Academic grading in the Philippines

In the Philippines, some universities follow a 4-Point Scale, which resembles or is equivalent to the U.S. grading system. This system uses a grade between 0.00 to 4.00 wherein 4.00 is the highest and 0.00 being a failing mark.

Other universities follow a 5-Point Scale, wherein the highest grade is a 1.00 and the lowest is a 5.00 (failing mark). The lowest passing mark is actually a 3.00. Although usually not depicted, a grade of 4.00 is equivalent to a grade of incomplete. If the school does not use the grade point "4.00", it will use "INC" instead.

Most colleges and universities will use either the 4-Point or 5-Point Scales when presenting final grades. When scoring individual coursework, they will use the Percent Grade, Letter Grade, or both. More importantly, Philippine universities do not have standard grade equivalence. Different universities have varied equivalence range, while passing grades are subject to imposed academic quality of an institution.

K–12 (Kindergarten and Basic Education) always uses the Percent Grade, Letter Grade, or both.

GWA (general weighted average; similar to GPA) is a representation (often numerical) of the overall scholastic standing of students used for evaluation. GWA is based on the grades in all subjects taken at a particular level including subjects taken outside of the curriculum. Representation of the subjects taken only in a specific curriculum is called CWA, or curriculum weighted average.[1][2]

Grade point scale (1.00–5.00)

University of the Philippines Grading Point System[3]

Grade Point Equivalence	Grade Letter Equivalence	Equivalence	GPA Equivalence	Description
1.0	A	97–100%	4.000	Excellent
1.25	A-	94.25–96.99%	3.625–3.999	Very Good
1.5	B+	91.50–94.24%	3.250– 3.624
1.75	B	88.75–91.49%	2.875–3.249	Good
2.0	B-	86.00–88.74%	2.500–2.874
2.25	C+	83.25–85.99%	2.125–2.499	Satisfactory
2.5	C	80.50–83.24%	1.750–2.124
2.75	C-	77.75–80.49%	1.375–1.749	Pass
3.0	D	75.00–77.74%	1.000–1.374
4.0	–	–	–	Conditional
5.0	F	Below 75%	0.000	Fail
INC	–	–	–	Incomplete

Central Colleges of the Philippines Grade Point System

Grade Point Equivalence	Equivalence	Description
1.00	96–100%	Excellent
1.25	94–95%	Very Good
1.50	91–93%	Very Good
1.75	88–90%	Good
2.00	85–87%	Good
2.25	83–84%	Good
2.50	80–82%	Fair
2.75	78–79%	Fair
3.00	75–77%	Pass
5.00	Below 75%	Failure
INC		Incomplete
NA		No Attendance
UW		Unauthorized Withdrawal
DRP		Dropped
NC		No Credit

Other universities, such as the Ateneo de Manila University and its sister schools, use the letter grade system with varied grade equivalence range.

University of Santo Tomas Grade Point System

Grade Point Equivalence	Equivalence	Description
1.00	96–100%	Excellent
1.25	94–95%	Very Good
1.50	92–93%	Very Good
1.75	89–91%	Good
2.00	87–88%	Good
2.25	84–86%	Good
2.50	82–83%	Fair
2.75	79–81%	Fair
3.00	75–78%	Pass
5.00	Below 75%	Failure
INC		Incomplete
FA		Failure due to Absences
WP		Withdrew with Permission
WF		Withdrew without Permission (Failure)

San Beda University Grade Point System
(Effective since AY 2014-2015)

Grade Point Equivalence	Equivalence	Description
1.00	98–100%	Excellent
1.25	95–98%	Very Good
1.50	92–95%	Very Good
1.75	89–92%	Good
2.00	86–89%	Good
2.25	83–86%	Good
2.50	80–83%	Fair
2.75	78–80%	Fair
3.00	75–78%	Pass
5.00	Below 75%	Failure
INC		Incomplete (No Final Examination)
EXM		Exempted from NSTP
DV		Withdrew with Permission
DF		Withdrew without Permission (Failure)

The Grading System of San Beda University is zero-based in nature which implies no transmutations are to be made.

Tarlac State University College of Engineering and Technology Grade Point System

Grade Point Equivalence	Equivalence	Description
1.00	99–100%	Excellent
1.25	95–99%	Very Good
1.50	90–95%
1.75	85–90%	Good
2.00	80–85%
2.25	75–80%	Satisfactory
2.50	70–75%
2.75	65–70%	Passing
3.00	60–65%
5.00	<60%	Failing
INC	Incomplete

The description mentioned in the table was based on Tarlac State University (TSU) Student Handbook.In addition, the grade of "INC"is given if a student whose class standing for the semester is passing, fails to take the final examination or fails to complete other course requirements for valid reason (Chap. 8, Sec. 1, TSU Student Handbook).

Grade point scale (4.00–1.00)

Far Eastern University Grade Point System
(Effective since A.Y. 2013)[4]

Written Grade	Grade Point Equivalence	Equivalence	Description
A	4.00	92–100%	Excellent
B+	3.50	85–91%	Very Good
B	3.00	78–84%	Very Good
C+	2.50	71–77%	Good
C	2.00	64–70%	Satisfactory
D+	1.50	57–63%	Satisfactory
D	1.00	50–56%	Passed
F	0.00	Below 49%	Failed
AW		0%	Authorized Withdrawal

National University-Manila Grade Point System[5]

Grade Point Equivalence	Equivalence	Description
4.00	96–100%	Excellent
3.50	90–95%	Very Good
3.00	84–89%	Good
2.50	78–83%	Above Satisfactory
2.00	72–77%	Satisfactory
1.50	66–71%	Fair
1.00	60–65%	Passed
0.00	Failure	Failed
R	Repeat	Repeat/Failed
DR	Officially Dropped	Officially Dropped
W	Unofficially Dropped	Unofficially Dropped
INC	Incomplete	Incomplete

Silliman University Grade Point System
(Effective since June 1992)

Numerical Grade Point	Equivalent Percentage	Description
3.8–4.0	97–100%	Excellent
3.3–3.7	93–96%	Superior
2.8–3.2	89–92%	Good
2.3–2.7	85–88%	Above Average
1.8–2.2	81–84%	Average
1.3–1.7	77–80%	Below Average
1.0–1.2	73–76%	Passing
0.0	72 and below	Failure

Adventist University of the Philippines, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute & FEU Institute of Technology Grade Point System

Grade Point Equivalence	Equivalence	Description
4.00	97–100%	Excellent
3.50	93–96%	Superior
3.00	89–92%	Very Good
2.50	85–88%	Good
2.00	80–84%	Satisfactory
1.50	75–79%	Fair
1.00	70–74%	Pass
0.00	Below 70%	Fail

De La Salle University Grade Point System[6]

Grade Point Equivalence	Description	Equivalence	Notes
4.00	Excellent	95–100%
3.50	Superior	89–94.9%
3.00	Very Good	83–88.9%	Minimum term GPA to be eligible for Dean's Honors List
2.50	Good	78–82.9%
2.00	Satisfactory	72–77.9%	Minimum course grade to be eligible for Dean's Honors List
1.50	Fair	66–71.9%
1.00	Passed	60–65.9%
0.00	Failed	Below 60%
INC	Incomplete		For students who fail to complete their enrolled course.
P	Pass		For pass/fail courses only.
F	Fail		For pass/fail courses only.
D	Deferred
W	Withdrawn

Letter grade system

Ateneo de Davao University Letter Grade System

Quality Point Equivalence	Letter Grade Equivalence	% Equivalence
4.0	A	92–100%
3.5	B+	88–91%
3.0	B	84–85%
2.5	C+	80–83%
2.0	C	76–79%
1.0	D	72–75%
0.0	F	71% and lower

Ateneo de Manila University Letter Grade System

Grade Point Equivalence	Letter Grade Equivalence	% Equivalence
4.0	A	92–100%
3.5	B+	87–91%
3.0	B	83–86%
2.5	C+	79–82%
2.0	C	75–78%
1.0	D	70–74%
0.0	F	below 70%

Most academic departments in the university follow a grading system with the 70% passing grade. Some departments, such as the Department of Finance and Accounting and departments from the Ateneo School of Science and Engineering follow a 50% or 60% passing grade.

International School Manila Letter Grade System

Grade Point Equivalence	Letter Grade Equivalence	% Equivalence
4.0	A	94–100%
3.7	A−	90–93%
3.3	B+	87–89%
3.0	B	83–86%
2.7	B−	80–82%
2.3	C+	77–79%
2.0	C	73–76%
1.7	C−	70–72%
1.3	D+	67–69%
1.0	D	63–66%
0.7	D−	60–62%
0.0	F	below 60%

Latin Honors grade equivalences

Some Philippine universities and colleges give Latin honors in conveying the level of distinction that an academic degree has been earned.

De La Salle University-Manila, De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Latin Honors[7]

Latin Honors	Grade Point Equivalence Range
Summa Cum Laude	3.800–4.000
Magna Cum Laude	3.600–3.799
Cum Laude	3.400–3.599
Honorable Mention[8]	3.200–4.000

University of Santo Tomas, and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Latin Honors.

Latin Honors	Grade Point Equivalence Range
Summa Cum Laude	1.20–1.00
Magna Cum Laude	1.45–1.19
Cum Laude	1.75–1.44

University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law and Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Latin Honors

Latin Honors	Grade Point Equivalence Range	Equivalence
Summa Cum Laude	1.00–1.50	92% and above
Magna Cum Laude	1.51–1.85	88.5% to 91.9%
Cum Laude	1.86–2.10	86% to 88.4%

Prerequisite for UST's Latin Honors or Dean's Lister distinction are the following: QPI should be at least 86%, no grade below 80% for any subject in the given semester, and the student should obtain a good moral character.

Ateneo de Manila University Latin Honors

Latin Honors	Grade Point Equivalence Range
Summa Cum Laude	3.87–4.00
Magna Cum Laude	3.70–3.86
Cum Laude	3.50–3.69

References

1. - Learning Styles in the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. Accessed February 14, 2009.
2. "UP Diliman Faculty Manual" (PDF). University of the Philippines Diliman. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
3. University of the Philippines Transcript of Records.
4. "System of Grading for Undergraduate (Applicable to students admitted in 2013 and beyond)". Far Eastern University. Archived from the original on 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
5. National University
6. Student Handbook 2018-2021. Manila: De La Salle University Manila. 2018. pp. 90–91, 115–116.
7. Student Handbook 2018-2021. Manila: De La Salle University Manila. 2018. pp. 99–100.
8. This refers only to ID#112 and newer.