Standard Test Grading Scales
Most U.S. schools use letter grades to represent student performance, though exact percentage thresholds vary by institution. The table below shows the three most common grading scales used across American schools and universities.
| Letter Grade | Standard Scale | Strict Scale | Lenient Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ / A / A- | 97% / 93% / 90% | 98% / 95% / 92% | 95% / 90% / 87% |
| B+ / B / B- | 87% / 83% / 80% | 89% / 86% / 83% | 84% / 80% / 77% |
| C+ / C / C- | 77% / 73% / 70% | 80% / 77% / 74% | 74% / 70% / 67% |
| D+ / D / D- | 67% / 63% / 60% | 71% / 68% / 65% | 64% / 60% / 57% |
| F | Below 60% | Below 65% | Below 57% |
Check with your institution to confirm which grading scale applies. Some schools drop plus/minus distinctions, using only whole letter grades. Advanced courses or honors programs sometimes add weight to letter grades for GPA calculations.
Grade Calculation Methods
Test grades can be calculated using three different approaches depending on what information you have available.
Method 1: From Wrong Answers
Percentage = (Total Questions – Wrong Answers) ÷ Total Questions × 100
Example: (50 – 8) ÷ 50 × 100 = 84%
Method 2: From Correct Answers
Percentage = Correct Answers ÷ Total Questions × 100
Example: 42 ÷ 50 × 100 = 84%
Method 3: From Points
Percentage = Points Earned ÷ Total Points Possible × 100
Example: 168 ÷ 200 × 100 = 84%
GPA Conversion Table
Grade Point Average (GPA) converts letter grades to a 4.0 scale for transcript calculations. Most colleges use this system for admissions and academic standing.
| Letter Grade | GPA (4.0 Scale) | Typical Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 4.0 | 93-100% |
| A- | 3.7 | 90-92% |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87-89% |
| B | 3.0 | 83-86% |
| B- | 2.7 | 80-82% |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77-79% |
| C | 2.0 | 73-76% |
| C- | 1.7 | 70-72% |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67-69% |
| D | 1.0 | 63-66% |
| D- | 0.7 | 60-62% |
| F | 0.0 | Below 60% |
Common Grading Scenarios
Multiple Choice Tests
Each question worth 1 point. Divide correct answers by total questions for percentage.
Example: 35 correct out of 40 = 87.5% (B+)
Weighted Questions
Questions worth different points. Sum earned points and divide by total possible points.
Example: 85 earned out of 100 possible = 85% (B)
Extra Credit Questions
Add extra credit points to earned score, keeping original total. Can result in scores above 100%.
Example: 43 out of 40 = 107.5% (A+)
Quick Reference: Questions to Grade
Common test lengths and their grade thresholds. Use this table for quick grading without calculations.
| Total Questions | A (90%+) | B (80%+) | C (70%+) | D (60%+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 9-10 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 20 | 18-20 | 16-17 | 14-15 | 12-13 |
| 25 | 23-25 | 20-22 | 18-19 | 15-17 |
| 50 | 45-50 | 40-44 | 35-39 | 30-34 |
| 100 | 90-100 | 80-89 | 70-79 | 60-69 |
Grade Adjustment Strategies
Teachers sometimes adjust grades when test difficulty doesn’t match expectations. Three common methods accommodate challenging assessments.
Curve Method 1: Add Points
Add the same number of points to every student’s score. If the highest score is 85/100, add 15 points to all scores.
Student with 70/100 becomes 85/100 (70 + 15 = 85%)
Curve Method 2: Drop Lowest Questions
Remove questions that most students missed from the total. If question 12 was universally difficult, grade the test out of 49 instead of 50.
Student with 42/50 becomes 42/49 (85.7% instead of 84%)
Curve Method 3: Scale to Target Average
Multiply all scores by a factor that brings class average to desired percentage. If class averages 70% and you want 80%, multiply all scores by 1.14.
Student with 75% becomes 85.5% (75 × 1.14 = 85.5%)
Passing Grade Requirements
Passing grade definitions vary significantly by educational level and institution type. The table below shows typical requirements across different contexts.
| Education Level | Typical Passing Grade | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School | 60-65% (D-) | Often use standards-based grading instead |
| Middle School | 60-65% (D-) | May require C or better for advancement |
| High School | 60-70% (D-) | Core courses may require C for college prep |
| College/University | 60-70% (D) | Major courses often require C or better |
| Graduate School | 70-80% (C+ to B-) | Programs may require B average minimum |
| Professional Certification | 70-75% | Varies by licensing board and profession |
International Grading Systems
Educational institutions outside the United States use different grading scales. Students and teachers working with international transcripts need these conversions.
United Kingdom
| First Class | 70%+ |
| Upper Second | 60-69% |
| Lower Second | 50-59% |
| Third Class | 40-49% |
Germany
| 1.0 (Sehr gut) | 95-100% |
| 2.0 (Gut) | 80-94% |
| 3.0 (Befriedigend) | 65-79% |
| 4.0 (Ausreichend) | 50-64% |
France
| 18-20 (Excellent) | 90-100% |
| 16-17 (Très bien) | 80-89% |
| 14-15 (Bien) | 70-79% |
| 10-13 (Assez bien) | 50-69% |