GRADE GUIDE • PERCENTAGE • SCHOOL
How to Estimate a Letter Grade From a Percentage
Students often want to know what a percentage score means in letter-grade terms. The important catch is that grading boundaries are not universal: different schools, universities, boards and countries use different scales.
A common reference scale
One general reference might place 90–100% around an A range, 80–89% around a B range, 70–79% around a C range and 60–69% around a D range. This is only an illustrative scale, not an official grading policy.
Why your official grade may be different
A school may use A+ and A− grades, a university may use GPA points instead of percentages, and some courses use curved or weighted grading. The official syllabus or grade policy takes priority.
Percentage, percentage points and grades
A change from 78% to 82% is four percentage points. It may also cross a letter-grade boundary if the local scale uses 80% as a cutoff. Whether that changes your official grade depends on the grading policy.
How to use a grade calculator safely
Use a general calculator to estimate or understand your score, then compare it with the grading table published by your institution. Do not use a generic scale when an official grade boundary is available.