Grading System
The university-wide relationship between literal descriptors and percentage scores for undergraduate courses is as follows:
| 90-100 Exceptional |
A superior performance with consistent strong evidence of
|
|---|---|
| 80-90 Excellent |
An excellent performance with strong evidence of
|
| 70-79 Good |
A good performance with evidence of
|
| 60-69 Satisfactory |
A generally satisfactory and intellectually adequate performance with evidence of
|
| 50-59 Minimal Pass |
A barely acceptable performance with evidence of
|
| <50 Failure |
An unacceptable performance |
A percentage system for reporting final grades was implemented by the University of Saskatchewan in September, 1986.
Relationship between Literal Descriptor and Percentage Score
|
90-100 |
A superior performance with consistent strong evidence of:
|
|---|---|
|
80-90 |
Literal Descriptor: Very Good to Excellent Description: A very good to excellent performance with strong evidence of:
|
|
70-79 |
A satisfactory to good performance with evidence of:
|
|
60-69 |
A generally weak performance, but with some evidence of:
|
|
<60 |
|
Literal descriptors were approved for courses in the College of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Studies in May 1996.
Grades required to pass
The standards below are the minimum acceptable grades for passing a course. Individual academic units may establish a higher standard through a formal application process to the CGPS.
|
|
PGD |
Master’s |
Ph. D. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Undergraduate Class |
60% |
70% |
None allowed |
|
Graduate Class |
60% |
60% |
70% |
|
Cumulative overall average needed |
65% |
70% |
70% |
- Percentage Scores of at least 70% are required for a minimal pass performance in undergraduate courses taken by graduate students.
- Percentage Scores of at least 70% are required for a minimal pass performance for each course which is included in a Ph.D. program.
- Graduate courses for which students receive grades of 60-69% are minimally acceptable in a Master's program, provided the GPA is at least 70%.
- Graduate courses for which students receive grades of 60-64% are minimally acceptable in a Postgraduate Diploma program, provided the GPA is at least 65%.
Grading Alternatives and Comments
In addition, and where approved and relevant, the following alternatives are used:
| AEG | Aegrotat Standing |
| AU | Audit |
| CR | Completed Requirements |
| DEF | Deferred Examination Written |
| DEFG | Deferred Examination Approved |
| F | Failure |
| INF | Incomplete Failure |
| IP | In Progress - class is continued into the next term |
| N | No Credit |
| NA | Not Applicable |
| P | Pass |
| SPECDEFG | Special Deferred Examination Approved |
| SPECSPG | Special Supplemental Approved |
| SPECSUP | Special Supplemental Written |
| SUPP | Supplemental Written |
| SUPPG | Supplemental Examination Approved |
| W | Withdrawal |
| WAU | Withdrawal from Audit |
| WF | Withdrawal Failure (no longer used as of 201205) |
Academic Grading Standards
College regulations govern grading, promotion and graduation standards. Students should refer to the appropriate college sections of the Course Catalogue for specific requirements.
How a "W" affects you
Withdrawal is a grading alternative which appears permanently on a student's transcript as a W if they have withdrawn from a class after the last day to add or drop classes to avoid financial penalty. The W has no academic standing and does not impact the calculation of a student's Cumulative Weighted Average.
Students who wish to withdraw must do so on or before the withdraw deadline. No withdrawals are allowed after that date and the student will be graded on the completed course work they have submitted for the class. A student who does not write the final exam will be assigned a failing grade along with a grade comment of INF (Incomplete Fail).
Incomplete Course Work
When a student has not completed the required course work, which includes any assignment or examination including the final examination, by the time of submission of the final grades, they may be granted an extension to permit completion of an assignment, or granted a deferred examination in the case of absence from a final examination. Extensions for the completion of assignments must be approved by the Department Head, or Dean in non-departmentalized Colleges, and may exceed thirty days only in unusual circumstances. The student must apply to the instructor for such an extension and furnish satisfactory reasons for the deficiency. Deferred final examinations are granted as per College policy.
In the interim, the instructor will submit a computed percentile grade for the class which factors in the incomplete coursework as a zero, along with a grade comment of INF (Incomplete Failure) if a failing grade. In the case where the instructor has indicated in the course outline that failure to complete the required coursework will result in failure in the course, and the student has a computed passing percentile grade, a final grade of 49% will be submitted along with a grade comment of INF (Incomplete Failure).
If an extension is granted and the required assignment is submitted within the allotted time, or if a deferred examination is granted and written in the case of absence from the final examination, the instructor will submit a revised computed final percentage grade. The grade change will replace the previous grade and any grade comment of INF (Incomplete Failure) will be removed.
Complete examination regulations are published in the Academics Courses Policy.
Calculating Your Average
Commonly used weighted average types:
- Sessional Weighted Average (S.W.A.) is calculated from courses taken in Fall and/or Winter terms (September to April).
- Annual Weighted Average is calculated from all courses taken in a year
- Cumulative Weighted Average (C.W.A.) is calculated from all courses taken at the University.
Calculating Weighted Averages
Weighted averages are calculated by multiplying the grade achieved in each class by the number of credit units in the class. The sum of the individual calculations is then divided by the total number of credit units to produce the weighted average, subject to the University Council Regulations on Examinations. Students should consult with their college for policies on repeating classes and non-numeric grade conversion.
Example:
| Course | Grade | Credit Units | Weighted Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENG 100.6 | 73 | 6 | 438.00 |
| DRAM 104.6 | 67 | 6 | 402.00 |
| PSY 110.6 | 68 | 6 | 408.00 |
| CHEM 112.3 | 73 | 3 | 219.00 |
| MUS 140.3 | 71 | 3 | 213.00 |
| HIST 151.3 | 69 | 3 | 207.00 |
| GEOG 120.3 | 74 | 3 | 222.00 |
| TOTAL | 30 | 2109.00 |
Weighted Average (2109/30) = 70.30%
Former Grading Practices
Percentage Grades (prior to Sept. 1982)
| Grade | Division | Equivalent |
| 80-100% | 1 (I) | A |
| 70-79% | 2 (II) | B |
| 60-69% | 3 (III) | C |
| 50-59% | 4 (IV) | D |
| 0-49% | (Failure) | F |
Eight Point Grades (Sept. 1982 to Aug. 1986)
| Point | Description |
U of S Percentage Equivalents Guideline |
| 8 | Exceptional | 90% |
| 7 | Excellent | 83% |
| 6 | Very Good | 78% |
| 5 | Good | 73% |
| 4 | Satisfactory | 68% |
| 3 | Adequate | 63% |
| 2 | Barely Acceptable | 58% |
| 1 | Minimal Pass | 53% |
| OS | Near Pass | 45% |
| 0 | Failure | 40% |