Grading System - The Glasgow School of Art
| All Courses | Primary verbal descriptors for attainment of intended learning outcomes | Honours class | |||
| Primary grade | Gloss* | Secondary bands ** | Grade Point | ||
| A | Excellent | A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 |
22 21 20 19 18 |
Exemplary range and depth of attainment of intended learning outcomes, secured by discriminating command of a comprehensive range of relevant materials and analyses, and by deployment of considered judgement relating to key issues, concepts and procedures | First |
| B | Very good | B1 B2 B3 |
17 16 15 |
Conclusive attainment of virtually all intended learning outcomes, clearly grounded on a close familiarity with a wide range of supporting evidence, constructively utilised to reveal appreciable depth of understanding | Upper Second |
| C | Good | C1 C2 C3 |
14 13 12 |
Clear attainment of most of the intended learning outcomes, some more securely grasped than others, resting on a circumscribed range of evidence and displaying a variable depth of understanding | Lower Second |
| D | Satisfactory | D1 D2 D3 |
11 10 9 |
Acceptable attainment of intended learning outcomes, displaying a qualified familiarity with a minimally sufficient range of relevant materials, and a grasp of the analytical issues and concepts which is generally reasonable, albeit insecure | Third |
| E | Weak | E1 E2 E3 |
8 7 6 |
Attainment deficient in respect of specific intended learning outcomes, with mixed evidence as to the depth of knowledge and weak deployment of arguments or deficient manipulations | Fail |
| F | Poor | F1 F2 F3 |
5 4 3 |
Attainment of intended learning outcomes appreciably deficient in critical respects, lacking secure basis in relevant factual and analytical dimensions | |
| G | Very Poor | G1 G2 |
2 1 |
Attainment of intended learning outcomes markedly deficient in respect of nearly all intended learning outcomes, with irrelevant use of materials and incomplete and flawed explanation | |
| H | 0 | No convincing evidence of attainment of intended learning outcomes, such treatment of the subject as is in evidence being directionless and fragmentary | |||
| CR | CREDIT REFUSED | Failure to comply, in the absence of good cause, with the published requirements of the course or programme; and/or a serious breach of regulations | |||
*This gloss is used because it is the lowest grade normally associated with the attainment of an undergraduate award. Postgraduate students should be aware, however, that a minimum average of C grade is required to progress to the dissertation at the Masters level, and students should consult the appropriate degree regulations and course handbooks for the grade they may require for specific awards.
**The Secondary Band indicates the degree to which the work possesses the quality of the corresponding descriptor.
Notes:
1. Discretion of GSA Final Examination Board (Final-Year Students) for Classified Honours Programmes
(a) Where the mean overall Grade Point Average falls within one of the following ranges, the GSA Final Examination Board (Final-Year Students) shall recommend the following awards stated:
- 18.0 to 20.0: First class honours
- 15.0 to 17.0: Upper second class honours
- 12.0 to 14.0: Lower second class honours
- 9.0 to 11.0: Third class honours
- 0.0 to 8.0: Fail
(b) Where the mean overall Grade Point Average falls between two of the ranges defined in 1(a), the GSA Final Examination Board (Final-Year Students) shall have the discretion to decide which of the alternative awards to recommend:
- 17.1 to 17.9: Either first or upper second class honours
- 14.1 to 14.9: Either upper or lower second class honours
- 11.1 to 11.9: Either lower second or third class honours
- 8.1 to 8.9: Either third class honours to fail
Notwithstanding the flexibility permitted to GSA Final Examination Board (Final-Year Students), the following arrangement shall normally be applied:
When the overall aggregation score falls between 0.1 and 0.4, the lower award is given; and when it falls at 0.5 or above, the higher award is given.