The Grading System: It May Be Very Different from your Home Country’s
I. Introduction
Grading conventions can vary from country to country. What is considered a good test result or grade in your home
country may not be acceptable in the United States.
For example, while a 60% on a test in your home culture’s education system may be considered good, it never is in the
United States! You must seek tutoring if your performance falls below 70% on a test! You should seek tutoring if your
performance falls below 80% on a test!
It is important that you get an understanding of how your home country’s higher education grading system compares
to the one in the U.S. Go to the following website and look up your home country and how grades there will generally
be converted to U.S. grades: http://www.wes.org/gradeconversionguide/
II. Grades and their Meaning
ISU uses the A through F grading system with A being the best grade and F being the worst grade. An X grade is given
to students who do not meet the attendance requirements and has the same impact on your grade point as an F. All
letter grades are converted into points to arrive at a grade point average for each semester and a cumulative (overall)
grade point average (cum GPA). The number of credits for each course affects the impact the course has on your grade
point average.
Grade
Description
Grade
Points
Approximate percentage of total
points for an assignment, test, or
participation
A
AB+
B
BC+
Excellent performance
Excellent performance
Good performance
Good performance
Good performance
Adequate performance
4.0
3.70
3.30
3.0
2.70
2.30
Usually 95-100%
Usually 94-90%
Usually 89-87%
Usually 86-84%
Usually 83-80%
Usually 79-77%
C
CD+
D
DF
Adequate performance
Adequate performance
Marginal performance
Marginal performance
Marginal performance
Unacceptable performance
2.0
1.75
1.30
1.00
0.70
0.00
Usually 76-74%
Usually 73-70%
Usually 69-67%
Usually 66-64%
Usually 63-60%
Usually 59-0 %
Please understand that individual instructors can have a different grading structure and assign slightly different
percentages for letter grades. Check your syllabus!
Courses which start with one 0 (zero) in the course number are given no credit towards graduation at ISU. You must
usually earn at least a C grade to pass the course. However, these courses will count towards the total number of
credits you must take for a scholarship or to maintain immigration status.
III. Grade Point Requirements and the Weighted Credit System
Students must maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative (overall) grade point average in order to attend school fulltime and
avoid probation or dismissal.
Students must have at least a 2.0 cumulative (overall) grade point average to graduate.
In order to understand the weighted credit grading system, look at the following student schedule of an undergraduate
student.
Course
Credits
Grade Points
Points x Credits
Mathematics 0015
3 counting
for
scholarship
and
immigration
but not
graduation
3
C+ = 2.30 points
2.30 x 3 = 6.90
A
4.00 x 3 = 12.00
English 1123
= 4.0 points
International Studies 2203
Art 1100
Academic Skills 1101
3
3
1
Academic Skills 1102
Physical Education
Activity
1
1
C+ = 2.30 points
B = 3.00 points
B+ = 3.30
points
A = 4.00 points
A- = 3.70 points
Total
Credits
earned for
graduation
12 credits
2.30 x 3 = 6.90
3.00 x 3 = 9.00
3.30 x 1 = 3.30
4.00 x 1 = 4.00
3.70 x 1 = 3.70
Cumulative points divided
by total credits including
those not counting for ISU
graduation like Math 0015
or 0025
45.8 points divided by 15
credits = 3.05 GPA
Find a GPA calculator at http://www.isu.edu/areg/gpacalcp.shtml
Credit and Grading Policy
III. Number of Credits to Take in the First Semester and Special Courses for International Students
Students are placed into English 1122, 1123, 1101 P or 1101, 1102 by their TOEFL, IELTS, SAT or ACT score.
International students may not use a Compass English score for placement into an English course.
International Students might want to take at least 15 or 16 credits per semester to start. Taking more than the
minimum number of credits allows them to withdraw from a class that is not going well if their sponsor allows that and
still maintain the minimum of 12 credits required for maintenance of immigration status.
Students who are in the U.S. for the very first time should consider taking American Studies 1100, Introduction to
American Language and Cultures. This is course is specially designed for International Students and serves as elective
credit.
If you cannot register for American Studies 1100, email Ms. Sue Akersten for permission to take American Studies
1100 at akersue@isu.edu. She will need to know your name and Bengal ID number to assist you.
Last updated 07/15/2015 SF