International students should be aware of the UK Grading System before relocating there for further education because it is quite distinctive. The problem is that only some parts of the UK make advantage of it. The Scottish utilise a different grading system than those used in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Here, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the UK grading system.
An Overview of the UK Grading System
Elementary, secondary, further, and higher education are the four main tiers of the UK’s educational system. Students are evaluated after each educational stage, as would be expected, however, the grading scale is different for each stage. Here we are going to take a closer look at how it works:
UK Grading System in Compulsory Education (UGSCE)
The General Certificate of Secondary Education, or GCSE, is a certification test that students between the ages of 15 and 17 take in Year 11. The majority of these UK students are from Wales, England, and Northern Ireland. Their learning progress is evaluated by the test. In the UK, there are two GCSE grading scales in use. The modern system grades students from 1 to 9, as opposed to the previous one’s A–G scale.
Institutions in Wales and Northern Ireland employ this system. The best possible grade is A, while the worst mark is G. A grade of D is considered acceptable.
New UK Grading System
This system is generally used all over England. The new system has a maximum grade of nine and a passing grade of four. In both grading systems, pupils who receive lesser grades are assigned a U, which stands for ungraded. This grading system, however, is irrelevant to Indian students because they attend UK universities for graduate, postgraduate, and professional programmes. Before switching to the other systems, it’s crucial to comprehend the GCSE grading system.
UK Grading System in Higher Education
Grade structures in the UK school system are designed to be altered for kids older than 16. The GCE Advanced Level (A-Level) is now taken into consideration in its place. The final exam is often taken following high school graduation. This qualification is used by students to apply for admission to universities. The grading scale is the same as that used for English GCSEs; pupils receive grades ranging from A (the best score) to E (the lowest score). Those who achieve less than the required marks receive a U (an unclassified) grade.
UK Undergraduate Grading System
In the UK, undergraduates can choose between two different sorts of degrees, although the marking scheme is the same for both. The two different degree categories are
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Pass degree or an ordinary degree: It is a typical bachelor’s degree, with the Bachelor of Science serving as the most prevalent example (B.Sc).
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Honours Degree: An undergraduate degree with honours is known as an “honours degree” and is thought to be of a higher calibre than a regular degree. The most typical illustration is B.Sc. Honours.
First-Class Degree
First-class honours grades in undergraduate courses denote superior performance. It is equivalent to a minimum of 70% or more in percentage terms. It is equivalent to an A in letter grades.
A first- or a 2:1 degree is the most common academic achievement in England, with 90% of graduates leaving with a first- or a 2:1 over the past eight years.
Upper Second-Class Degree (2:1)
It is typically equivalent to 60%–69% in undergraduate studies, commonly known as a 2:1. Although it acknowledges that students are extremely proficient, it also points out areas where they need to improve.
Lower Second-Class Degree (2:2)
The second-class degree, sometimes known as a 2:2, is equivalent to a score between 50% and 59%. Students in lower second classes have lesser academic achievement without exhibiting any notable academic capabilities.
