What is a grading scale?

A grading scale is a system used to translate numerical scores or letter grades into a qualitative assessment of student performance. It defines the range of scores or grades that correspond to specific letter grades (e.g., A, B, C, D, F) or descriptive levels (e.g., Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor). Different institutions and even individual instructors may use different grading scales. Some common examples include:

* Standard 10-point scale: 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, below 60% = F.

* 7-point scale: Might use letter grades like A+, A, A-, B+, etc.

* Percentage-based scales: These simply use percentages to represent different achievement levels without specific letter grades.

* Descriptive scales: These use terms like "Exceptional," "Proficient," "Developing," and "Unsatisfactory" instead of letter grades.

The purpose of a grading scale is to provide a consistent and understandable way to communicate student achievement to students, parents, and administrators. However, the specific scale used can impact the overall distribution of grades and the perceived difficulty of a course.