Academic grading in Canada
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Academic grading in Canada varies by province, level of education (e.g., elementary, secondary, tertiary), by institution, and faculty. The following are commonly used conversions from percentage grades to letter grades, however, this is not necessarily meaningful, since there is not a uniform scheme for assigning percentage grades either.
Academic grading in Canada – 2023
Alberta
In Alberta, academic grading typically follows a scale of letter grades (A through D), sentences to describe how well one's performance is to the curricular tasks expected of them, and percentages which are typically reserved for high only percentages are used[clarification needed]. In francophone schools or CBE Schools, from kindergarten to grade 9 an alternative grading system is used instead of percentages and letter grades: numbers 1 through 4 are used (4 is excellent, 3 is good, 2 is average, and 1 is below average.
Note: not all schools utilize a +/− system when giving grades. Some just give the generic grade. Some give percentages.
| Letter | Percent |
|---|---|
| A+ | 95–100% |
| A | 87–94% |
| A− | 80–86% |
| B+ | 77–79% |
| B | 72–76% |
| B− | 70–71% |
| C+ | 67–69% |
| C | 63-66% |
| C- | 60-62% |
| D+ | 57–61% |
| D | 54–56% |
| D− | 50–53% |
| F | 0–49% |
Level #4: 80–100% (student has demonstrated exemplary performance related to learning outcomes)
Level #3: 70–79% (student has demonstrated a proficient performance related to learning outcomes)
Level #2: 60–69% (student has demonstrated an adequate performance related to learning outcomes)
Level #1: 50–59% (student has demonstrated a very poor performance related to learning outcomes)
IEA: Insufficient Evidence Available: indicates that the teacher of a particular course has not gathered enough evidence of a student's learning and thus cannot give a grade for said student.
WDR: Withdrawal: indicted the student has withdrawn from a particular course and thus, is given no grade because of it.
AMP: Academic Malpractice: Indicates that the student was placed in an incorrect class, whether it be by not having the pre-requisite or did not request the class upon registration. No mark was given.
P: Pass: indicates that the student has achieved the bare minimum grade to pass the class granted by a teacher due to reasons beyond the student's control. A grade of P translates into 50% when used to calculate averages for university or college admission.
A mark of 0–49%, is a D and under, is a failure for a class and is typically given for high school and post-secondary students only, but can be given to junior high students too, but isn't typically done. A failing grade will also result in not earning credits for an Alberta High School Diploma or any subject taken in post-secondary and typically means the student will more than likely repeat the course.
British Columbia
This is the system of grading used by many high schools in BC (Grades 10–12).[1]
| Letter | Per cent | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| A | 86–100% | Excellent or outstanding |
| B | 73–85% | Very good |
| C+ | 67–72% | Good |
| C | 60–66% | Satisfactory |
| C- | 50–59% | Minimally acceptable |
| IE | 0–49% | Insufficient evidence of learning (missing assignments) |
| F | 0–49% | Fail; can only be attained if "IE" was previously assigned for that course. |
| W | (nil) | The student has withdrawn from this course. |
Since the 2023–2024 school year, students from kindergarten to Grade 9 have been assessed with a proficiency scale system. This proficiency scale system has been in use for about half of the province's students since the launch of the pilot programme in 2016 (after the modernization of the province's curriculum).[2] The ministry's rationale for this change is that the proficiency scale "values growth and most recent evidence of learning" and is more descriptive compared to the letter grade system.[3][4]
| Proficiency | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Extending | Student demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of concepts taught. |
| Proficient | Student demonstrates a complete understanding of concepts taught. |
| Developing | Student demonstrates a partial understanding of concepts taught. |
| Emerging | Student demonstrates an initial understanding of concepts taught. |
| IE | Insufficient evidence of learning (missing assignments) |
Ontario
The grading standards for public elementary and secondary schools (including secular and separate; English and French first language schools) are set by the Ontario Ministry of Education and includes letter grades and percentages. In addition to letter grades and percentages, the Ministry of Education also uses a level system to mark its students. The four levels correspond to how students are marked on the Ontario rubric. The following is the levels on the Ontario rubric, its meaning, and its corresponding letter/percentage grades:
- Level 4, beyond government standards (A; 80 percent and above)
- Level 3, at government standards (B; 70–79 percent)
- Level 2, approaching government standards (C; 60–69 percent)
- Level 1, well below government standards (D; 50–59 percent)
The grading standards for A− letter grades changed in September 2010 to coincide with a new academic year. The new changes require a higher percentage grade by two or five points to obtain an A or A+ respectively.
| Letter | Level[note 1] | Percent (until August 2010)[5] |
Percent (since September 2010)[6] |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4 | 90–100% | 96–100% (Schools vary, but some schools may do 95%) |
| A | 85–89% | 87–94% | |
| A− | 80–84% | 80–86% | |
| B+ | 3 | 77–79% | |
| B | 73–76% | ||
| B− | 70–72% | ||
| C+ | 2 | 67–69% | |
| C | 63–66% | ||
| C− | 60–62% | ||
| D+ | 1 | 57–59% | |
| D | 53–56% | ||
| D− | 50–52% | ||
| F/R[note 2] | — | 0–49% | |
| I[note 3] | — | — | |
Quebec
Quebec's passing mark is 60% and not 50% as compared to some other provinces. Note that it is common practice for students to pass with grades in the range of 55% to 59% at the teacher's discretion. The military pass mark is also generally 60%.
Note: Most schools in Quebec have now switched to percentages. The mark the students receive is the mark that is shown. The 60% passing mark remains.
| Letter | Percent |
|---|---|
| A+ | 95–100% |
| A | 90–94% |
| A− | 85–89% |
| B+ | 80–84% |
| B | 75–79% |
| B− | 70–74% |
| C+ | 65–69% |
| C (passing grade) | 60–64% |
| C− | 55–59% |
| D+ | 50–54% |
| D | 45–49% |
| D− | 40–44% |
| E | 35-39% |
| F | 30-34% |
| G | Below 30% |
Saskatchewan
| Letter | Percent |
|---|---|
| A+ | 90–100% |
| A | 80–89% |
| B | 70–79% |
| C | 60–69% |
| D | 50–59% |
| F | 0–49% |
At a high school level in Saskatchewan, most subjects are separated into three competencies. On report cards, marks are normally shown as numbers and an average of the two marks associated with the subject will be calculated.[7] For example, if a student achieves A, A− and B+ in a subject, teachers will calculate an average of the three marks (in this case, 85%).
See also
Notes
- ^ Some institutions may use +/− modifiers alongside levels, although formally, the Ministry's rubric does not include them.
- ^ N/A or R is used in elementary schools, while F is used for secondary schools.
- ^ insufficient amount of information to be graded.
References
- ^ "BC School Act, sections 79 (3), and 85(2) (j) and 168 (2) (b): Provincial Letter Grades order" (PDF). British Columbia Ministry of Education. 11 July 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ Judd, Amy; Zussman, Richard (5 September 2023). "No letter grades for K to Grade 9 in B.C. with proficiency scale being used instead". Global News. Corus Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "Unpacking the Proficiency Scale: Support for Educators" (PDF). British Columbia Ministry of Education. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ Peters, Jason (9 September 2023). "Forget about letter grades, it's all about proficiency in B.C. public schools now". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
- ^ "Grading Scale Systems Worldwide: An Overview" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ^ "Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario Schools" (PDF). 2010. p. 40.
- ^ "Page introuvable – 404 | Ministère de l'Éducation et Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur".