Setting out on your educational adventure at an Australian university is a thrilling experience. This journey, though exhilarating, brings with it a unique set of intricacies and hurdles. One hurdle that often perplexes students is the university grading system in Australia. This comprehensive guide is designed to unravel the Australian university grading system for prospective students on the cusp of college.
University Grading System in Australia
Australia is home to a diverse range of world-class universities, each with its distinct grading system. For instance, universities in the Australian Capital Territory, including the University of Canberra, Australian National University, Charles Sturt University, UNSW Canberra, and Australian Catholic University, follow their grading scale. This diversity in grading systems can often lead to confusion among students, especially those new to the Australian education system.
New South Wales
New South Wales is home to diverse esteemed universities, including the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Macquarie University, and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). The grading system of New South Wales is demonstrated as follows:
Grade description: Extremely High Standard of Achievement
Grade scale %: 100 – 85
Grade description: High Standard of Achievement
Grade scale %: 84 – 70
Grade description: Acceptable Standard of Achievement
Grade scale %: 69 – 50
Grade description: Limited Standard of Achievement
Grade scale %: 49 – 25
Grade description: Very Limited Performance
Grade scale %: 24 – 0
Western Australia
Western Australia is a vibrant academic hub that hosts some of the country’s top universities, including the University of Western Australia (UWA), Curtin University, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University, and the University Of Notre Dame in Perth. The grading system of this region employs a unique GPA scale out of seven.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is home to one of Australia’s unique academic jewels, Charles Darwin University. The grading system of Charles Darwin University is shown below:
Queensland
Queensland, the majestic second-largest state of Australia, is a testament to the power of knowledge and education. It proudly hosts some of the nation’s most prestigious institutions. Among these academic gems are the University of Queensland, Bond University, Griffith University and James Cook University.
South Australia
South Australia is a vibrant beacon of nature’s bounty and the proud host of the iconic Kangaroo Island. This region is home to some of the nation’s most esteemed institutions, like the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide, and Torrens University.
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, renowned for its top-tier educational institutions, including The Australian National University, the University of Canberra, the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), and the Australian Catholic University’s Canberra Campus, adheres to a grading system similar to that of Melbourne’s RMIT University, with the unique distinction of a GPA scale out of seven, offering an approach to honours recognition.
Victoria
In the dynamic city of Victoria, home to esteemed institutions like the University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, Deakin University, and La Trobe University, an authentic and visionary approach to grading is implemented; a score of 50 is the threshold for passing, with credits, distinctions, and high distinctions awarded for scores of 60-69, 70-79, and 80-100 respectively. Upon graduation, students may be recognized “With Merit”, “With Distinction”, or “With Commendation” for achieving overall distinction or high distinction grades, as per the grading scale of RMIT University in Melbourne.
GPA Calculation
Calculating your Grade Point Average (GPA), whether on a four-point or seven-point scale, involves a formula:
GPA = Σ (grade value x unit credit points) ÷ Σ unit credit points
or
Sum(Subject1 Grade Point X Subject1 Credit Points, Subject2 Grade Points X Subject2 Credit Points, Subject3 Grade Point X Subject3 Credit Points, etc.)) / (Total Credit Points)