Academic grading in Philippines facts for kids
The Philippines has different ways that colleges and universities give grades. Many schools, especially public ones, use a grading system where 1.00 is the best grade and 5.00 is the lowest. This is like getting a perfect score versus a failing one.
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Understanding the 5.00 to 1.00 Grading System
In this system, a lower number means a better grade. For example, a 1.00 is excellent, while a 5.00 means you didn't pass.
What are Latin Honors?
Some universities, like the University of the Philippines and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, give special awards called "Latin Honors" to students who achieve very high grades. These honors show how well a student did throughout their studies.
| Latin Honors | Grade Point Range |
|---|---|
| Summa Cum Laude | 1.00 - 1.20 |
| Magna Cum Laude | 1.21 - 1.45 |
| Cum Laude | 1.46 - 1.75 |
How Grades are Described (Datamex University Example)
To help you understand what each grade means, here's an example from Datamex University. It shows how grade points relate to percentages and descriptions like "Excellent" or "Pass."
| Grade Point | Percentage | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | 95%-100% | Excellent |
| 1.25 | 91%-94% | Superior |
| 1.50 | 88%-90% | Very Good |
| 1.75 | 86%-87% | Good |
| 2.00 | 84%-85% | Very Satisfactory |
| 2.25 | 82%-83% | High Average |
| 2.50 | 79%-80% | Average |
| 2.75 | 77%-78% | Fair |
| 3.00 | 75% - 76% | Pass |
| 4.00 | 58%-74.99% | Conditional if Pass/Failed |
| 5.00 | Below 58.49% | Failing Final Grade |
Another Way to Grade: The 1.000 to 4.000 System
Some universities, like De La Salle University and FEU Institute of Technology, use a different system. This one is more like what you might find in American universities. In this system, 4.0 is the highest grade, and 0.0 means you failed.
What Each Grade Means (De La Salle University Example)
Here's how grades are described in the 1.000 to 4.000 system, using De La Salle University as an example.
| Grade Point | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | Excellent | 97% - 100% |
| 3.5 | Superior | 93% - 96% |
| 3.0 | Very Good | 89% - 92% |
| 2.5 | Good | 85% - 88% |
| 2.0 | Satisfactory | 80% - 84% |
| 1.5 | Fair | 75% - 79% |
| 1.0 | Pass | 70% - 74% |
| 0.0 | Fail | Below 69% |
Latin Honors in the 4.0 System
Just like with the 5.00-1.00 system, universities using the 4.0 system also give Latin Honors for excellent academic performance.
| Latin Honors | Grade Point Range |
|---|---|
| Summa Cum Laude | 3.800 - 4.000 |
| Magna Cum Laude | 3.600 - 3.799 |
| Cum Laude | 3.400 - 3.599 |
| Honorable Mention (ID# 112 and above) | 3.200 - 3.399 |
| Honorable Mention (ID# 111 and below) | 3.000 - 3.399 |
The Letter Grade System
Other universities, like the Ateneo de Manila University, use a letter grade system (A, B, C, etc.). The percentages that match each letter grade can be different for each school.
Ateneo de Manila University Letter Grades
Here's an example of how letter grades work at Ateneo de Manila University, specifically for their Mathematics Department.
| Grade Point | Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | A | 92% - 100% |
| 3.5 | B+ | 86% - 91% |
| 3.0 | B | 77% - 85% |
| 2.5 | C+ | 69% - 76% |
| 2.0 | C | 60% - 69% |
| 1.0 | D | 50% - 59% |
| 0.0 | F | Below 50% |
Latin Honors with Letter Grades
Ateneo de Manila University also awards Latin Honors based on a student's overall grade point average.
| Latin Honors | Grade Point Range |
|---|---|
| Summa Cum Laude | 3.87 - 4.00 |
| Magna Cum Laude | 3.70 - 3.86 |
| Cum Laude | 3.50 - 3.69 |
It's important to remember that there isn't one single grading system for all universities in the Philippines. Each school has its own rules for how grades are given and what counts as a passing grade.
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