Academic Grading System in South Korea
The academic grading in South Korea depends on the type of school and institution. The Universities in South Korea use letter grades that corresponds to a score. This grading system is pretty similar to American Schools. The letter grades indicates to different numbered averages from 0.0 to 4.5 or 4.3. In middle school grades are based on the characters of the Korean language, for example "수" meaning "Outstanding", or "양" meaning "Needs Improvement". To sum up
- In Universities, the letter grades are used that corresponds to a score.
- In Middle Schools, a five point grading scale is used.
- In Secondary (High Schools), a 10-point grading is used and based on relative position of the student in the class ranks are allotted.
Academic Grades are measure of what you have learnt in a given school year or throughout the academic programme. Grade / Grade Point also made basis for admission to next level of education and to apply for internship and jobs. Following given academic grading system in South Korea for Middle Schools, High Schools, and Universities.
Middle Schools
The Middle Schools in South Korea have a five-point grading system, which was converted from the student's raw score in mid-terms and finals out of 100. Students are not held back in South Korean schools. Grade 'E' is considered to be a passing grade. For a middle school student grade certificate looks like follows:
- Grade A: 91-100%
- Grade B: 81-90%
- Grade C: 71-80%
- Grade D: 61-70%
- Grade E: Below 60%
High Schools
The High Schools provide ranks to the students on the basis of their relative position in the class. Following given Grade System for High School Students based on Scale, Grade Description, Percentage, Aggregate Percentile and Corresponding US Grade
Scale: 1.00
- Grade Description: Rank 1
- Percentage: 4%
- Aggregate Percentile: 4%
- US Grade: A+
Scale: 2.00-2.99
- Grade Description: Rank 2
- Percentage: 7%
- Aggregate Percentile: 11%
- US Grade: A
Scale: 3.00-3.99
- Grade Description: Rank 3
- Percentage: 12%
- Aggregate Percentile: 23%
- US Grade: B+
Scale: 4.00-4.99
- Grade Description: Rank 4
- Percentage: 17%
- Aggregate Percentile: 40%
- US Grade: B
Scale: 5.00-5.99
- Grade Description: Rank 5
- Percentage: 20%
- Aggregate Percentile: 60%
- US Grade: C+
Scale: 6.00-6.99
- Grade Description: Rank 6
- Percentage: 17%
- Aggregate Percentile: 77%
- US Grade: C
Scale: 7.00-7.99
- Grade Description: Rank 7
- Percentage: 12%
- Aggregate Percentile: 89%
- US Grade: D+
Scale: 8.00-8.99
- Grade Description: Rank 8
- Percentage: 7%
- Aggregate Percentile: 96%
- US Grade: D
Scale: 9.00-9.99
- Grade Description: Rank 9
- Percentage: 4%
- Aggregate Percentile: 100%
- US Grade: F
Universities
In South Korea, Universities either use Letter grading that correspond to Grade points, such as 4.0, 4.3, or 4.5 or percentages. Grade system for universities in South Korea is represented below: Many Universities in South Korea use the following Gradations-
Letter Grade and Equivalent in Percent
- Grade: A+
- Percent: 95-100%
- Grade: B+
- Percent: 85-90%
- Grade: C+
- Percent: 75-80%
- Grade: F
- Percent: Below 60%
Letter Grade and Equivalent in Grade Point
(On a scale of 0.0 to 4.5)
- Grade: A+
- Grade Point: 4.5
- Grade: A
- Grade Point: 4.0
- Grade: B+
- Grade Point: 3.5
- Grade: B
- Grade Point: 3.0
- Grade: C+
- Grade Point: 2.5
- Grade: C
- Grade Point: 2.0
- Grade: D+
- Grade Point: 1.5
- Grade: D
- Grade Point: 1.0
- Grade: F
- Grade Point: 0.0
- Grade: P
- Not Counted (Without Credit Course, Pass)
- Grade: S
- Counted (Credit is counted without any specific grade)
- Grade: I
- Not Counted (Incomplete)
Letter Grade and Equivalent in Grade Point
(On a scale of 0.0 to 4.3)
- Grade: A+
- Grade Point: 4.3
- Grade: A0
- Grade Point: 4.0
- Grade: A-minus-
- Grade Point: 3.7
- Grade: B+
- Grade Point: 3.3
- Grade: B0
- Grade Point: 3.0
- Grade: B-minus-
- Grade Point: 2.7
- Grade: C+
- Grade Point: 2.3
- Grade: C0
- Grade Point: 2.0
- Grade: C-minus-
- Grade Point: 1.7
- Grade: D+
- Grade Point: 1.3
- Grade: D0
- Grade Point: 1.0
- Grade: D-minus-
- Grade Point: 0.7 (Lowest Passing Grade)
- Grade: F
- Grade Point: 0.0 (No Credit)
- Grade: S
- Satisfactory (Credit is awarded, but no grade is given)
- Grade: U
- Unsatisfactory (Credit is not awarded, and no grade is given)