What Is Considered A Passing Grade In High School?
What is a Passing Grade in High School in the United States? – In the United States, a passing grade is considered at least a D (or D-, in grading systems that use the +/- variation). In other words, you must score at least 60% to pass high school. However, this isn’t the case in every district, as some high schools consider anything below a C, the equivalent of 70%, to be a failing grade.
- Generally speaking, while scoring Ds is usually sufficient to get you through your courses and ensure that you’re able to earn your diploma or GED, you should aim to at least score Cs in your classes.
- Anything below a C is generally considered a bad score.
- While Ds will allow you to pass, they may result in significant challenges if you apply to a college or vocational school.
A letter grade isn’t the only grading scale used to measure academic success in the United States. As a result of your grade, you will also be assigned a GPA (Grade Point Average) and a class rank. A college or university registrar considers your grade average and class rank along with the rest of your application, so it’s essential to ensure they’re as good as they can be.
- Any GPA above 3.0 is considered good, but unfortunately, D scores convert to a 0.7 – 1.3 GPA.
- And since GPA sorts class rank, consistently scoring Ds can result in an extremely low class rank.
- Unfortunately, these scores aren’t competitive for college, and they may even result in local or community colleges questioning why your scores were so low.
For this reason, it’s essential to aim for higher grades whenever possible.
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Is 65 out of 100 a passing grade?
What is a passing grade? – Many college grading systems consider a D, or 65 percent, to be the lowest passing grade.
| Letter | Percentage grade | GPA | Pass/Fail |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 90-100 | 3.7-4.0 | Pass |
| B | 80-89 | 2.7-3.3 | Pass |
| C | 70-79 | 1.7-2.3 | Pass |
| D | 65-69 | 1.0-1.3 | Pass |
| F | 0-64 | 0.0 | Fail |
Note that different schools, programs, or classes may have different cutoff points for what they consider a passing grade. For example, some schools consider 60 percent to be the lowest passing grade, similar to common high school grading scales. Some classes may be graded on a curve, meaning your percentage grade likely won’t align with the typical letter or GPA structure.
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Is a passing grade 70%?
2. The US letter grading system – Every time you finish an assignment, your instructor will put a letter at the top of it. That letter tells you how well (or poor) you did on the assignment. From A to F, you go from great to well, not so great. But they also have a percentage behind them.
A – is the highest grade you can receive on an assignment, and it’s between 90% and 100%B – is still a pretty good grade! This is an above-average score, between 80% and 89%C – this is a grade that rests right in the middle. C is anywhere between 70% and 79%D – this is still a passing grade, and it’s between 59% and 69%F – this is a failing grade. No, wait, don’t cry! You just need to study harder!
Is a D+ failing?
Grades A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D- indicate passing grades ; F indicates failure.
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What is an F grade out of 100?
Grade Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 98-100 | A+ |
| 63-66 | D |
| 60-62 | D- |
| F |
Is 75 a good grade?
B+ (75-79%): Work of this standard is competent and methodical, indicating a clear understanding of the topic and an ability to critically engage with the debates in the field of inquiry.
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What is an A in grades?
1. Letter Grades. A+, A, A- indicates excellent performance. B+, B, B- indicates good performance. C+, C, C- indicates satisfactory performance.
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Is 75 a grade C?
Grading Numerology I use percentages to map to letter grades. The percentages mirror the 4.0 scale, except that where a GPA difference of 1.0 corresponds to a full letter grade, I use a percentage difference of 10. The table below shows the conversion from numerical grades to letter grades.
| Number → Letter Conversion | |
|---|---|
| Numerical Grade | Letter Grade |
| ≥ 97.5 | A+ |
| ≥ 92.5 | A |
| ≥ 90.0 | A- |
| ≥ 87.5 | B+ |
| ≥ 82.5 | B |
| ≥ 80.0 | B- |
| ≥ 77.5 | C+ |
| ≥ 72.5 | C |
| ≥ 70.0 | C- |
| ≥ 67.5 | D+ |
| ≥ 62.5 | D |
| ≥ 60.0 | D- |
| < 60.0 | E |
Often I will grade with letter grades on subparts of an assignment, convert to numbers for averaging (or weighted averaging), and then back into letter grades using the above table. For conversion from letter grades to numerical grades, I use the middle of the numerical range above.
| Letter → Number Conversion | |
|---|---|
| Letter Grade | Numerical Grade |
| A+ | 98.75 |
| A | 95.00 |
| A- | 91.25 |
| B+ | 88.75 |
| B | 85.00 |
| B- | 81.25 |
| C+ | 78.75 |
| C | 75.00 |
| C- | 71.25 |
| D+ | 68.75 |
| D | 65.00 |
| D- | 61.25 |
| E | 55.00 |
Is 70 an A grade UK?
Degree classifications – UK degree classifications are as follows:
First-Class Honours (First or 1st) (70% and above) Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1, 2.i) (60-70%) Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2, 2.ii) (50-60%) Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd) (40-50%)
Visit the Regulations for further information on degree classifications. In your first year at university, achieving a grade of 50% or more is a good thing. You can build on your work and improve as you work towards your final grade. Scores above 70% are classed as “First”, so you should be very excited to get a grade in that range.
It is rare for students to achieve grades higher than 90%, though this can happen. Remember as well that you will be surrounded by other highly motivated and capable students, so you may not automatically be top of the class anymore! Don’t worry – lots of your fellow students will be feeling the same, and there is always someone you can talk to about this.
Having realistic expectations about your grades will help to reduce the possibility of feeling disappointed with yourself.
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What does C mean in grades?
Q: What do letter grades mean and how do they impact the Grade Point Average? Q: What do letter grades mean and how do they impact the Grade Point Average? Grading System: The following grades are used to report a student’s academic progress:
A grade of “A” is given to an active learner who achieves above and beyond grade level expectations. This student has exemplary work habits and a firm grasp of concepts and skills. It is valued at 4.00 points in the Grade Point Average. A grade of “B” means achievement is beyond average expectations. This student has a good grasp of concepts and skills and has demonstrated a maturing thinking process. It is valued at 3.00 points in the Grade Point Average. A grade of “C” indicates satisfactory progress, achievement at an average level, and meeting grade level expectations. It is valued at 2.00 points in the Grade Point Average.
There is cause for concern if a student receives a grade of “D” or “U.” These grades often reflect poor work habits and/or insufficient effort. An average lower than a D would indicate that a student may not possess all of the skills necessary to be successful in the next year’s academic program. In this case, the student and the parent will address this deficiency with the teachers. A “D” is valued at 1.00 point in the Grade Point Average and a “U” has a value of 0 points in the Grade Point Average. A grade of “I” (Incomplete) indicates missing assignments that must be made up soon (usually within two weeks). Incomplete grades are counted in the Grade Point Average and have a value of 0 points.
: Q: What do letter grades mean and how do they impact the Grade Point Average?
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Is a D+ an F?
Beginning with Fall 2015, LSU’s grading scale evolved to encompass plus/minus grades. In addition to the full guidelines outlined below, view answers to frequently asked questions, The following guidelines are intended to provide essential information regarding the implementation of plus/minus grading at LSU:
- Use of Plus/Minus Grading Plus/Minus Grading is required for all undergraduate, graduate, and professional courses using the A through F letter grading system. The letter grades A, B, C, and D have the suffix plus (+) or minus (-) included to distinguish higher and lower performances within each of these letter grades. The letter grade F does not include the plus/minus distinction.
- Grades Awarded Prior To the 2015 Fall Semester Grades prior to the implementation date (Fall Semester 2015) remain as they are recorded using the regular A, B, C, D, F grading scale and their respective numerical value (quality points) at that time.
- Grade Changes Grade changes will be based on the grading system in effect at the time the original grade was awarded.
- Grade-Point Average The formula for calculation of a grade-point average (GPA) does not change. The GPA is the average performance across two or more courses based on quality points earned divided by hours attempted.
- LSU Transcript The plus (+) and minus (-) symbols will be listed on the LSU transcript when assigned by the instructor of record in reporting the final grades for a course.
- Grade-Point Average Requirements The use of the plus/minus system does not change any departmental, college, or university GPA requirement, nor the method by which GPAs are computed, nor the interpretations of other grades awarded such as F, I, P, S, U, and W.
- Regulations Applicable on a Course-by-Course Basis All regulations currently applicable on a course-by course basis and tied to a specific letter grade are interpreted to mean a specific letter grade range. Therefore, if a student must achieve a “C or better” in one course to proceed to another course, under the plus/minus grading system, that student must achieve a final grade in the C range (i.e., C+, C or C-) or better.
- Financial Aid and Scholarships The use of the plus/minus system does not change the awarding of financial aid or scholarships because the primary criterion is the student’s GPA. LOSFA has informed the university with respect to TOPS, that they will not accept plus/minus grades. Therefore, for example, if a student earns an A+ the university is required to report an A.
- Grades, Quality Points and GPAs Table 1 below shows the relationship between the letter grade assigned in an individual course to the quality points earned per hour credit for the course (see “COURSE ONE” and “COURSE TWO” columns). In Table 2, an example is provided of the Grade-Point Average (GPA) when a student’s performances across 4 courses are averaged (see item 4 above). Note that a GPA can be any value across the range of all scores used in the grading system and unlike quality points cannot be directly assigned to a specific letter grade. For example, the possible quality points for a C are 1.7, 2.0, and 2.3, with minus and plus being the lower and higher quality points for a grade of C. But a GPA could be any point value between 1.7 and 2.3 and those GPAs between 2.3 and 2.7 would be above a C+ and below a B- (in much the same way, for example, as a GPA of 2.6 is above a 2.0 for a C but below a 3.0 for a B, in the current grading system). A GPA is not interpreted as a “grade” but represents the relative level of performance across two or more courses.
| Course One | Course Two | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade | Hours Carried | Quality Points | Grade | Hours Carried | Quality Points |
| A+ | 1 | 4.3 | A+ | 3 | 12.9 |
| A | 1 | 4.0 | A | 3 | 12.0 |
| A- | 1 | 3.7 | A- | 3 | 11.1 |
| B+ | 1 | 3.3 | B+ | 3 | 9.9 |
| B | 1 | 3.0 | B | 3 | 9.0 |
| B- | 1 | 2.7 | B- | 3 | 8.1 |
| C+ | 1 | 2.3 | C+ | 3 | 6.9 |
| C | 1 | 2.0 | C | 3 | 6.0 |
| C- | 1 | 1.7 | C- | 3 | 5.1 |
| D+ | 1 | 1.3 | D+ | 3 | 3.9 |
| D | 1 | 1.0 | D | 3 | 3.0 |
| D- | 1 | 0.7 | D- | 3 | 2.1 |
| F | 1 | 0.0 | F | 3 | 0.0 |
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Table 2
The definitions for the letter grades when used in undergraduate courses are presented below.
- The letter grade A, including A+ and A-, denotes distinguished mastery of the course material.
- The letter grade B, including B+ and B-, denotes good mastery of the course material.
- The letter grade C, including C+ and C-, denotes acceptable mastery of the course material.
- The letter grade D, including D+ and D-, denotes minimally acceptable achievement.
- F denotes failure.
The use of plus and minus specifies those performance scores that represent the higher levels and lower levels of students’ performances within the letter grade, respectively. In the example below, the range of students’ performances (scores) for the grade of a C are between 70 and 79.
Using the +/- suffixes doesn’t change the quality of the students’ performances to earn the grade of a C, but the +/- indicate the levels of performances within the C grade range. The quality points associated with each possible performance score for both the current grading system and the suffix grading system are indicated.
Table 3 below shows the hypothetical example for performance scores, grade assigned, and quality points earned per credit hour for the letter grade “C” without (left) and with (right) use of plus/minus suffixes.
| Score | Grade | Quality Points | Score | Grade | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | C | 2.0 | 79 | C+ | 2.3 |
| 78 | C | 2.0 | 78 | C+ | 2.3 |
| 77 | C | 2.0 | 77 | C+ | 2.3 |
| 76 | C | 2.0 | 76 | C | 2.0 |
| 75 | C | 2.0 | 75 | C | 2.0 |
| 74 | C | 2.0 | 74 | C | 2.0 |
| 73 | C | 2.0 | 73 | C | 2.0 |
| 72 | C | 2.0 | 72 | C- | 1.7 |
| 71 | C | 2.0 | 71 | C- | 1.7 |
| 70 | C | 2.0 | 70 | C- | 1.7 |
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What percentage is C grade?
To convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale:
| Letter Grade | Percent Grade | 4.0 Scale |
|---|---|---|
| C | 73-76 | 2.0 |
| C- | 70-72 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 |
| D | 65-66 | 1.0 |
What to do if your parents are mad at you for bad grades?
3 Ways to Get Your Parents to Calm Down when You Get a Bad Grade
- 1 Start the conversation in a mature fashion. When the conversation about your grades starts, be calm, mature, and upfront. Your parents may calm down more easily if you’re not being hostile going into the conversation. Even if your parents seem angry, try to keep your cool.
- Start off with something like, “I know you guys aren’t happy with my report card and I wanted to talk to you about bringing my grades up.”
- If your parents ask you questions in anger (i.e., “Do you have any idea how much we sacrifice for you to get an education?”) respond in a calm fashion on your end (i.e., “I know you guys want me to do well and I’m sorry I let you down.”)
- 2 Give your parents a heads up, if possible. It’s always a good idea to avoid suddenly springing the issue of bad grades on your parents. If they’re surprised or caught off guard, they may become angrier when they see your grades. If you know you’re going to receive a bad grade, let your parents know before they see the report card, test, or assignment.
- A day or two before the grade arrives, try saying something like, “I don’t think I did very well this semester in chemistry and my grade might be low.”
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- 3 Plan ahead. Decide what you want to say – and how you want to say it – before starting the conversation. Talks like this usually go smoother if you think carefully before you open your mouth. You can even take some notes or jot down key points on a piece of paper.
- Thinking about the talk and how to explain your bad grade will help you calm your nerves. Not only that, it should let you organize your thoughts, leading to a more productive and successful discussion.
- 4 Remain calm yourself. Your parents may be angry or frustrated with a bad grade. If they get angry or upset, try to remain calm on your end. Arguing back or doing things like crying and yelling will only escalate the situation. Take a deep breath and try to respond calmly to any anger you receive.
- It can help to pause and take deep breaths during the conversation. If things get heated, ask your parents if you can take a break for a second to regroup.
- It’s OK to express discomfort to your parents or to ask for help with school. In fact, your parents will probably be more open and willing to help you if you are honest about how you feel. You can then work together to improve.
- 5 Avoid making excuses. Parents often get angrier if they feel you’re making excuses or simply not trying. Avoid saying things like, “It wasn’t my fault.” Even if there were extenuating circumstances regarding your bad grades, your parents may not be receptive to hearing them when they’re angry.
- 6 Admit to your mistakes. Let your parents know you understand you made a mistake. If they see you’re sincerely trying to own up to your mistakes, their anger will fade. Admit to any reasons your grades may have fallen.
- For example, say, “I know I was on my phone too much this semester and I shouldn’t have brought it into class. That’s probably why my grades aren’t great.”
- 7 Let your parents talk. Your parents will only get angrier if you interrupt them while they talk. No one likes being lectured, but it’s important to let your parents’ get their word in. As they talk, try to sincerely consider their perspective. Be willing to willing to listen to their response with an open mind and not be defensive. You parents want you to do well, and it’s understandable poor grades may upset them.
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- 1 Take the initiative. Before you’ve even talked things over with your parents, start making changes to show you’re sincere. Talk to your teacher about your grades, form a study plan, or get information about tutors at your school. Your parents are less likely to stay mad if you prove that you’re serious about doing better.
- 2 Tell your parents you will try harder. Your parents will be less angry if they see you’re accepted that things need to change. After listening to their side and discussing the reasons for your grades, promise to do better. Say something like, “I know you’re mad, but I’m going to try to bring my grades up.”
- 3 Brainstorm ideas for improvement. Your parents want to hear more than a vague promise you’ll do better. After letting them know you want to try harder, give them some concrete details. Together, you can talk about why your grades were low and how you can work to improve them.
- Try sitting down with your parents to outline goals for improvement, too. Set benchmarks together and ask your parents for help in meeting these – including your parents will make them a part of the process and keep you accountable.
- For example, say your grades were down because you were spending more time talking to friends online than studying. Offer to cut back on your computer time or stay off the internet until you’ve completed your homework.
- 4 Let your parents know how they can help. Your parents are invested in helping you. Their anger will be diffused if you let them know more productive ways to deal with your grades. Instead of getting angry, this is an opportunity for them to figure out where you may need help.
- For example, say something like, “I’m trying really hard in chemistry, but I’m really struggling to understand it. Can we look into a private tutor to help?”
- 5 Offer your own punishments. Taking responsibility is a great way to calm down your parents. Do not wait for them to offer a punishment. Instead, offer a productive punishment that will help you bring your grades up. For example, “How about you guys take my phone away every day until I’m done with school and homework?”
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- 1 Accept your parents’ plans without arguing. Once your parents have decided how to proceed, do not argue. Arguing or complaining about your parents’ plans will only make them angry. Even if you feel frustrated by new rules, accept them with maturity to avoid making your parents angrier.
- 2 Remember the big picture. To keep your own emotions in check, remember why your parents are angry. Grades are important for your future. They can help you get into a good college and eventually get a good job. It can be stressful to deal with your parents’ anger, but they want what’s best for you.
- 3 Work on bringing your grades up. Immediately start trying harder to bring your grades up. This will prevent your parents from becoming angry in the future.
- during class by taking notes, avoiding electronics, and not sitting near friends.
- if anything confuses you and schedule a private meeting with your teacher.
- on your homework and study for tests and quizzes well in advance.
- 4 Maintain communication with your parents. Keep talking to your parents about school, even when things are going well. Let them know how you did on a quiz, any subjects you’re struggling with, and other details of your academic life. Open communication helps your parents know when you may need help. This can prevent bad grades in the future.
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- Question What do you say to your mom when you get a bad grade? Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Chandler Chang is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, the Founder & Owner of Golden Hour Therapy and Therapy Lab, and a Clinical Instructor at the University of Southern California. With nearly 20 years of experience, she specializes in providing evidence-based, science-backed treatments to toddlers, children, teens, families, and adults to target specific mental health problems or cultivate mental wellness. Dr. Chang earned a BA from Princeton University and a PhD in Psychology from The University of Georgia. She completed UCLA’s pre-doctoral internship and trained at NYU’s Child Study Center and UGA Regents Center for Learning Disorders. Apologizing is always a great starting point. Everybody makes mistakes, and being willing to own those mistakes is just great for any relationship. Then, sit with your parents and try to come up with a better plan to improve your grades. Do your best to follow-through and to not see any changes as “punishments”.
- Question What do you do when your parents get mad at you for getting bad grades and you tell them to lower their voices. If they don’t calm down, what do you do? Licensed Master Social Worker Tasha Rube is a Licensed Social Worker based in Kansas City, Kansas. Tasha is affiliated with the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. She received her Masters of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Missouri in 2014. Your best bet in these situations is to ride out the storm. The more reactive you become to your parents’ anger and frustration, the more they are going to react with yelling. Let them burn off steam while you wait patiently. Let them feel and know that you hear them. Then, when you see that their anger has diminished, talk about how you feel in a calm and respectful manner. Offer solutions to the problem and coordinate a plan of action that you both agree to.
- Question How do you get your parents to forgive you after turning in late assignments? My parents take away everything from me and I feel there’s no point in living when you are shattered. Licensed Master Social Worker Tasha Rube is a Licensed Social Worker based in Kansas City, Kansas. Tasha is affiliated with the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth, Kansas. She received her Masters of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Missouri in 2014. Your parents will forgive you in time. Their anger over grades will not last forever. Use the time you have now in being grounded to study and do your homework. Do your best to complete your work in a timely way and turn it in on time. If you continue to feel that life is not worth living, I suggest you seek help from a medical or mental health professional, as you could be experiencing more severe symptoms of depression or other mental health issues.
Ask a Question Advertisement Co-authored by: Licensed Clinical Psychologist This article was co-authored by, Dr. Chandler Chang is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, the Founder & Owner of Golden Hour Therapy and Therapy Lab, and a Clinical Instructor at the University of Southern California.
- With nearly 20 years of experience, she specializes in providing evidence-based, science-backed treatments to toddlers, children, teens, families, and adults to target specific mental health problems or cultivate mental wellness. Dr.
- Chang earned a BA from Princeton University and a PhD in Psychology from The University of Georgia.
She completed UCLA’s pre-doctoral internship and trained at NYU’s Child Study Center and UGA Regents Center for Learning Disorders. This article has been viewed 383,372 times.
- Co-authors: 107
- Updated: January 25, 2023
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: 3 Ways to Get Your Parents to Calm Down when You Get a Bad Grade
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Is a grade D good?
A+, A, A- indicates excellent performance. B+, B, B- indicates good performance. C+, C, C- indicates satisfactory performance. D+, D, D- indicates less than satisfactory performance.
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