Your potential grades don’t just range from an A+ to an E. Find out about the variety of pass and fail grades that you may be awarded.
Standard pass/fail grades (from Trimester 1, 2014)
| Grade | Normal mark range | Midpoint | Indicative Characterisation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 90-100 | 95 | Outstanding performance |
| A | 85-89 | 87 | Excellent performance |
| A- | 80-84 | 82 | Excellent performance in most respects |
| B+ | 75-79 | 77 | Very good performance |
| B | 70-74 | 72 | Good performance |
| B- | 65-69 | 67 | Good performance overall, but some weaknesses |
| C+ | 60-64 | 62 | Satisfactory to good performance |
| C | 55-59 | 57 | Satisfactory performance |
| C- | 50-54 | 52 | Adequate evidence of learning |
| D | 40-49 | 45 | Poor performance overall, some evidence of learning. Fail. |
| E | 0-39 | 20 | Well below the required standard. Fail. |
Other pass grades
- P = Overall Pass (for a course classified as Pass/Fail)
- G = Aegrotat Pass
- J = Pass in recognition of prior learning
- L = Compensation Pass
- Z = Special Pass
Other fail grades
- F = Fail (for a course classified as Pass/Fail; also used for an unsuccessful Special Pass application)
- K = Fail due to not satisfying mandatory course requirements, even though the student’s course mark reached the level specified for a pass, usually 50 percent. (Q grades are no longer used.)
Non-pass grades
In addition to the grades listed above, the following grades may be entered by the Faculty Student Administration Office:
- GP = Grade pending (usually associated with an aegrotat application)
- U = Withdrawal approved by Dean
- WD = Withdrawal during permitted period
Master’s degrees
If a master’s degree has a thesis, the thesis is normally assigned a grade (i.e. one of the grades shown in the table above). Masters’ degrees are also awarded an overall result of Pass or Fail; many are also able to be awarded with Merit or Distinction:
- S = Pass with Distinction
- T = Pass with Merit
- P = Pass
- F = Fail
Standard pass/fail grades until Trimester 3, 2013
Note: For master’s theses, these grades apply until mid-2014. Contact the relevant associate dean (postgraduate research) for details.
- A+ = Excellent performance in all respects
- Percentage = 85–100%
- Mid-point = 92.5
- A = Excellent performance in almost all respects
- Percentage = 80–84%
- Mid-point = 82
- A- = Very good, some aspects excellent but others not
- Percentage = 75–79%
- Mid-point = 77
- B+ = Very good, some aspects excellent but others not
- Percentage = 70–74%
- Mid-point = 72
- B = Good performance overall
- Percentage = 65–69%
- Mid-point = 67
- B- = Good performance overall
- Percentage = 60–64%
- Mid-point = 62
- C+ = Work satisfactory overall, strengths outweigh weaknesses
- Percentage = 55–59%
- Mid point = 57
- C = Work satisfactory overall, strengths outweigh weaknesses
- percentage = 50–54%
- Mid-point = 52
- D = Poor performance overall, weaknesses outweigh strengths
- Percentage = 40–49%
- Mid-point = 45)
- E = Well below the standard required
- Percentage = 0–39%
Grade point average (GPA)
A grade point average for Victoria University of Wellington courses is calculated by assigning numbers to grades as set out below, weighting by points values and then dividing the sum by the points total. Different sets of courses may be included depending on the purpose of a particular GPA calculation.
| A+ | 9 |
| A | 8 |
| A- | 7 |
| B+ | 6 |
| B | 5 |
| B- | 4 |
| C+ | 3 |
| C | 2 |
| C- | 1 |
| D, E, K, L | 0 |
Historical grades
The following grades are no longer used, but may appear on student histories:
- H = Overall Pass (for some courses classified as Pass/Fail)
- M = Overall Pass with Merit (used only for some teacher education courses)
- Q = Fail due to not satisfying mandatory course requirements, regardless of overall course mark
- R = Did not sit final examination
- V = Withdrawal without Dean’s permission
- WX = Withdrawal from assessment
- X = Course cross-credited