What Is The Grading System in Canada?

Canada has a distinct grading system compared to other countries’ educational systems. Institutions use a system similar to GPA (Grade Point Average), the average of all the grade points you’ve received during your degree program. 

This varies considerably across the country and among institutes providing higher education programs. 

It’s worth mentioning that the grading system in Canada differs from that used in American universities. A student therefore will be prepared before applying to Canadian Universities. 

If you are considering applying to any Canadian institutions or colleges, we at Global Reach have a team of highly educated consultants who can direct you on all procedures and documents required to get admission to your desired Canadian University. 

You can also read about Reasons To Choose Canada As Your Study Destination, so you will be convinced as to why Canada is such a sought-after study destination by students worldwide. 

With that being said, we cannot emphasize enough how important your grades are for admission to any Canadian University. 

So, in this blog, we have mentioned what the grading system in Canada is and how it defers from different institutions and universities.

Meaning Of Each Grade

It’s always good to familiarize yourself with your university’s grading system before applying. 

It allows you to set more specific goals for yourself throughout the semester. Understanding the grading system in Canada can be difficult at first, but it becomes easier with practice. 

Here is the basic meaning of each grade in Canada:

Letter Grades	Meaning With GPA
A+	Exceptional (4.5)
A	Excellent (4)
B+	Very Good (3.5)
B	Good  (3)
C+	Satisfactory (2.5)
C	Adequate (2)
D/E	Marginal (1)
F	Fail (0)

Grading system in Canada (GPA, Credits, and Credit hours)

The grading system in Canada is comparable to that in the United States. 

Each course you take in a semester is assigned a specific amount of hours (credit hours). These credits can be used to pass and complete the course.

The faculty determines the number of credit hours for every course, clearly stated in the course plan beforehand. 

A student must obtain 15 credit hours per semester for a bachelor’s degree and 24 credit hours per semester for a master’s degree.

Point To Remember:

Credit hours are used in Canada to determine students’ total grades. The term GPA refers to your average grade across all courses taken throughout the academic semester. 

Your final GPA is a subjective average based on the number of credit hours.

Canadian Grading System for Different Cities

Different cities have different grading systems in Canada.

The grading system in Canada differs based on which province you desire to study. 

Many Bhutanese students prefer to study in popular destinations like British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and New Brunswick.

We have provided a detailed and tabulated list of how the grading system works in these provinces. 

Grading System in Canada: Ontario

Letter Grades	Numerical Grades	Percentage Grades
A+	10	95-100
A	9	87-94
A –	8	80-86
B+	7	77-79
B	6	73-76
B –	6	70-72
C+	5	67-69
C	4	63-66
C –	4	60-62
D+	3	57-59
D	2	53-56
E	1	50-52
F	0	0-49

Grading System in Canada: Alberta

Letter Grades	Grade Points
A+	4.3
A	4
A –	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3
B –	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2
C –	1.7
D	1.3

Grading System in Canada: British Columbia 

Letter Grades	Percentage Grades
A	86-100%
B	73-85%
C+	67-72%
C	60-66%
C-	50-59%
F	0-49%
I (Incomplete Assignments)	0-49%
W	Course Withdrawn
P	Passed but no grade graded

Grading System in Canada: Quebec and New Brunswick

Letter Grades	Grade Points
A+	4.33 Excellent
A	4 Excellent
A –	3.66 Very Good
B+	3.33 Very Good
B	3 Very Good
B –	2.66 Good
C+	2.33 Good
C	2 Good
C –	1.66 Pass
D+	1.33 Pass
D	1 Pass
E	0 Fail

Points to remember

In addition to the grades listed above, institutions may additionally use letter grades such as

IEA (Incomplete Assignment): This letter grade means that you have assignments due and will not be graded until you have completed all your tasks.

AMP: Academic Misconduct. Either the student was put in the incorrect class due to an academic mistake, or the student went against the expected norms of the school.

So, this was the grading system in Canada according to different universities located in different provinces. 

International students should understand the Canadian grading scale before getting enrolled in a university.

What Is The Meaning Of a 4.0 GPA In Canada?

The meaning of 4.0 in the grading system in Canada

A 4.0 GPA in Canada simply means having a 4(A) grade point is excellent, and having 0(F) means failing. 

Almost every institution in Canada uses a combined triangle grading system, which begins with letter grades, continues with percentages, and ends with GPA.

Now we know that The grading system in Canada varies slightly from one university to another, and the answer to this question depends on the university you choose to study in. 

How to Calculate Your GPA?

To make things easier, students should be aware that the GPA used at Canadian universities differs from that used in other countries. 

The average GPA for most countries is 5.0; however, it can be as high as 20 in other cases. Regardless, Canadian institutions use various grading systems and varied GPA requirements. 

That is why we have gone over each one in detail above.

Many students are worried about whether their GPA is good enough to get them into a university in Canada or that they do not know about the grading system in Canada. 

That is why, before enrolling in any Canadian university, you should calculate your GPA and see if you match the requirements. 

You can find a helpful formula below to calculate your grade point average!

• GPA = Total Grade Points earned X credit hours for each course

Frequently Asked Questions

The FAQs for the grading system in Canada

Why is Canada the most sought-after study destination?

Canada is home to some of the world’s best universities. Faculty at Canadian universities provide students with various insights. 

Students can gain professional and technical information that will help them better prepare for their future careers. Here are 7 Good Reasons To Choose Canada As Your Study Destination.

When do intakes begin for Canada?

The September intake is common at most Canadian universities. Some programs start in January. 

However, the application process might be lengthy depending on the university, so keep track of admission developments with your selected university. 

Our consultants at Global Reach can assist you during the process.

Can international students work and study in Canada?

Students can lawfully work up to 20 hours per week if they have a valid study permit and are enrolled in a Designated Learning Institute (DLI). 

Students are allowed to work full time during academic breaks.

What are the grades required for international?

Many Canadian universities require international students to have grades that are 70% higher than the grading system in Canada. 

The higher your GPA, the more likely you will be accepted into Canada.

Is 60 marks a pass percentage in Canada?

Yes, it will be considered a passing grade, and a letter grade of D will be allocated as explained in the grading system in Canada above. 

That’s all there is to it! As previously stated, the grading system in Canada is determined by the location of the university/institution you choose to study in; there can be changes in the grading system as per the university requirements. 

That is why it’s best to keep up to speed by registering with Global Reach and never miss a chance to apply and study at your dream destination.

If you have any questions about the procedure, we are here to help. 

You can reach out to us during business hours, and we will gladly answer them. Contact Us to know more!

We hope that this article on the grading system in Canada was helpful. Read on to know more about Canada as your study destination!