University Grading in the UK Compared to Canada

One of the most common concerns Canadian students have about studying in the UK is the grading scheme, which varies considerably from the Canadian system. Navigating university grading in the UK can be challenging, but don't despair! Once you understand the basics, entry requirements and the grades you receive while a student make much more sense.

Canadian universities do not have consistent grading schemes, which makes a comparison to the university grading systems in the UK even more difficult. It can sometimes be confusing to transfer and translate academic results. In Canada, universities use percentages (for instance, 65% or 78%), as well as letter grades (such as C or B+), and GPAs. The GPA scales used could be a 4.0 or a 13.0! 

If you are applying for a three-year LLB program in the UK right out of high school, you will need to understand how UK students are assessed in high school; if you are applying for an LLM (postgraduate level) program, you need to understand how undergraduate degrees are classified in the UK.

Students applying to a two-year LLB program in the UK will need to provide both high school (even if they already hold a Canadian undergraduate degree) and university transcripts.

LLB Entry Requirements

When applying to a UK university, you might see entry requirements described as "ABB" or "Upper Second". These terms – or similar ones – describe the level of results a student receives for A-Levels, which are a series of qualifying tests in specific subject areas at the secondary (high school) level. In the UK, students typically take A Levels in three major areas, hence the three-letter sequence.

For Canadian students, the grades that will be reviewed are those from the last year of secondary school (typically Grade 12 academic courses, often U or M courses in Ontario or 30 level courses in Alberta) and any post-secondary education.

• An "AAA" ranking means that a student scored within the A-range for all three exams. In the Canadian system, this equates to results between 80-100% area. In GPA terms, this would be around a 3.3 – 4.0/4.0 GPA
• An "AAB" ranking would equate to mixed results, so approximately 73-79% or around a 3.0/4.0 GPA.
• An "ABB" is slightly below that, with a spread of approximately 63% or 64% to 72% (mid or high C to a low B). 
   

Grading Language in the UK

When you graduate from a UK undergraduate program, your degree will be given a "class" based on your results. Typically, these classes are:

• "First," which represents results in the 80%+ area;
• "Upper Second," which represents results from the mid- to high 70s;
• "Lower Second," referring to the mid-60s to the low 70s;
• "Ordinary Pass," which encompasses everything else considered a passing grade; and
• "Fail," which falls under the 50% pass threshold. 

How your grades convert into the UK system will depend on the grading scheme from which they arise. If, for instance, you are in a Canadian school with a 4.0 grade scale, an Upper Second degree would encompass GPAs between 3.00 and 3.33. If you were on a 12.0 grade scale, then you would fall into the 8.0-9.0 range for this degree class.
 

Receiving Grades: Expect to be shocked!

Many of the graduate programs in Britain use a sliding scale based on 85 points rather than 100 for percentages, with 70 being the cut-off point for distinction (with the distinction being akin to an honours or "A" in Canada). So, remember: if you get a 68, don't panic! That's actually a solid grade. If you get a 72, even better! It might feel odd at first to see numbers we associate with lower grades, but you'll get used to it. 
 

Grades

In the UK they use a different grading scale. Although there is no exact conversion, here is a table to give you an idea of what your grades are equal to, but keep in mind that all the schools are different both in the UK and in Canada.
 

The best thing you can do to be sure of how your grades convert and how they fit within the requirements for your application is to consult with a Canada Law From Abroad Student Advisor; our team is fully trained in working with these conversions and do so on a daily basis!