Academic grading in Canada

Academic grading in Canada varies by province, level of education (e.g., elementary, secondary, tertiary), by institution, and faculty. The following are commonly used conversions from percentage grades to letter grades.

Alberta

See also: Education in Alberta

This is the system of grading used by many schools in Alberta.

Letter	Percent	Ref.
A+	90–100%	[1]
A	85–89%
A−	80–84%
B+	77–79%
B	73–76%
B−	70–72%
C+	67–69%
C	63-66%
C-	60-62%
D+	55–59%
D	50–54%
F	0–49%

British Columbia

This is the system of grading used by many high schools in BC (Grades 10–12).

Grading scale for Grades 10–12

Letter	Per cent	Explanation	Ref.
A	86–100%	Excellent or outstanding	[2]
B	73–85%	Very good
C+	67–72%	Good
C	60–66%	Satisfactory
C-	50–59%	Minimally acceptable
IE	0–49%	Insufficient evidence of learning (missing assignments)
F	0–49%	Fail; can only be attained if "IE" was previously assigned for that course.
W	(nil)	The student has withdrawn from this course.

Since the 2023–2024 school year, students from kindergarten to Grade 9 have been assessed with a proficiency scale system. This proficiency scale system has been in use for about half of the province's students since the launch of the pilot programme in 2016 (after the modernization of the province's curriculum).^[3] The ministry's rationale for this change is that the proficiency scale "values growth and most recent evidence of learning" and is more descriptive compared to the letter grade system.^[4][5]

Proficiency scale for Grades K–9

Proficiency	Explanation	Ref.
Extending	Student demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of concepts taught.	[4]
Proficient	Student demonstrates a complete understanding of concepts taught.
Developing	Student demonstrates a partial understanding of concepts taught.
Emerging	Student demonstrates an initial understanding of concepts taught.
IE	Insufficient evidence of learning (missing assignments)

Ontario

See also: Education in Ontario

The grading standards for public elementary and secondary schools (including secular and separate; English and French first language schools) are set by the Ontario Ministry of Education and includes letter grades and percentages. In addition to letter grades and percentages, the Ministry of Education also uses a level system to mark its students. The four levels correspond to how students are marked on the Ontario rubric. The following is the levels on the Ontario rubric, its meaning, and its corresponding letter/percentage grades:

• Level 4, beyond government standards (A; 80 percent and above)
• Level 3, at government standards (B; 70–79 percent)
• Level 2, approaching government standards (C; 60–69 percent)
• Level 1, well below government standards (D; 50–59 percent)

The grading standards for A− letter grades changed in September 2010 to coincide with a new academic year. The new changes require a higher percentage grade by two or five points to obtain an A or A+ respectively.

Letter	Level[note 1]	Percent (until August 2010)[6]	Percent (since September 2010)[7]
A+	4	90–100%	95–100% (School grading system may vary)
A		85–89%	87–94% (85-90%)
A−		80–84%	80–86% (80-85%)
B+	3	77–79% (75-80%)
B		73–76% (70-75%)
B−		70–72% (65-70%)
C+	2	67–69% (60-65%)
C		63–66% (55-60%)
C−		60–62% (55-60%)
D+	1	57–59% (53-55%)
D		53–56% (52-53%)
D−		50–52%
F/R[note 2]	—	0–49%
I[note 3]	—	—

Saskatchewan

See also: Education in Saskatchewan

Letter	Percent	Ref.
A+	90–100%	[8]
A	80–89%
B	70–79%
C	60–69%
D	50–59%
F	0–49%

At a high school level in Saskatchewan, most subjects are separated into three competencies. On report cards, marks are normally shown as numbers and an average of the two marks associated with the subject will be calculated.^[9] For example, if a student achieves A, A− and B+ in a subject, teachers will calculate an average of the three marks (in this case, 85%).

See also

• Education in Canada

Notes

1. Some institutions may use +/− modifiers (Level 4+ or Level 4-) alongside levels, although formally, the Ministry's rubric does not include them.
2. N/A or R is used in elementary schools, while F is used for secondary schools.
3. insufficient amount of information to be graded.