C/5.2 QUT grading
Policy Owner | Director, Curriculum Quality and Standards and Director, Student Administration |
Approval Date | 17/11/2017 |
Approval Authority | University Academic Board |
Date of Next Review | 30/11/2021 |
5.2.1 Purpose
5.2.2 Application
5.2.3 Roles and responsibilities
5.2.4 Grading scale
5.2.5 Grading awards
5.2.6 Grading and awards with honours
5.2.7 Grade point average
5.2.8 Submission and approval of grades
5.2.9 Alteration of grades after release
5.2.10 Definitions
Related Documents
Modification History
5.2.1 Purpose
QUT uses a fair and transparent grading system that is aligned to Assessment and feedback policy (C/5.1) and that provides guidance on the allocation and moderation of grades and grade point averages.
5.2.2 Application
This policy applies to award courses and credit point based units, it does not apply to higher degree research (time-based study).
5.2.3 Roles and responsibilities
Position |
Responsibility |
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Director, Student Administration |
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Executive Dean of Faculty (including equivalent academic roles) |
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Faculty academic board |
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Head of school |
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Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar |
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Unit coordinator |
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5.2.4 Grading scale
The University awards numeric grades on a 7-point scale which are used for the calculation of a grade point average (GPA). Some units, generally those incorporating professional competencies that require minimum specified levels of achievement, may report final grades as “S” (Satisfactory) or “U” (Unsatisfactory). When determining the final grades, a unit may only have one grading scale applied (i.e. a 7-point scale or a S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory) scale) which must apply to all students enrolled in the unit.
Other nomenclature and descriptors for final grading include:
- succinct qualitative descriptor
- generic description of standard to inform grading
- standard percentage ranges where numeric references are used.
Standard percentage ranges apply unless an exception has been approved as part of the curriculum design and approval process or by a delegated authority (C/4.1).
Academic numerical pass Academic grades are allocated and determined by academic processes, including appropriate moderation. |
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7 - High Distinction Percentage range: 85%-100%. |
Work provides evidence of an exceptional level of achievement of unit learning outcomes, such as:
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6 - Distinction |
Work provides evidence of a very high level of achievement of unit learning outcomes, such as:
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5 - Credit |
Work provides evidence of a high level of achievement of unit learning outcomes, such as:
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4 - Pass |
Work provides evidence of an acceptable level of achievement of unit learning outcomes, such as:
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Academic numerical fail |
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3 - Marginal Fail |
Work provides evidence of limited and/or disconnected learning which fails to demonstrate that unit learning outcomes have been achieved. Students who receive a grade of 3 in a unit may be eligible to apply for supplementary assessment |
2 - Fail |
Work provides evidence of minimal learning in relation to unit learning outcomes |
1 - Low Fail |
Work provides little or no evidence of learning in relation to unit learning outcomes |
Academic ungraded |
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S - Satisfactory |
Work provides evidence of an acceptable level of achievement of unit learning outcomes and professional competencies (where applicable) |
U - Unsatisfactory |
Work fails to provide evidence of the achievement of unit learning outcomes and/or professional competencies (where applicable) at an acceptable level |
Academic unfinalised |
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A - Grade unfinalised |
The grade will be issued when available |
Administrative letter grades |
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Administrative finalised |
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E - Exempt |
Specified advanced standing is granted (E/4.2.2) |
K -Withdrawn Fail |
Student cancels their enrolment in the unit after the published withdrawal date for the relevant teaching period (E/4.3.6) |
Administrative unfinalised |
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SA - Supplementary Assessment | Supplementary assessment granted |
DA - Deferred Assessment | Deferred assessment granted |
T - Assessment Continues |
Studies extend over more than one teaching period |
5.2.5 Grading awards
To recognise meritorious achievement, awards are granted as follows:
Awards with distinction |
In recognition of meritorious achievement, awards with distinction may be conferred in undergraduate courses (Associate or Bachelor degrees excluding those awarded with honours) or postgraduate courses (Graduate Diplomas or Masters) as designated in the accredited curriculum
In exceptional cases, faculty academic boards may recommend to University Academic Board a relaxation of the GPA requirement for a particular graduand. Such a recommendation must be accompanied by an appropriate rationale To be eligible for an award with distinction a graduand must have completed at least 50% of the total credit points required for the course at QUT. Eligibility for awards with distinction for double degrees is based on consideration of the separate component degree. For either degree, only the units associated specifically with that component are taken into account in the GPA calculations used to determine eligibility |
Bachelor honours degrees |
For all bachelor honours qualifications, the level of honours awarded is determined by the grade point average (GPA) calculated only on the designated honours component of the course. For a one year bachelor honours degree, the GPA is calculated across the entire course. For a four year bachelor honours cluster qualification, the GPA is calculated on the 96 credit points specified as the honours component consistent with the AQF qualification type descriptor approved as part of the curriculum development and approval process or by a delegated authority (C/4.1) For all bachelor honours qualifications, the following levels of honours are awarded:
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Honours and double degrees |
Eligibility for awards with honours for double degrees is based on consideration of the separate component degree. For either degree, only the units associated specifically with that component are taken into account in the grade point average (GPA) calculations used to determine the level of the award with honours |
5.2.6 Grading and awards with honours (applicable only to students who commenced bachelor degree study before 31/12/2014)
For bachelor degrees of 384 credit points or more, which were initially offered before 1 January 2012, and where approved by University Academic Board, the following levels of honours are awarded:
- Honours I (First Class Honours): GPA of 6.00 - 7.00
- Honours IIA (Second Class Honours, Division A): GPA of 5.50 - 5.99
- Honours IIB (Second Class Honours, Division B): GPA of 5.00 - 5.49.
To be eligible for an award with honours a graduand must have completed at least 50% of the total credit points required for the course at QUT. The GPA is the basis for the award of the level of honours and is calculated across the entire course. Students who do not attain a GPA for second class honours or higher remain with a bachelor degree without honours.
This procedure should be read in conjunction with the procedural information provided at the QUT Students portal.
5.2.7 Grade point average
The grade point average (GPA) is a simple numerical index summarising a student's academic performance. GPAs are reported by course.
GPA is calculated as follows:
sum of (unit credit points x numeric grade awarded for the unit) | = GPA |
sum of credit points of completed units |
e.g. for a semester of completed study comprising four x 12 credit point units with grades of '7', '4', '6', '3'
(12 x 7) + (12 x 4) + (12 x 6) +(12 x 3) | = 5 |
48 |
The GPA calculation includes all attempts at units which are awarded either a numeric grade or the grade 'K' (withdrawn - Fail) which is calculated as '1'.
The following are not included in the GPA calculation:
- unfinalised results
- final grades of 'S' (Satisfactory) or 'U' (Unsatisfactory)
- units undertaken at another institution
- units where the status recorded is ‘E’ (Exempt).
5.2.8 Submission and approval of grades
Executive Deans review and approve grades recommended for each student in accordance with course rules and faculty policy.
A final grade is awarded for each unit attempted.
The Executive Dean may approve a unit grade of a student enrolled in one of the faculty's units which is different from the grade recommended by the examiner and/or the head of the school offering the unit.
This change to a unit grade should occur after consultation with either the examiner of the unit or the Head of the School offering the unit regarding the intended variation and considering any matters which either of them wishes to place before the Faculty Academic Board. If consultation is unable to occur due to the unavailability of both the examiner and the Head of School, the Faculty Academic Board may endorse the Executive Dean’s decision to alter the grade.
Students are advised of final grades at the end of each teaching period.
Following approval by the Executive Dean, the Director, Student Administration notifies grades to the student.
Grades that are unfinalised at the time of notification will be resolved by QUT promptly.
Where a student fails to meet a debt or obligation to the University, the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar may approve the withholding of the student's grades.
5.2.9 Alteration of grades after release
An Executive Dean of Faculty may, with the concurrence of the relevant Unit Coordinator or the Head of the School offering the unit, alter their decisions on grades to:
- correct a patent error, or
- accord with a decision that the Executive Dean, Head of School and Unit Coordinator are satisfied would have been made if relevant circumstances which were not considered by the Executive Dean had been taken into account, or
- accord with the outcome of a faculty level Review of Grade.
A Head of School responsible for a unit may change a grade to accord with a school level Review of Grade outcome.
The Executive Dean may delegate to another person the authority to approve a change of grade.
5.2.10 Definitions
Assessment management system (AMS) means the portal used to transfer grades into the student management system.
Related Documents
MOPP C/5.1 Assessment and feedback
MOPP C/5.5 Student academic concessions
MOPP E/10.1 Conferral, graduation and academic dress
Assessment and feedback procedures (QUT staff access only)
Final grade approval and release procedures (QUT staff access only)
Final grade information (QUT staff and student access only)
Modification History
Date | Sections | Source | Details |
17.11.17 | All | University Academic Board | Policy retitled and revised to include former policy E/6.5 |
07.11.14 | C/5.2.4 | University Academic Board | Policy revised to clarify awards with distinction - effective 01.01.15 |
20.09.13 | All | University Academic Board | Revised policy to include changes to honours grading - effective 01.01.14 |
23.03.12 |
C/5.2.4, C/5.2.5, C/5.2.6 |
University Academic Board |
Policy revised to reflect revised Australian Qualifications Framework |
19.02.11 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Policy revised to include approved name change for Office of Teaching Quality to Learning and Teaching Unit |
13.11.09 | All | University Academic Board | Revised policy effective from Semester 1, 2010; includes grading systems for awards with distinction and awards with honours (formerly C/3.2.12). |
14.11.08 | All | University Academic Board | Revised and renumbered policy to C/5.2, effective from 01.01.09 (formerly C/9.2, E/6.5.8, E/6.5.9 and E/6.5.10) (endorsed by University Teaching and Learning Committee 21.10.08) |
04.04.08 | All | University Academic Board | Revised policy – effective from 01.01.09 (endorsed by Academic Policy and Procedures Committee 10.03.08) |
25.06.04 | All | University Academic Board | Revised policy relating to grades of 3 (effective 25.06.2004) |
26.09.03 | All | University Academic Board |
Revised policy (endorsed by Teaching and Learning Committee 09.09.03)- effective 01.01.2004 |