US Grading System 2024: Everything You Need To Know

As one of the hot spot study destinations in the world for international students, the US is in more demand than ever! It offers more than just top-class institutions, but diverse, multicultural experiences and job opportunities.

Before you make a move on those applications to the universities in the US, understanding the new grading system of the US can help ease the application process.

Since its inception, it has always been made to be as simple as possible.

It was set up as a system and standardized method of evaluating the overall performances of students by universities as an application process.

While most countries have their grading system, the US grading system percentage is based on GPA (Grade Point Average) with 4  being the highest point.  This American grading system is followed by every educational institution in the United States.

What are the kinds of grade systems in the US?

In the US, there are two types of grading systems which are letter grades and GPA. They are related and the GPA is derived from the letter grades. 

1. Letter Grades: It’s a very simple grading system based only on grades from A to F and includes a percentage. Grade A represents excellence while Grade F is the lowest and means fail grade.
   
2. GPA (Grade Point Average): GPA definition determines the strength of your candidature and eligibility for financial aid and choice to enroll in your desired institution.  The highest US grading point is 4 while the lowest grade is 0.

In the table below, the letter grade is derived from the numerical percentage, and results in the grading point scale. 

How do you calculate the American grade point average?

Simple Average GPA = total score in all courses/number of courses will give you an average performance.

GPA = (3+4+4+3)=14 / 4(number if courses) = 3.5 

Weighted GPA Grade System = multiply credits grade points (add the points) /total credits 

Credits are a pre-decided number of hours given to students for each course. They are basically the rewards that students utilize during their studies. 

GPA = (4*3+3*4+3*4+4*3)=48/ 14 = 3.4 (approx)

What are the types of GPA?

Class GPA: It is the total score of your high school grades / total credits. 

Semester GPA: It is the total score of credits/value of the grade earned in the semester. 

Cumulative GPA: This is required for college application. It is calculated by your semester’s GPA multiplied by credit hours. 

Calculation:

GPA * credit score of all the semesters = total points of all the semesters

Sum all the credit scores and total points of all the semesters

Divide the total points of all the semesters / total credit hours 

The result is your cumulative GPA

What are the types of GPA honors?

Cum laude: It is an academic degree given to a student who received a distinction. 

This will typically be a score requirement of 3.5–3.6 GPA. 

Magna cum laude: It is an academic degree given to students in US who received greater distinction. This will typically be a score requirement of  3.7–3.8 GPA.

Summa cum laude: It is an academic degree given to the student with the highest honor. This will typically be a score requirement of  3.9–4.0 GPA. 

What are the degree classifications in the US? 

There are three types of classification of degrees in the US:

• First class honours – (70% +) 
• Upper Second class honours – (60% – 70%)
• Third class honours (40% – 50%)

So, if you score anything less than 40%, you have cleared your degree, but anything above 70% means you have received a high classification.

Above all, your GPA is your final grade.

If you score between 90% – 100%, your GPA will be 4.0 and so on and so forth. Anything less than 60% in the US is considered a failure.