Attending education institutions in Australia as an international student, you may come across some difficulties in several areas which count as a cultural-shock phenomenon. Worth mentioning is the grading system in the schools. Considering Australia is an English-speaking nation, they use alphabet letters to describe the scores, similar to England and the US. However, the grading approach is completely different.
If you are used to D being a failing grade, you will most likely get confused since D stands for Distinction in some Australian Schools. This is merely one of the many wonders that you may encounter while studying in Australia. It’s important to know that the grading system varies from one country to the other. This statement also applies to the different levels of education.
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Primary and Secondary School
Australian education system requires all children who have finished kindergarten to attend school by the age of six or seven. Primary school starts at the age of 6 until the age of 11 which translates to grades 1-6. At the beginning of Primary school, the focus is on the subjects of English and Mathematics. By the 5th and 6th grade students will be introduced to health sciences and social studies, as well as a foreign language depending on the region.
By secondary school, students will be more prepared at the basic subjects and will move on to more advanced and difficult subjects. The secondary school generally includes years 7 to 10. Students are introduced to subjects that require a higher level of focus and understanding. For example, civic and economic matters, technology, and promotion of the students’ personal development.
Finally, the upper or senior (depending on the state) secondary school consists of year 11 and 12, which international students may recognize as high school years. Continuous teaching in the previously mentioned subjects prevails, with the addition of allowing students the choice of elected subjects.
Grading System in Primary and Secondary Schools
Every state in Australia may implement its grading method, however, the majority of them use the A to F system. As per usual, the A reads as an excellent score with a percentage rate of 80 and above, and F being the failing grade where the minimum score is 25. By the end of the term when students are supposed to get their reports, the grades will be delivered with descriptions alongside. The highest grade (A) is described as:” Evidence of learning demonstrates outstanding achievement at this year level”. The lower the grade the more critical the description. For the lowest grade (F), the report will read:” Evidence of learning demonstrates very limited achievement at this year’s level.”
There’s another very common grading system used in Australian primary and secondary schools that is more unique and unusual.
Here is what this system looks like:
| Grade | Percentage | Grade Description |
| HD | 85% and above | High Distinction |
| D | 75–84% | Distinction |
| C | 65–74% | Credit |
| P | 50–64% | Pass |
| N | 49% and under | Fail |
Grading System in Tertiary Education
If you are interested in pursuing a higher-education degree in Australia, be that an undergraduate or even a Master’s degree, you will be evaluated according to the chosen university’s grading scheme. Every university and the country it is located in may have different grading systems since they use different methodologies.
The undergraduate and postgraduate courses usually apply the same grading methods, if they are both offered at the same university. Due to the numerous universities in Australia, we have made a list, naming and comparing the grading systems of various Australian territories and the corresponding universities.
New South Wales
Being one of the most popular study destinations in Australia, New South Wales consists of several great universities: University of New South Wales, University of Newcastle, University of Sydney, and Macquarie University. All these universities employ the same evaluation method.
| Grade | Grade name |
| HD | High Distinction |
| D | Distinction |
| CR | Credit |
| P or PW | Pass |
| F | Fail |
Victoria University
Victoria University holds a reputation for being a world-renowned university that comprises nine greatly valued universities: Monash University, Deakin University, Swinburne University of Technology, the University of Melbourne, and La Trobe University.
| Grade | Grade name |
| A | Excellent Achievement |
| B | High Achievement |
| C | Sound Achievement |
| D | Limited Achievement |
| E | Lowest Passing Grade |
| F | Fail |
Queensland University
Queensland University is home to some of the top Australian universities such as Griffith University and Queensland University.
| Grade | Grade name |
| HD | High distinction |
| D | Distinction |
| CR | Credit |
| P or PW | Pass |
| F | Fail |
South Australia
South Australian universities are known for their professional teaching methods and they attract students from all over the world because of their great reputation. University of Adelaide, Carnegie Mellon University, Flinders University, and the University of South Australia are some of the best universities located in Southern Australia.
| Grade | Grade name |
| HD | High distinction |
| D | Distinction |
| CR | Credit |
| P1 | Pass level 1 |
| P2 | Pass level 2 |
| F1 | Fail level 1 |
| F2 | Fail level 2 |
Western Australia
| Grade | Grade name |
| HD | High Definition |
| A | Excellent Achievement |
| B | High Achievement |
| C | Sound Achievement |
| D | Limited Achievement |
| E | Fail |
Australian Capital Territory
Two of the most prestigious universities are located in the Australian Capital Territory: the University of Canberra and the Australian National University. In comparison to other universities, the characteristics of the Australian Capital Territory universities is the added grade “S” in certain circumstances where it isn’t possible to grade students within the established system.
| Grade | Grade name |
| A | Extremely High Standard of Achievement |
| B | High Standard of Achievement |
| C | Acceptable Standard of Achievement |
| D | Limited Standard of Achievement |
| E | Lowest Passing Grade |
The Northern Territory
In the Northern Territory, there is only one University available for students to attend which is called Charles Darwin University.
| Grade | Grade name |
| A | Extremely High Standard of Achievement |
| B | High Standard of Achievement |
| C | Acceptable Standard of Achievement |
| D | Limited Standard of Achievement |
| E | Lowest Passing Grade |
Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is the only higher-education institution in the state and it is the state where the TasTafe Registered Training Organisation is located.
| Grade | Grade name |
| EA | Excellent Achievement |
| HA | High Achievement |
| CA | Commendable Achievement |
| SA | Satisfactory Achievement |
| PA | Preliminary Achievement |
The Difference Between Australian and US Grading System
Australia and the United States have a lot in common in terms of language and education, however, teaching methods and culture can differ. The elementary and middle school in the US lasts until the 9th grade, preceding high school which consists of grades 6-12. Except for the early years of education, Australia’s high school years are in correspondence with the US. One more characteristic of the US schools is the assessment test in the 12th grade, where students are required to take the SATs as preparation for college applications.
The topic of homework in the US and Australia has been a main point of discussion for a while in both countries. While Australia has reflected upon its decision of assigning 3 or more hours of homework to students, the US has yet to make improvements regarding this issue.
The maximum score you can earn in Australia is 50% and they assess the students by assigning them two bigger tests or essays depending on the course and the subject. On the other hand, US schools base their grades on several assessment methods: quizzes, tests, group work, projects, and engagement in class.
When it comes to grades, in most cases D is the second-highest score in Australian schools. In comparison, a D in the US is considered an unsatisfactory passing grade.
The grades in Australia are described through only five letters, whereas the grading system in the United States includes a wider range of scores:
- Australian Grading System: HD, D, C, P (Fail).
- US Grading System: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-,… F (Fail).
It is noteworthy that several American educational institutions add plus or minus signs to the letter grade to clarify the evaluati
on furthermore.
