Academic grading systems differ across countries, and Australia is no exception. The Australian system can be confusing for new international students because the same letter can mean something very different from what it means elsewhere. For example, in many Australian universities, a “D” means Distinction, which is a strong result; “HD” is the abbreviation for High Distinction.
In this guide, we will look at the grading systems commonly used in Australian higher education. Because Australia is a large and diverse country, grading scales can vary by university, faculty, course, and award type. Always check the official website or handbook of your specific university or educational institution before relying on a grading scale.
General Grading Scale in Australia
There is no single grading scale used by every Australian university. However, many universities use a five-band scale based on High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, Pass, and Fail. The percentage cutoffs differ between institutions. Some universities use 85% as the usual threshold for a High Distinction, while others use 80%.
| Australian Grade | Grade Description | Common Percentage Range | Common GPA Value, Where Used | Rough US Equivalent |
|---|
| HD | High Distinction | 80-100% or 85-100% | 7 on a 7-point scale, or 4 on some 4-point scales | A / A+ |
| D, DI, or DN | Distinction | 70-79% or 75-84% | 6 on a 7-point scale, or 3 on some 4-point scales | A-range |
| C, CR, or Cr | Credit | 60-69% or 65-74% | 5 on a 7-point scale, or 2 on some 4-point scales | B-range |
| P, PS, or PA | Pass | 50-59% or 50-64% | 4 on a 7-point scale, or 1 on some 4-point scales | C / Pass |
| F, N, NN, or FL | Fail | Below 50% | Usually 0, though some universities use a different value for GPA calculations | F |
US and UK equivalents are only rough comparisons. Australian grades are interpreted according to the rules of the institution issuing the transcript, and overseas institutions may apply their own conversion policies.
Degrees with Honours also use classification systems that vary by university. A Bachelor Honours Degree is an AQF Level 8 qualification and may be completed either as a separate honors year after a bachelor’s degree or as part of an integrated honors degree.
| Grade | Description | Example Percentage Range |
|---|
| H1 | First Class Honours | 80% and above |
| H2A | Second Class Honours Division A | Usually 70-79% or 75-79%, depending on the university |
| H2B | Second Class Honours Division B | Usually 60-69% or 70-74%, depending on the university |
| H3 | Third Class Honours | Usually 50-59% or 65-69%, depending on the university |
| N | Fail | Below the university’s pass threshold |
Australian Capital Territory
The two main universities in the Australian Capital Territory are the Australian National University and the University of Canberra. Their grading scales are not identical, so students should check the official grading page of the university they attend.
| Institution | High Distinction | Distinction | Credit | Pass | Fail |
|---|
| Australian National University | HD: 80-100% | D: 70-79% | CR: 60-69% | P: 50-59% | N: 0-49% |
| University of Canberra | HD: 85-100% | DI: 75 to less than 85% | CR: 65 to less than 75% | P: 50 to less than 65% | N: below 50% |
Victoria
Victoria is one of Australia’s major study destinations. Universities in the state include the University of Melbourne, Monash University, La Trobe University, Swinburne University of Technology, and Deakin University.
Several Victorian universities use a scale where High Distinction begins at 80%, Distinction at 70%, Credit at 60%, and Pass at 50%. However, students should still check the official result key for their institution.
| Grade | Grade Description | Common Percentage Range | Rough US Equivalent |
|---|
| HD | High Distinction | 80-100% | A / A+ |
| D or DI | Distinction | 70-79% | A-range |
| C or CR | Credit | 60-69% | B-range |
| P or PA | Pass | 50-59% | C / Pass |
| N or NN | Fail | 0-49% | F |
New South Wales
Home to Sydney, New South Wales is another popular study destination in Australia. Universities in this state include the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, Macquarie University, and the University of Newcastle.
Many New South Wales universities use the following broad scale, though grade codes and administrative results can vary.
| Grade | Scale | Grade Description | Rough US Equivalent | Notes |
|---|
| HD | 85-100% | High Distinction | A+ | |
| D, DI, or DN | 75-84% | Distinction | A | |
| CR or C | 65-74% | Credit | B | |
| P or PS | 50-64% | Pass | C | Minimum passing grade for graded units |
| F, FL, or N | 0-49% | Fail | F | |
Northern Territory
Charles Darwin University is the main university in the Northern Territory. CDU uses a 7-point GPA value for graded higher education units.
| Grade | Grade Description | Percentage Score | GPA Value |
|---|
| HD | High Distinction | 85 to 100% | 7 |
| D | Distinction | 75 to less than 85% | 6 |
| C | Credit | 65 to less than 75% | 5 |
| P | Pass | 50 to less than 65% | 4 |
| PS | Pass Supplementary | 47 to less than 50% | 4 |
| PU | Pass Ungraded | No percentage score | Not applicable |
| F | Fail | 0 to less than 50% | 0 |
Queensland
Universities in Queensland include the University of Queensland, Bond University, and Griffith University. Queensland universities often use a numeric scale, but the details differ by institution.
| Institution or Scale Type | High Distinction | Distinction | Credit | Pass | Fail |
|---|
| University of Queensland 7-point scale | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1, 2, or 3, depending on the result category |
| Griffith University 7-point scale | 7: 85-100% | 6: 75-84.5% | 5: 65-74.5% | 4: 50-64.5% | 1-3: fail categories |
| Bond University 4-point scale | 4: 85-100% | 3: 75-84% | 2: 65-74% | 1: 50-64% | 0: below 50% |
South Australia
South Australia’s university landscape changed in 2026, when the former University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia combined to form Adelaide University. Other higher education providers in Adelaide include Flinders University and Torrens University. Carnegie Mellon University no longer takes new students for courses at its former Adelaide campus.
Adelaide University and Flinders University use a grading scale in which High Distinction begins at 85%, Distinction at 75%, Credit at 65%, and Pass at 50%.
| Grade | Scale | Grade Description | Common GPA Value | Notes |
|---|
| HD | 85-100% | High Distinction | 7 | |
| D or DN | 75-84% | Distinction | 6 | |
| C or CR | 65-74% | Credit | 5 | |
| P | 50-64% | Pass | 4 | Minimum passing grade for graded units |
| F | Below 50% | Fail | 0 or 1.5, depending on the institution and GPA rules | Check the institution’s GPA policy |
Western Australia
Universities in Western Australia include institutions such as Curtin University, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University, and the University of Western Australia.
Several Western Australian universities use a scale where High Distinction begins at 80%, Distinction at 70%, Credit at 60%, and Pass at 50%. Curtin University is different because it commonly records pass grades as numeric grades from 5 to 10 rather than only using HD, D, C, and P labels.
| Grade | Scale | Grade Description | Common GPA Value | Notes |
|---|
| HD | 80-100% | High Distinction | 7 at some institutions | Used by universities such as UWA and Murdoch |
| D | 70-79% | Distinction | 6 at some institutions | |
| CR or C | 60-69% | Credit | 5 at some institutions | |
| P | 50-59% | Pass | 4 at some institutions | Minimum passing grade |
| N or F | Below 50% | Fail | 0 at many institutions | |
Use of the Grade Point Average (GPA System) and the ATAR in Australia
GPA is used by many Australian universities for purposes such as academic standing, scholarships, internal transfers, program progression, honors eligibility, and admission to some further study programs. The scale is not the same everywhere: some universities use a 7-point GPA scale, while others use a 4-point scale.
Where GPA is calculated, the general formula is:
GPA = Sum of (grade value × unit or course credit points) ÷ total credit points counted in the GPA calculation
ATAR stands for Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. It is a rank, not a mark or percentage. An ATAR is usually reported between 0.00 and 99.95 and shows a student’s position relative to other students in the relevant age group or cohort. For example, an ATAR of 80.00 does not mean a student scored 80% in their subjects; it means the student is positioned about 20% from the top of the relevant comparison group.
Universities may use an ATAR or selection rank when making undergraduate offers, especially for school leavers. Many universities also use additional pathways, adjustment factors, interviews, portfolios, bridging programs, vocational qualifications, or prior tertiary study, depending on the course.
This article summarizes common academic grading systems used across Australia. The most important point for international students is that Australian grading is institution-specific. A grade that looks similar across universities may have different percentage cutoffs, GPA values, or transcript meanings.
We hope that this article on the grading system in Australia was helpful. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students and the Australia Study Guide!
