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Understanding Grades

This information should be read in conjunction withUCD’s Academic Regulations, which outlines the following key points:

  • Assessment in UCD shall be graded.
  • Where assessment components are objective and quantitative (e.g. MCQs, quizzes), a numerical scale may be used to determine the component result, which is then converted to a grade (see Mark to Grade conversion scales)

Assessment Strategy Each module has an assessment strategy associated with it, which outlines how you will be assessed in the module
Assessment components Each Assessment Strategy comprises one or more components of assessment. A component may be a single assessment task (e.g. a terminal written exam, major essay or project) or may comprise a number of separate assessment tasks of a given type (e.g. lab reports or tutorial assessments)
Assessment Description Describes the type of assessment e.g. essay, project, exam, MCQ
Assessment Weighting Describes how much (in %) the assessment component is worth towards your final module grade
Carry forward of passed components Passed components may be carried forward into subsequent repeat attempts at the module
Component Scale The scale which will be used to determine the component grade
Grade Point Each grade has a number associated with it, called a grade point. This is used to combine grades in all their modules and calculate an average score
Module Scale The scale which will be used to determine the module grade
Must pass component An assessment component that must be passed in order to pass the module
Open Book Exam Open book exams allow you to take notes, texts or resource materials into an examination. They test your ability to find and apply information and knowledge

The scale used to determine the final grade for your module is outlined in the associated module descriptor. Module descriptors for all modules can be found  (opens in a new window)online

An example of a Module Descriptor

Module Descriptor

The University uses three scales to determine a module’s grade:

  • Letter grade scale
  • Pass/Fail grade scale
  • Distinction/ Pass/ Fail grade scale

The following scale is the Letter Grade Scale and is used to determine module grades:


MODULE GRADES
MODULE GRADE GRADE POINT DESCRIPTION
A+ 4.2 Excellent
A 4.0
A- 3.8
B+ 3.6 Very Good
B 3.4
B- 3.2
C+ 3.0 Good
C 2.8
C- 2.6
D+ 2.4 Acceptable
D 2.2
D- 2.0
FM+ 0.0 Fail
FM 0.0
FM- 0.0
NM 0.0 No grade – work submitted did not merit a grade
ABS 0.0 No work was submitted by the student or the student was absent from assessment


Where module outcomes cannot be assessed to any level of detail, the results may be returned as pass/fail, or distinction/pass/fail, and the following scale is used.


MODULE GRADE		 GRADE POINT DESCRIPTION
DS Neutral Passed with distinction
PX Neutral Pass
FX 0.0 Fail
NM 0.0 No grade – work submitted did not merit a grade
ABS 0.0 No work was submitted by the student or the student was absent from assessment

In order to total your component grades and convert them to your final module grade, a 21-point linear scale is used.

Each component grade is assigned a calculation point, in line with the university’s 21-point linear scale - see Calculation Points. The calculation point is multiplied by the assessment weighting. This is then repeated for each component. In order to then determine your final module grade, you need to total all the calculation points relating to your components and then use the Module Scale to determine your final module grade. See calculation example.

Calculation Points
for aggregating component grades 		   Module Scale
  for deriving module grade and grade points from
                                                                  aggregated component grades

Grade		 Calculation point   Lower Upper Grade Grade Point
A+ 20.5   ≥20 21 A+ 4.20
A 19.5   ≥19 <20 A 4.00
A- 18.5   ≥18 <19 A- 3.80
B+ 17.5   ≥17 <18 B+ 3.60
B 16.5   ≥16 <17 B 3.40
B- 15.5   ≥15 <16 B- 3.20
C+ 14.5   ≥14 <15 C+ 3.00
C 13.5   ≥13 <14 C 2.80
C- 12.5   ≥12 <13 C- 2.60
D+ 11.5   ≥11 <12 D+ 2.40
D 10.5   ≥10 <11 D 2.20
D- 9.5   ≥9 <10 D- 2.00
E+ 8.5   ≥6 <9 FM+ 0.00
E 7.5   ≥3 <6 FM 0.00
E- 6.5   ≥0 <3 FM- 0.00
F+ 5.5   0 0 NM 0.00
F 4.5   0 0 ABS 0.00
F- 3.5    
G+ 2.5    
G 1.5    
G- 0.5    
NM 0    
ABS 0    

 Calculation example of how to determine your final module grade:


Component		 Grade Weighting Calculation Point Calculation Point X Weighting Module Grade
Assignment B+ 0.2 17.5 3.50  
Continuous Assessment C- 0.3 12.5 3.75  
Exam D 0.5 10.5 5.25  
      Total 12.5 C-

Each module has an assessment strategy associated with it, which outlines how you will be assessed in the module. Your module’s assessment strategy can be located  (opens in a new window)online.

Each assessment strategy contains information on the assessment description, the timing of the assessment, whether it is an open book exam, what component grade scale will be used to grade the component, whether the component is a “must pass” component, the component weighting, and whether components can be carried forward if you fail the module.

Below is an example of an assessment strategy:
Assessment Strategy

The University uses two scales to determine a module component grade:

  • Letter grade scale
  • Pass/Fail grade scale
COMPONENT GRADE SCALES
COMPONENT GRADE DESCRIPTION
A+ Excellent
A
A-
B+ Very Good
B
B-
C+ Good
C
C-
D+ Acceptable
D
D-
   
E+ Fail
E
E-
FM+ Fail
FM
FM-
G+ Fail
G
G-
NM No grade – work submitted did not merit a grade
ABS No work was submitted by the student or the student was absent from assessment


Where an assessment component cannot be assessed to any level of detail, the results may be returned as pass/fail and the following scale is used.


MODULE GRADE		 DESCRIPTION
P Pass
F Fail
NM No grade – work submitted did not merit a grade
ABS No work was submitted by the student or the student was absent from assessment

While the University uses letter grades to grade assessment components, it recognises that some assessment components are objective and quantitative (e.g. MCQs, quizzes), a Module Coordinator may use a numerical scale to initially determine the component result, which then is converted to a grade.

The University has approved Mark to Grade Conversion Scales that can be used, however if desired, Module Coordinators can use whatever rubric is appropriate to assess module outcomes. Module Coordinators must inform you in advance of the assessment about which scale will be applied to determine your grade, to ensure there is transparency around how your grades are arrived at.

There are four mark to grade conversion scales: 

  • Standard Conversion Grade Scale 40% Pass
  • Alternative Linear Conversion Grade Scale 40% Pass
  • Alternative Non-Linear Conversion Grade Scale 50% Pass
  • Alternative Linear Conversion Grade Scale 60% Pass

The default conversion scale for the University is the Standard Conversion Grade Scale 40% Pass and the calculation points are as follows:


Standard Conversion Grade Scale
40% Pass (70% = A-)
Grades Lower % Upper %
A+ ≥90 100
A ≥80 <90
A- ≥70 <80
B+ ≥66.67 <70
B ≥63.33 <66.67
B- ≥60 <63.33
C+ ≥56.67 <60
C ≥53.33 <56.67
C- ≥50 <53.33
D+ ≥46.67 <50
D ≥43.33 <46.67
D- ≥40 <43.33
E+ ≥36.67 <40
E ≥33.33 <36.67
E- ≥30 <33.33
F+ ≥26.67 <30
F ≥23.33 <26.67
F- ≥20 <23.33
G+ ≥16.67 <20
G ≥13.33 <16.67
G- ≥0.01 <13.33
NM 0 <0.01
ABS No work was submitted by the student or the student was absent from assessment


Alternative Linear Conversion Grade Scale 40% Pass:


Alternative Linear Conversion Grade Scale
40% Pass (85% = A-)
Grades Lower % Upper %
A+ ≥95 100
A  ≥90 <95
A-  ≥85 <90
B+  ≥80 <85
B  ≥75 <80
B-  ≥70 <75
C+  ≥65 <70
C  ≥60 <65
C-  ≥55 <60
D+  ≥50 <55
D  ≥45 <50
D-  ≥40 <45
E+  ≥35 <40
E  ≥30 <35
E-  ≥25 <30
F+  ≥20 <25
F  ≥15 <20
F-  ≥10 <15
G+  ≥5 <10
G  ≥0.02 <5
G-  ≥0.01 <0.02
NM 0 <0.01
ABS No work was submitted by the student or the student was absent from assessment


Alternative Non-Linear Conversion Grade Scale 50% Pass:


Alternative Non-Linear Conversion Grade Scale 50% Pass (70% = A-)
Grades Lower % Upper %
A+  ≥90 100
A  ≥80 <90
A-  ≥70 <80
B+  ≥67.78 <70
B  ≥65.56 <67.78
B-  ≥63.33 <65.56
C+  ≥61.12 <63.33
C  ≥58.89 <61.12
C-  ≥56.67 <58.89
D+  ≥54.43 <56.67
D  ≥52.22 <54.43
D-  ≥50 <52.22
E+  ≥45 <50
E  ≥40 <45
E-  ≥35 <40
F+  ≥30 <35
F  ≥25 <30
F-  ≥20 <25
G+  ≥15 <20
G  ≥10 <15
G-  ≥0.01 <10
NM 0 <0.01
ABS No work was submitted by the student or the student was absent from assessment


Alternative Non-Linear Conversion Grade Scale 60% Pass:


Alternative Linear Conversion Grade Scale
60% Pass (70% = A-)
(to be used for modules held in China only)
Grades Lower % Upper %
A+  ≥90 100
A  ≥80 <90
A-  ≥70 <80
B+  ≥67.78 <70
B  ≥65.56 <67.78
B-  ≥63.33 <65.56
C+  ≥61.12 <63.33
C  ≥58.89 <61.12
C-  ≥56.67 <58.89
D+  ≥54.43 <56.67
D  ≥52.22 <54.43
D-  ≥50 <52.22
E+  ≥45 <50
E  ≥40 <45
E-  ≥35 <40
F+  ≥30 <35
F  ≥25 <30
F-  ≥20 <25
G+  ≥15 <20
G  ≥10 <15
G-  ≥0.01 <10
NM 0 <0.01
ABS No work was submitted by the student or the student was absent from assessment

The following grades may also be approved by the Programme Examination Board to signify particular circumstances or outcomes (See Academic Regulation 4.31):


MODULE GRADE		 DESCRIPTION
AU Audit: returned where a student audits the module, and, by prior agreement with the Module Coordinator, does not complete some or all of the assessments and does not wish to be graded. No credit is awarded.
WN Withdrawn: returned where a student withdraws before the end of week 12 of a trimester, or before the last day of teaching in a trimester, whichever comes sooner. No credit is awarded, and a subsequent attempt at that module is treated as a first attempt. 
IM Incomplete Must Pass (temporary): returned when the following criteria are met:
  1. the module is a clinical teaching module, a field-based module, or a work placement
  2. the component is specified in the module descriptor as a “must pass component”
  3. the activities required to satisfactorily complete the module, and the time available to do this are clearly communicated in writing to the student by the School or Board of Studies responsible for the module; and
  4. where a student has passed overall the assessments associated with a module but has not satisfactorily completed a “must pass” component of assessment where an in-module repeat for that component was not available.
This temporary grade is resolved when:
  1. The student satisfactorily completes the outstanding activities, or their equivalent, within the prescribed time. The credit, final grade and the full grade point associated with that grade are awarded; or
  2. The student does not complete some or all of the required assessments within the prescribed time. The component is graded as a fail (F), and the module grade of FM is recorded.
IA Incomplete Assessment (temporary): returned when the following criteria are met:
  1. the module is a clinical teaching module, a field-based module, or a work placement; and
  2. where a student has been unable to complete a component due to lack of availability of clinical samples, required facilities, professional staff involved in supervision, or the field-based nature of the component of assessment.
This temporary grade is resolved when:
  1. The student satisfactorily completes the outstanding activities, or their equivalent, within the prescribed time. The credit, final grade and the full grade point associated with that grade are awarded;
  2. The student does not complete some or all of the required assessments within the prescribed time. The component is graded as a fail (F), and the resulting module grade is recorded; or
  3. The student may choose to accept an ABS grade for the assessment component, and the resulting grade is recorded.
IX Incomplete due extenuating circumstances:
This is a grade that may be given to a student if they are unable to complete part of their module assessment due to extenuating circumstances such as a short illness. Documentation is required, e.g. medical certificate, stating why they were unable to complete the module.
Things to note:
• The Programme Exam Board decides if the IX grade will be awarded
• An IX is grade point neutral; it does not count towards the GPA
• Outstanding work (or some equivalent assessment) must be completed within two trimesters of the initial attempt
• Credit is only awarded on completion of outstanding work – the IX grade can then be changed to the new grade
• If the student does not complete the work, then the IX grade will be changed back to the grade they would have received

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