The US Grading System: Facts you May Feel in Need to Know in 2023

The US grading system is concerned with the educational process to the fullest extent, as America provides education through 3 main channels, which are education in public and private schools in addition to education at home.

The governments of all US states set public educational standards. The board of governors and the colleges and universities of each state oversee the educational system.

 It usually imposes level exams for all public school systems (from kindergarten to grade 12).

There is a lot that distinguishes American universities from those in other countries, from the average course length and higher tuition fees to the importance of college football.

However, one of the more perplexing aspects for a student hoping to study abroad in the United States is the US grading system. You may have heard that letter grades are used in American universities when grading assignments, or you may be familiar with the term ‘GPA.

systems (from kindergarten to grade 12).

An Overview of the US grading system

Education in America is compulsory, and the educational process is regulated by state law. Where the child begins his educational journey at the age of five or eight.

It ends when he reaches sixteen or eighteen, according to each state. And that at the level of public or private schools accredited by the state. As well as an accredited home school or homeschool program.

US grading system stages

Compulsory education is divided into 3 stages or levels:

1. Primary stage includes grades from kindergarten to fifth grade.
2. Preparatory stage: It includes grades from sixth to eighth grade.
3. Then the secondary stage: from the ninth grade to the twelfth grade.

Of course, children are divided for each stage according to their age. Kindergarten starts from the age of 5 to 6 years. First grade “from the age of 6 to 7 years”. And the last of the twelfth grade (which is the second stage) “from the age of 17 to 18 years.”

The difference between public and private education in America

In fact, Americans prefer public schools for education over private schools. The US grading system is illustrated by a 2013 statistic.

The statistic confirmed that about 87% of the applicants for the study of children (school-age adults) attended public schools (government). which the state finances.

While the number of students enrolled in private schools was only about 10%. She also indicated that 3% of the children chose to study from home. This is what distinguishes the US grading system.

The educational financing system in America

The volume of spending on education in America is about 1.3 trillion dollars, which is the largest in the world in proportion to the number of students. Where the federal government (central) contributes up to about $ 200 billion only of the total volume of spending.

While state governments, as well as US local governments, contribute the largest share of spending. Education in America was ranked as the best educational system in the world in 2014.

The volume of spending on all levels of education in the same year was about 6.2% of the country’s gross national product.

Level US grading system

The International Student Assessment Program (SAP) that it administers (currently the OECD). Make an assessment of Americans’ general knowledge and skills.

15-year-old Americans ranked 31st in the world in (literacy – mathematics – science). The US grading system obtained by the American student reached “487.7 degrees” in 2014.

In 2017, 46.4% of Americans aged 25 to 64 had some degree of post-secondary education. While 48% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 have obtained higher education.

Also, 4% had an above-average level of education. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development also recorded 44% of Americans. They have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Educational stages in America

The US grading system is divided into multiple educational stages, with children attending school from the age of five or six. Then the children are divided into groups based on scores and assessments.

The children are graded from one year to the next, one description to another, on the grounds that they are one group, whereby a child does not exceed his group throughout the study period.

The school year in America begins at the end of August or early September (traditionally). This is after a traditional summer vacation. The school year in America ends in late May or early June.

Education in America

It is worth noting that education in America is compulsory until the age of sixteen (eighteen in some states). Traditionally, students attend 12 degrees of study over a 12-year period.

US grading system during which the student obtains primary, middle, and secondary education. And then get a diploma to enter higher education.

University education in America

For university education in America, the US grading system is based on 5-year programs, often. Especially in technical colleges (e.g. engineering).

Provided that the study period is interspersed with practical training. The student must pass at least one training period. This is in agreement with the employer (according to the appropriate field of study for the student).

Higher education is available in different durations (4 years – 5 years – 6 years). In 2005, new students wishing to obtain a bachelor’s degree applied to public educational institutions.

Where 32% of students attended 4 years of education, 12% for 5 years, and about 6% for 6 years.

Read more about: What is the SAT and How to Register for the SAT exam?

Facts you may feel in need to know about the US grading system

1) You think there’s an E grade? Sorry, there’s not

How come American grades range from A to F but leave out E? That is a fantastic question! It’s a straightforward answer. Back in 1897, the letter E was equivalent to the letter F; it denoted the lowest possible grade.

Parents and students, on the other hand, realized that “F” stood for “Failed” rather than “E” stood for “Excellent.” Since the nineteenth century, the letter F has come to represent “failed,” as well as the letter that every student dreads.

2) I don’t know what quality points are. Please explain them to me!

Individual assignments are mostly graded using a letter grade system, but your grades aren’t the only thing used to determine your overall qualification.

This is where the grading system in the United States becomes a little more complicated. At most US universities, your grades are frequently assigned a quality point, which is then applied to your GPA (more on this next).

Though each school, college, and higher education institution has its own scale, the majority use a 4.0 scale — also known as a four-point scale — to accompany your letter grades.

For example, an A will earn you four points, a B will earn you three points, and so on until you reach an F, which will earn you no points.

3) There’s a common grading system across the US universities

You should be aware that grades alone will not get you into the majority of American universities. They frequently correspond to what is referred to as a quality point.

Confusion aside, a quality point is a quantity that your grade possesses in order for it to be added to your GPA, which we’ll discuss in the following section.

Each school, college, and other higher education institution will use a different scale for letter grades (the majority use a 4.0 scale), but an A always equates to 4 or a multiple of 4. This is largely due to the fact that the US grading system is somewhat complicated and difficult to grasp.

4) Beware! you have a complicated grading system at hand

The United States Grading System is regarded as excellent because the country has one of the best educational systems in the world.

There are two types of grading systems in the United States: numerical and letter grades. Letter grades are those obtained by students in routine tests, such as A, B, C, and so on.

The grade can then be converted into a GPA. A numerical grading system is another type of US grading system. It is the only one that goes from 0 to 100.

Let’s take a look at both of them. The letter system runs from A to F and is accompanied by a percentage that shows how many questions a student correctly answered.

The US grading system is distinct in that it is divided into grade minus and grade plus levels. With this division, it has become more intricate, allowing students and teachers to understand the exact score.

5) What’s the GPA? Indeed, it’s another big story

Light is now shed on the grades and their representation in the US grading system, let’s look at another important aspect of the US grading system: GPA.

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is widely used across the country to describe students’ performance. It is divided into three sections that represent different levels of study. Class GPA, Semester GPA, and Cumulative GPA are the three categories.

You’ve probably heard of many top universities in the United States that require a GPA on a scale of 1 to 4. Because it is an essential component of the US grading system, the 4.0 scale GPA is widely used in various schools and colleges throughout the United States.

The GPA type converts a student’s numerical grades back to letter grades, and then the letter grades are converted to the determined 4.0 scale.

6) Magna Cum Laude!

Students who qualify for any level of education according to the US grading system may be awarded a complimentary honor based on their GPA.

There are primarily three types of honors. They can differ from one university to the next and are also based on other criteria. The Latin language is used for all types of honors.

Relevantly, all three honors are categorically reserved for students with a higher level GPA. Honors are divided into three categories: Cum Laude – With Honor, Magna Cum Laude – With Great Honor, and Suma Cum Laude – With Greatest Honor.

7) Let’s calculate your GPA

Now that you understand what a GPA is, the next step is to learn how it is calculated. Each course has a specific number of ‘units’ or ‘credits’ based on the content, as well as a specific number of hours required to complete weekly classes and homework.

Your average GPA is calculated by adding all of the quality points earned in each unit and dividing the total number of course credits or units (credit hours) attempted.

This figure represents your grade point average. For example, suppose you get an A in one three-unit class and a C in another four-unit class.

Read more: Top 6 Online Bachelor’s Degree programs in 2023

These facts will help you get a good score on the US grading system thus landing you into your dream college. If you are confused about how to tackle the exam, then don’t worry! , Uniapp can help you find the perfect school and the perfect degree program.