Grading and Grade Point Averages (GPA) for Continuing Studies

Courses can be graded either by letter grades or in percentages, but the official grade in each course is the letter grade. Where appropriate, a class average appears on transcripts expressed as the letter grade most representative of the class performance.

For undergraduate courses, Grades A through C represent satisfactory passes, D a conditional (non-continuation) pass, and F a failure. Certain courses have been approved for Pass/Fail (P/F) grading.

For graduate level courses, Grades A through B- represent satisfactory passes. Students must obtain a B- or better in courses to fulfil program requirements.

You cannot register in a course for which you have not passed all the prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better at the undergraduate level and B- or better at the graduate level, except by written permission of the Director. Certain programs have further requirements. Students should refer to the program regulations in the appropriate academic area of this Calendar.

Undergraduate Grading

GPA

Grades	Grade Points	Numerical Scale of Grades
A	4.0	85–100%
A-	3.7	80–84%
B+	3.3	75–79%
B	3.0	70–74%
B-	2.7	65–69%
C+	2.3	60–64%
C	2.0	55–59%
D1	1.0	50–54%
F (Fail)	0	0–49%
P		Pass

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A grade of D is a conditional (non-continuation) pass:

• If you obtain a grade of D in a course that is a prerequisite, you cannot register for any course that requires this prerequisite.
• If you obtain a grade of D in a required course, the course will not count toward your program.

Graduate Grading

GPA

Grades	Grade Points	Numerical Scale of Grades
A	4.0	85–100%
A-	3.7	80–84%
B+	3.3	75–79%
B	3.0	70–74%
B-	2.7	65–69%
F (Fail)	0	0–64%
P		Pass

The University assigns grade points to letter grades according to the table above. Your Academic Standing is determined by a grade point average (GPA), which is calculated by dividing the sum of the course credit, times the grade points by the total course GPA credits. The result is not rounded up to the nearest decimal point.

GPA credits are the credits of courses with grades that are assigned grade points.

The term grade point average (TGPA) is the GPA for a given term calculated using all the applicable courses at the same level in that term. The cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is the GPA calculated using your entire record of applicable courses at McGill at the same level; if you change levels, e.g., from undergraduate to graduate, the CGPA starts again.

If you repeat courses, all results are included in the GPA calculation. Therefore, grades of D or F continue to be used in the CGPA calculation even after you repeat the course or if you take a supplemental examination. Note that credits are only granted once for a repeated course regardless of the passing grade.

You must obtain a minimum CGPA of 2.00 to be considered for graduation with a McGill degree.

Note: During the first week of lectures, each instructor will provide you with a written course outline. This information should include, where appropriate:

• whether there will be a final examination in the course;
• how term work will affect the final grade in the course;
• how term work will be distributed through the term;
• whether there will be a supplemental examination in the course, and if so, whether the supplemental exam will be worth 100% of the supplemental grade, or whether term work will be included in the supplemental grade (courses with formal final examinations must have supplementals);
• whether students with grades of D, F, J, or U will have the option of submitting additional work, and, if so, how the supplemental will be calculated with the extra work (applicable only to students in Science and B.A. & Sc.).

Other Grades for Continuing Studies

Other Grades

Grades	Explanation
J	unexcused absence (failed); the student is registered for a course but does not write the final examination or do other required work; calculated as a failure in the TGPA and CGPA.
K	incomplete; deadline extended for submission of work in a course (see “Incomplete Courses”).
KE or K	further extension granted (see “Incomplete Courses”).
KF	failed to meet the extended deadline for submission of work in a course; calculated as a failure in TGPA and CGPA.
KK	completion requirement waived. Not calculated in TGPA or CGPA.
L	deferred examination.
LE or L	permitted to defer examination for more than the normal period.
NE	no evaluation; indicates work for which no evaluation has been carried out and which may not count as credit toward any program.
NR	no grade reported by the instructor (recorded by the Registrar).
P	pass; not calculated in TGPA or CGPA.
Q	course continued in next term (applicable only to courses taken pre-Fall 2002).
W	withdrew; a course dropped, with permission, after the Course Change deadline; not calculated in TGPA or CGPA.
WF	withdrew failing; a course dropped, with special permission in an exceptional case, after faculty deadline for withdrawal from course, the student's performance in the course at that stage being on the level of an F; not calculated in TGPA or CGPA. (Not used by Music.)
WL	faculty permission to withdraw from a deferred examination; not calculated in TGPA or CGPA.
NA or &&	grade not yet available.
W- or -	no grade; student withdrew from the University, not calculated in TGPA or CGPA.

If, without a valid excuse, you do not participate in or write a final examination or submit required term work for any courses you were registered in, you will receive a final grade of J (unexcused absence).