such as letter grades (e.g., A, B, C, D, F), numerical scores, or qualitative descriptors (e.g., excellent, satisfactory, needs improvement).

Grading scales can vary depending on the educational institution, the country or region, and the standard or level of education. Some of these grading charts are discussed below:

Elementary School

Grading scales in elementary school are often less about letter grades and more about developmental stages and qualitative feedback. However, some schools do use traditional letter grades:

Percentage
Letter Grade
Description
90-100%
A
Excellent
80-89%
B
Good
70-79%
C
Satisfactory
60-69%
D
Needs Improvement
Below 60%
F
Unsatisfactory

You can use the School Grade Calculator to calculate your grades if necessary.
High School
High school grading systems are more standardized, typically using letter grades that correspond to a GPA:

Percentage
Letter Grade
GPA
Description
97-100%
A+
4.0
Excellent
93-96%
A
4.0
90-92%
A-
3.7
87-89%
B+
3.3
Good
83-86%
B
3.0
80-82%
B-
2.7
77-79%
C+
2.3
Satisfactory
73-76%
C
2.0
70-72%
C-
1.7
67-69%
D+
1.3
Needs Improvement
65-66%
D
1.0
Below 65%
F
0.0
Failing

If you need to calculate your high school grades based on your grading system, use the High School Grade Calculator.
College/University
College grading systems are similar to high school but might have variations, especially in how plus and minus grades affect GPA:

Percentage
Letter Grade
GPA
Description
93-100%
A
4.0
Excellent
90-92%
A-
3.7
87-89%
B+
3.3
Good
83-86%
B
3.0
80-82%
B-
2.7
77-79%
C+
2.3
Satisfactory
73-76%
C
2.0
70-72%
C-
1.7
67-69%
D+
1.3
Needs Improvement
65-66%
D
1.0
Below 65%
F
0.0
Failing

To calculate your GPA, simply use the GPA Calculator for quick results.
In conclusion
Elementary Schools: Often qualitative, sometimes A-F.
High Schools: Letter grades with GPA (4.0 scale).
Colleges/Universities: Similar to high school with possible variations.
Grading Systems in Key International Countries
India: Percentage-based with grades like A, B, C, F.
China: 100-point scale, with 60+ passing.
United States: Letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) and GPAs.
United Kingdom: Letter grades and degree classifications (First Class, Second Class, etc.).
Canada: Letter grades (A, B, C, D) with corresponding percentages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the scale for grades?

The grading scale typically refers to the system used to assign letter grades based on numerical scores. The most common standard scale is based on the 4.0 scale, where:

A = 90-100% (4.0)
B = 80-89% (3.0)
C = 70-79% (2.0)
D = 60-69% (1.0)
F = below 60% (0.0)

What are the 4 grading categories?

The most commonly used 4 grading categories are:

Letter Grades: A, B, C, D, F: The traditional letter grades, often with pluses and minuses (e.g., A-, B+), indicate a range of performance from excellent to failing.
Percentage Grades: 100% Scale: Grades are given as a percentage of total points earned out of points possible, often converted into letter grades.
GPA (Grade Point Average): 4.0 Scale or Weighted GPA: A cumulative measure that averages the numerical equivalents of letter grades over a set period, often incorporating course difficulty.

Pass/Fail: Students receive either a "Pass" if they meet the course requirements or "Fail" if they do not. This does not typically affect GPA.

What is the 7 point scale for grading?

The seven-point scale uses 7 percentage points between each letter grade which means that the difference in percentage needed to move from one letter grade to the next is generally around 7 percentage points.

This scale assigns grades based on specific percentage ranges, rounding up if the percentage is 0.5 below a cutoff. The grades are A, B, C, D, F, and I (Incomplete). Here are the ranges:

A+: 98.5–100
A: 95.5–98.49
A-: 92.5–95.49
B+: 89.5–92.49
B: 86.5–89.49
B-: 84.5–86.49
C+: 82.5–84.49
C: 79.5–82.49
C-: 76.5–79.49
D+: 74.5–76.49
D: 72.5–74.49
D-: 69.7–72.49
F: 0.5–69.69
I: 0

What are the grading scale ratings?

Grading scale ratings often include:

A (Excellent): Indicates exceptional understanding and mastery.
B (Good): Indicates good understanding and mastery.
C (Average): Indicates satisfactory understanding and mastery.
D (Below Average): Indicates minimal understanding and mastery.
F (Fail): Indicates failure to understand or master the material.
Plus/Minus grades: These offer more granularity within each letter grade, such as B+ (3.3) or B- (2.7) on a 4.0 scale.
Pass/Fail: Some courses may use a pass/fail system where students receive either a "P" for passing or an "F" for failing, without affecting their GPA.

Percentage	Letter Grade	Description
90-100%	A	Excellent
80-89%	B	Good
70-79%	C	Satisfactory
60-69%	D	Needs Improvement
Below 60%	F	Unsatisfactory