Academic grading in South Africa

In South Africa, the grading system used in secondary schools until 2008 (when the education minister implemented Outcomes Based Education or OBE curriculum) was as follows:

Format: Code [x] ([Symbol]): [y]% - [z]%

• Code 7 (A+): 80% - 100%
• Code 6 (A): 70% - 79%
• Code 5 (B): 60 %- 69%
• Code 4 (C): 50% - 59%
• Code 3 (D): 40% - 49%
• Code 2 (E): 30% - 39%
• Code 1 (F): 0% - 29%

The OBE system, when in its experimental stages, originally used a scale from 1 - 4 (a pass being a 3 and a '1st class pass' being above 70%), but this system was considered far too coarse and replaced by a scale from 1 to 7.

For the final standard exams, a 'normal pass' is given for an average mark 50%-59%, and a distinction is given for an average of 80% or more.

Most universities follow a model based on the British system. Thus, at the University of Cape Town and the University of South Africa (UNISA), the percentages are calibrated as follows: a 1st class pass is given for 75% and above, a second (division one) for 70 - 74%, a second (division two) for 60%-69%, and a third for 50 - 59%. Any lower than 40% is a fail. The University of the Witwatersrand considers an A to be 75% and above.

Sources

• South African Education Department [1]
• Stellenbosch University Grade Comparison (page 21) [2]
• Cape Town University Academic Grading [3]