US Grading System

In schools and universities, the grading system is a common evaluation method that is used to calculate students' overall performance. This article will help you understand the US grading system. One of the most popular study abroad countries, the US is home to a number of leading universities which attract thousands of international students every year.

If you plan on studying in the USA, you should be familiar with the grading system of the country. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about the US grading system. In addition, the article provides a comparison between the grading systems used in the US and the UK. 

Table of Contents

• US University Grading System
• What is GPA and how is it Calculated?
• Types of GPA
• US Grading System: 4.0 GPA Scale
• Types of Honors in the US Education System
• Comparing the US and UK Grading Systems

US University Grading System

The United States has one of the best educational systems in the world, thus making its grading system top-notch. The USA follows two types of grading systems: letter grades and numerical grades.

Letter grades are those assigned to students in routine assessments, such as A, B, and C. Grades can also be converted into grade point averages. Numerical grades are another type of US grading system. This type of grading system has a unique 0 to 100 scale. 

The letter system begins with A and ends with F, along with the percentage indicating the number of questions answered correctly. The US grading system is described in detail below.

Because of its unique nature, the US grading system is further subdivided into a number of grade minus and grade plus. Due to the bifurcation, the evaluation has become significantly more intricate, making it easier for students and teachers to comprehend nearly the exact score. The following is the next level bifurcation of 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

What is GPA and how is it Calculated?

Grade Point Average (GPA) is the standard method of calculating academic achievement in the United States. In other words, your GPA indicates the type of student you are, based on your performance over the course of your degree.

You will probably receive a GPA that is close to 4.0, if you passed all of your classes with high grades. On the other hand, if you struggled in some classes but did well in others, you might have a GPA of 2.5 to 3.0. If you're applying for scholarships, enrolling in a master's program or looking for a job opportunity, your GPA is one of the first things that will be taken into consideration. 

Each course has a particular number of 'units' or 'credits' based on the content and the amount of time needed for classes and homework. In order to calculate your average GPA, add together all the quality points achieved in each unit and divide it by the total number of course credits or units you attempted.

Types of GPA

Let's move on to the next aspect of the US grading system, the types of GPA. As mentioned earlier, US colleges and universities use Grade Point Average (GPA) to describe a student's performance. The GPA is divided into three major categories, each representing a distinct level of study. The three categories are as follows:

• Class GPA
• Semester GPA
• Cumulative GPA

US Grading System: 4.0 GPA Scale

Universities and colleges in the USA generally use a 4.0 GPA scale as part of their grading system. The GPA system first converts students' numerical grades back to letter grades, which are then converted to 4.0 scales.The table below shows how this type of grading scale works:

Types of Honors in the US Education System

Students who qualify for any level of education according to the US grading system may be awarded a complimentary honor based on their GPA. There are primarily three categories of honors. They can differ from one university to the next and are also dependent on other criteria. The Latin language is used for all types of honors. All three honors are reserved for students with a higher grade point average. These three honors are mentioned below:

• Cum Laude – With Honor
• Magna Cum Laude – With Great Honor
• Suma Cum Laude – With Greatest Honor

Comparing the US and UK Grading Systems

Since both the United States and the United Kingdom have exemplary education systems, their grading systems are always compared. Here are the most significant differences between the US and UK grading systems:

Under the UK education system, children begin their schooling at the early age of four and academics are emphasized from the very beginning. As against this, the US school system places less importance on examinations since students have to go through a number of major stages before they can graduate with a high school diploma.

As opposed to the UK's grading system, which includes GCSEs and A Levels to assess students' knowledge, the US's grading system does not have any such national exam. Instead, it evaluates students only on the basis of school-based assessments.

The UK education system offers students the opportunity to select the specialization they wish to pursue following their secondary education, while the US education system offers degree programmes to enable them to further their higher education. Below is a comparison of the different phases of education under the US and United Kingdom grading systems: