Do you want to study in the UK but are confused about the academic requirements? The UK university grading system is a renowned way of assessing the academic performance of undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Before applying to UK universities you should know about the grading system in the UK. Because a student must keep an overall concept of the education system of their preferred study destination. In this article, we tried to cover the overall concept of the UK university grading system, so hopefully, this article will help you a lot.
A Brief Overview of the UK University Grading System
In this article, we will discuss the UK university grading system for different study levels. But before going to that point first we should share a brief overview of the grading system in UK. So here it is.
| UK percentage | UK class |
|---|---|
| First - Class | 70 - 100 |
| Upper Second Class | 60 - 69 |
| Lower Second Class | 54 - 69 |
| Third - Class | 42 - 53 |
| Pass | 38 - 41 |
| Fail | 0 - 37 |
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Compulsory education in UK grading system (GCSE)
A General Certificate of Secondary Education is a mandatory qualification that is taken by students aged 15-17. This exam is taken by the students of England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. There are two GCSE grading systems such as old and new. The old system graded the students from A – G and the new system graded the students from 1-9. Here is the new GCSE grading system of the UK.
| England | Northern Ireland | Wales |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | A+ | A* |
| 8 | A | A |
| 7 | A | A |
| 6 | B | B |
| 5 | C* | B |
| 4 | C | C |
| 3 | D | D |
| 2 | E | E |
| 1 | F | F |
| 1 | G | G |
| U | U | U |
GCSE is a compulsory education in the UK. So, for understanding the UK university grading system you must be familiar with the grading system of GCSE.
UK grading system for A level (GCE)
GCE is a qualification for the students aged 16 or above. As like GCSE you should need the General Certificate of Education also to apply for a UK university. So, learning the GCE grading system is also mandatory for understanding the UK university grading system.
| Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A* | 90-100 |
| A | 80-89 |
| B | 70-79 |
| C | 60-69 |
| D | 50-59 |
| E | 40-49 |
UK university grading system for undergraduate programme
There are two types of undergraduate degrees in the UK but the grading system is the same. Such as-
- Ordinary Degree
It’s a regular Bachelor programme like Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts etc.
- Honors Degree
It is a standard undergraduate degree with honors such as BSc. honors or BBA etc.
UK university grading system for undergraduate programme can be classified into five types such as-
- First Class – 70% – above
- Upper Second Class – 60% – 69%
- Lower Second Class – 50% – 59%
- Third Class – 42% – 53%
- Pass – 38% – 41%
First Class
In the UK, a first-class degree is the best grade you can get in university. It’s given to students who do well in their studies, getting high marks overall.
To get a first-class degree, students usually need to have an average score of 70% or higher in all their exams and coursework. But this can change a bit depending on which university and which subject you’re studying.
Upper Second Class
A UK upper second-class degree, also called a 2:1, is the second-best grade you can earn in university. It’s awarded to students who do quite well in their studies but not as exceptionally as those with a first-class degree.
To get an upper second-class degree, students usually need to have an average score of 60-69% in all their exams and coursework. However, these requirements might change a bit based on where you study and what subject you’re studying.
Lower Second Class
A lower second-class degree, also known as a 2:2 degree, is the third-best grade you can get in university. To earn this degree, students usually need to get an average score between 50-59% on all their tests and assignments. However, the exact requirements can vary based on the university and the subject they’re studying.
Third Class
A third-class degree is the lowest grade a student can get in university. To earn this degree, students usually need to get an average score between 40-49% on all their tests and assignments. But these requirements might change depending on where you go to school and what you’re studying.
Pass
If your score is 38%- 41% your result will be considered as pass. However, we always encourage you to have a good grade so that the chances of your admission to the UK universities may increase.
If your score is below 38 you will be considered as a failure. If you want to sustain yourself at a top-ranked university in the UK and if you want to be a UK graduate you should keep your results up to the mark.
If your score is below 38 you will be considered as a failure. If you want to sustain yourself to a top-ranked university in the UK and if you want to be a UK graduate you should have to keep your result up to the mark.
UK university grading system for postgraduate programme
Before knowing the UK university postgraduate grading system you should note that there are two types of postgraduate programmes in the UK. Such as-
- Taught master’s programme
Generally a huge number of students visit the UK to pursue a taught master’s programme from around the world. Unlike the Bachelor’s degree, the grading system of two types of postgraduate degrees varies. So, here is the UK university grading system for postgraduate taught degrees.
| Distinction | 70% or above |
|---|---|
| Merit | 60% - 69% |
| Pass | 50% - 59% |
| Fail | 40% - 49% |
- Postgraduate research degree
Postgraduate research degree is also known as a PhD or Mphil. As the degree named by research it requires research. You can do a phD in the UK after completing your master’s. There is no specific grading system in the UK for research degrees. The universities provide the score as pass or fail with a handful distinction.
UK University Grading system vs US university grading system
The United Kingdom and the USA both are popular study destinations for international students. The education quality and the grading system of these two countries are always compared. So, here we are showing the basic differences between the grading systems of these two countries.
| UK percentage | UK Class | US grade | US GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70-100 | First Class | A | 4.0 |
| 60-69 | Upper Second Class | B+/B | 3.0-3.33 |
| 54-59 | Lower Second Class | B/B - | 2.67-3.0 |
| 42-53 | Third Class | C | 2.0 |
| 38-41 | Pass | D | 1.0 |
| 0-37 | Fail | F | 0 |
Final Words
Learning about the grading system of a university abroad where you are intending to study is very important for an international student. Hopefully this article will help you a lot to understand the UK university grading system and the difference between UK and US grading systems. So, if you are interested in studying in the UK for upcoming intake you can always contact AIMS Education for better guidance.
FAQ
What is 2:1 degree in the UK?
Ans: An upper second class honors degree with 60%-69% is also known as 2:1 or two-one. In the UK university grading system 70% – above is known as first class.
How are grades calculated in the UK universities?
Ans:Â For pursuing a higher education in the UK you must understand the UK universities grading system. So here it is.
•First Class – 70% – above
•Upper Second Class – 60% – 69%
•Lower Second Class – 50% – 59%
•Third Class – 42% – 53%
•Pass – 38% – 41%
How does the US and the UK university grading system differ?
Ans:Â The US and the UK are the most compared countries by international students. For showing the grading difference between two countries, here we are giving both of the grading systems.
UK Grading System
•First Class – 70% – above
•Upper Second Class – 60% – 69%
•Lower Second Class – 50% – 59%
•Third Class – 42% – 53%
•Pass – 38% – 41%
US Grading SystemÂ
•A = 4.0
•B+/B = 3.0 – 3.33
•B/B- = 2.67 – 3.0
•C = 2.0
•D = 1.0
•F = 0
Is the UK university grading system the same as the USA?
Ans:Â No. The USA and UK university grading systems differ to some extent. The UK uses classes for grading like first class, upper second class etc. and the US universities use GPA for grading.
Which countries follow the UK university grading system?
Ans:Â The grading system of the UK is better than many other countries. So, some top class countries like Australia and Canada also follow the grading system of the UK.
Which country has the best grading system?
Ans:Â The UK is the most preferred country for international students for their education quality. The grading system of the UK is the best and so some top-class countries like Canada and Australia also follow the UK university grading system.
