In most university systems, particularly in countries like Australia and the UK, 48% is considered a fail. A standard pass mark is typically 50% or above.
Degree classifications
i) (60-70%) Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2, 2. ii) (50-60%) Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd) (40-50%)
7 NSC Levels and Achievement Ratings:
Level 4: 50 – 59% (Moderate achievement). Level 3: 40 – 49% (Adequate achievement). Level 2: 30 – 39% (Elementary achievement). Level 1: 0 – 29% (Not achieved – Fail).
If you fail a module or assessment, most universities offer one opportunity to resit or resubmit. This is capped at the pass mark, usually 40% for undergraduates or 50% for postgraduates, to maintain fairness.
These policies may vary also according to the degree year (higher percentages for later years), but generally, only 2–5% of students who pass (that is, who achieve raw marks of 50 or more) may be awarded a High Distinction grade, and 50% or more of passing students are awarded a basic Pass grade.
If you are a postgraduate student, you need to obtain the following overall percentages to reach your desired level: Below 50% – fail. 50% - 59% - pass. 60% - 69% - merit.
Yes, 60% at a UK university is generally the start of a 2:1 (Upper Second-Class Honours), though some universities might classify 60-69% as a 2:1 and 50-59% as a 2:2, meaning a 60% average falls right at the boundary, sometimes considered a strong 2:2 or a low 2:1, depending on specific university rules and rounding.
A 2:2 = C (50%-60%) A 3rd = D (45%-50%) A Pass = E (40%-45%) A Fail = below 40%
Minimum percentage of marks to be secured for Passing :
40% (40 out of 100) in theory paper by taking both components (i.e. Mid+End Semester Examination) and minimum Pass mark for Practical paper is 40%.
Therefore, as a percent is 48%. Click here to learn more about the conversion of fractions into percent!
However, when it comes to college grades, the grade point average (GPA) will directly represent overall performance. Getting a C, which is anywhere between 70% and 79% will definitely affect your GPA. D is the lowest passing grade in college.
The most commonly achieved undergraduate degree classification is a 2:1 (upper second-class), followed by a first, 2:2 then a third. According to HESA data in the 2023/24 academic year: 48% of graduates left university with a 2:1.
Each grade is weighted to a specific number of points so that the sum total makes up your grade point average (GPA), reflecting your overall academic performance. A good college GPA on a standard 4.0 scale can fall between 3.0 and 4.0—or between a B and the highest GPA, an A+.
Any grades between 55 and 69 (D and F) are considered failing grades for which unit credit is not earned. While unit credit is not earned for a failing grade, point value is assigned for a D and an F for purposes of computing grade point averages.
Information on the College Grading System
In the case of all undergraduate and most post graduate programmes, the pass mark is 40%. For some post graduate programmes, the pass mark is 50%. Learners must achieve the minimum pass mark in each module.
Numerical and letter grades
However, there are some schools that consider a C the lowest passing grade, so the general standard is that anything below a 60% or 70% is failing, depending on the grading scale.
First-class honours (70%+) Upper second-class honours (2.1) (60–69%) Lower second-class honours (2.2) (50–59%) Third-class honours (40–49%)
Pass – typically 50–59%.
A passing grade is the score you need to show that you've learned enough to move on to the next level. In most high schools, this usually means you've earned at least a D, which is about 60% or higher. So if you get 60 out of 100 points on your assignments, quizzes, and tests, you're most likely passing the class.