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The June examination results are out and the question on many candidates’ minds is “what does it mean for me and my future?” Today we would like to examine the examiner and find out how the grading process occurs and how to interpret the grades.

Last week we looked at the marking process in detail, and as noted in this year’s examinations, Ordinary and Advanced Level results were released timeously and concurrently, leaving the candidate with ample time to make plans for their future.

According to the Standard English Dictionary a “grade” can be defined as:

a. A level of academic development in an elementary, middle, or secondary school:

b. A number, letter, or symbol indicating a student’s level of accomplishment

From this we can determine that grading is the process:

a. To determine the quality of (academic work, for example); evaluate, quantify

b. To give a grade to (a student, for example).

The process of grading is when we convert the numerical marks that candidates achieve on every exam paper into alpha grades.

For Ordinary Level examinations the grades used to translate the candidates’ examinations performance are A, B, C, D, E and U.

A basic interpretation would translate the grade A in Ordinary Level as very good and on a point system 5 points, B – good or 4 points, C – Average or 3 points, D – Weak or 2 points, E – Very Weak or 1 point. And U – Ungraded. At this level a pass is counted from Grade C and above.

Advanced Level Examination grades are A, B, C, D, E, O and F. Grade A is very good, C – Average, E – Pass, O – Ordinary Level pass and F – Fail.

The point system then applies to Grade A to E with 5 points being awarded to the highest grade, A, down to 1 point awarded to the lowest, E.

With the above guidelines a candidate is able to make a choice of subjects to further when moving from Ordinary Level to Advanced Level or when making a choice of courses to be pursued at a Technical or Polytechnic College.

Most candidates will want to consider their strongest subjects when making this choice so as to increase the chances of doing well at the next level.

For the candidate who has completed the Advanced Level, the grades achieved will help in choosing the course or degree that one wishes to pursue.

It is to the college or university’s discretion as to what level of pass they consider when taking a student in.

Students must also be aware of the right subject combination needed to be able to register for the course of choice as it is not about the number of points attained only but a combination of the two.

Grades are likewise, also used by schools, universities and other institutions of higher education, as well as employers, to select from a range of candidates for a particular course of study or job.

Grades may also be used as the basis for decisions about scholarships or other awards.

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