A systematic grading system serves as proof of your academic performance and helps you course-correct your progress. Each and every country has a specific grading system by which they determine a student's calibre, and the UK grading systems in particular are deemed highly reliable. If you are an international student who is looking to study in the UK, you need to be aware of them and ensure that you've got what it takes to thrive there.

The grading system that the universities predominantly follow in the UK has the efficiency to evaluate your skills as a student and give you the confidence to study further in your field of choice.

A deeper understanding of the UK grading system might help you choose an ideal career path while you are deciding on a course to study in the UK. Here are some things you need to know about the UK university grading system.

ECTS grades

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a standardised grading system used in Europe to measure the academic credits of students. It is then used to transfer credits across different institutions and countries. This specific grading system is used to assess a student's performance and assign a grade based on their achievements.

The ECTS grading system uses a scale from A to F, with A as the highest grade and F as the lowest. Each grade corresponds to a certain range of points, which are used to calculate a student's grade point average (GPA). 

GCSE grades

The General Certificate of Secondary Education, also known as GCSE, is a qualification that students in the United Kingdom typically complete at the age of 16. Using the GCSE grading system, an individual student's performance is assessed and a grade is assigned based on their achievements in various subjects.

The GCSE grading system uses a scale of 1-9, with 9 being the highest grade and 1 the lowest. Each grade corresponds to a certain range of marks, which are used to calculate a student's overall grade in a particular subject. 

UK grading system for higher education

Your grades are among the influencing factors when it comes to your higher education and its scope. They have the potential to help you get into a top university and speak for you and your calibre.

Most universities consider your previous year's grades as one of the eligibility requirements to consider your application for your desired higher education course. The academic eligibility requirements might differ based on the university and the course that you are choosing.

The minimum score that is accepted by most universities in the UK is 40%, making it easy for most students to study at their desired university even if they have not acquired a higher grade.

Here is a table showing the grade levels and what they mean:

Grade

Percentage value

Grade definition

A

70% and above

Outstanding 

B

60 to 69% 

Good

C

50 to 59%

Satisfactory

D

40 to 49%

Sufficient

E

30 to 39%

Unsatisfactory

F

0 to 29%

Fail/Unsatisfactory

UK grading system for undergraduate degrees

Here are the levels at which the grades are classified by universities.

First class degree - The first class degree is usually considered an A grade or a numerical value of above 70% as your overall score. Getting a first-class grade value in your higher education can help you get greater career prospects and you will be given top preference even for your further studies.

Second class degree - An academic score that ranges between 50 to 69% is considered a second-class degree and usually has a grade scale of A- or B+.

Third class degree - A third class degree is given for an academic score of 40 to 49% and comes under the grade scale of C or C+.

The grade equivalents have different names for both a foundation degree and an honours degree. Here are the grade equivalents for each of the grades. 

Grades

Honours degree

Foundation degree

A

First Class

Distinction

B

Upper second class

Merit

C

Lower second class

Pass

D

Third class

Pass

E

Fail

Fail

F

Fail

Fail

UK grading system for postgraduate degrees

There are different types of postgraduate degrees and each of them holds their own significance.

Taught master's degree - The scoring process for a taught master's degree works the same way as the usual grading system in the UK. It ranges from distinction to an average satisfactory score.


Integrated master's degree - The grading system for an integrated master's program in the UK works from first class honours being the highest and third class honours being the lowest.

Difference between the US and the UK grading system

 Even though both the UK and the US universities use the term 'grading system' in their academic vocabulary, there is a slight difference in what each of the countries represent. To start off, each letter grade represents 10% in the US grading system. On the other hand, anything above 70% is considered an A grade in the UK grading system.

GPAs are specific to the US grading system, whereas in the UK, this is replaced with a first class, upper second class (2.1), lower second class (2.2), third class, and so on. Here is a table that can help you understand the difference between the two grading systems better. 

Percentage 

UK grade equivalent

US grade equivalent

90 - 100%

First

A

80 - 90%

B

70 - 80%

C

60 - 70%

2.1

D

50 - 60%

2.2

E

How does AECC help?

While grades are an essential part of a student's education, there is more to an individual's journey as a student. If you are looking to get into a great university and are currently working on getting good grades, consistency is the key to it.

At AECC, we provide students with constant support and guidance right from the process of picking the right university to landing at their dream university.

Reach out to us, and get started with your study abroad journey now!

FAQs

What grading scale is used in UK universities?

Most universities in the UK use a grading scale ranging from A to F, with A being the highest grade and F indicating a fail.