Undergraduate Grades and Grading Schemes

Except for courses taken under the Ungraded Option, courses in the Undergraduate faculties represented in this publication are graded according to the scale below. The grade point values are used to compute averages. For information regarding ungraded option regulations, refer to the Grading information available in your Faculty's section of the Calendar.

Note:

Only courses taken at York University are included in the Grade Point Average. The percentages indicated are not part of the official grading scheme and are meant only to be used as guidelines. The letter-grade system is the fundamental system of assessment of performance in undergraduate programs at York University.

Definitions of Grading Descriptions and Pass and Fail

A+ Exceptional
Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques and exceptional skill of great originality in the use of those concepts/techniques in satisfying the requirement of an assignment or course.

A Excellent
Thorough knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with a high degree of skill and/or some elements of originality in satisfying the requirements of an assignment of course.

B+ Very Good
Thorough knowledge of concept and/or techniques together with a fairly high degree of skill in the use of those concepts/techniques in satisfying the requirements of an assignment or course.

B Good
Good level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with considerable skill in using them to satisfy the requirements of an assignment or course.

C+ Competent
Acceptable level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with considerable skill in using them to satisfy the requirements of an assignment or course.

C Fairly Competent
Acceptable level of knowledge of concepts and/or techniques together with some skill in using them to to satisfy the requirements of an assignment or course.

D+ Passing
Slightly better than minimal knowledge of required concepts and/or techniques together with some ability to use them in satisfying the requirements of an assignment or course.

D Barely Passing
Minimum knowledge of concepts and/or techniques needed to satisfy the requirements of an assignment or course.

E Marginally Failing

F Failing

Passed Course: A passed course is one in which the student has achieved a grade of D or better.

Failed Courses: There are two failing grades on the Undergraduate Grading Scheme: E (marginal failure) and F (failure). Grades E and F are calculated into Grade Point Averages.

Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy:

It is University Policy that the grading scheme for a course (i.e. kinds and weights of assignments, essays, exams, etc.) be announced, and be available in writing, within two weeks of class, and that, under normal circumstances, some graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade for Fall, Winter or Summer Term and 30% or "full year" courses offered in the Fall/Winter Term, be received by students in all courses prior to final withdrawal date from a course without receiving a grade, with the following exceptions:

a) graduate or senior undergraduate courses where course work typically, or at the instructor's discretion, consists of a single piece of work (e.g. honours theses, or graduate research papers not due by the drop date, etc.)
b) practicum courses
c) ungraded courses
d) course in Faculties where drop date occurs within the first 3 weeks of classes
e) course which run on a compressed schedule (a course which accomplishes its academic credits of work at a rate of one credit hour per two calendar weeks or faster).

Note: Under unusual and/or unforeseeable circumstances which disrupt the academic norm, instructors are expected to provide grading schemes and academic feedback in the spirit of these regulations, as soon as possible.