Canada does not have one national university grading scale. Institutions may use percentages, letter grades, GPA values, or a combination of these systems. The scale can also differ by province and by institution. For example, some universities use 4.0, 4.3, or 4.33 grade-point scales, while the University of Victoria uses a 9-point/letter-grade scale. Because of this variation, applicants should always check the official grading scale or transcript legend of the institution they plan to apply to.
If you are considering applying to universities or colleges in Canada, it is helpful to understand how grading may appear on transcripts. The information below gives current examples by province and institution, but it should not be treated as a single national conversion chart.
Canadian Grading System by Regions
The Grading System in British Columbia
British Columbia uses letter grades and percentages for Grades 10 to 12 reporting. However, post-secondary institutions in the province set their own grading systems, so a university scale may not be the same as the provincial high-school transcript scale.
Canadian universities in British Columbia include the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, University of Victoria, and University of Northern British Columbia.
The following table shows the current British Columbia Grades 10 to 12 letter-grade and percentage ranges:
| Grade | Percentage (%) | Description |
|---|
| A | 86-100 | Excellent or outstanding performance |
| B | 73-85 | Very good performance |
| C+ | 67-72 | Good performance |
| C | 60-66 | Satisfactory performance |
| C- | 50-59 | Minimally acceptable performance |
| F | 0-49 | Not demonstrating minimally acceptable learning |
| SG | N/A | Standing granted |
| TS | N/A | Transfer standing |
| IE | N/A | Insufficient evidence |
| W | N/A | Withdrawn |
At the post-secondary level, the University of British Columbia, for example, normally grades most undergraduate courses as follows:
| Letter Grade | Percentage (%) |
|---|
| A+ | 90-100 |
| A | 85-89 |
| A- | 80-84 |
| B+ | 76-79 |
| B | 72-75 |
| B- | 68-71 |
| C+ | 64-67 |
| C | 60-63 |
| C- | 55-59 |
| D | 50-54 |
| F | 0-49 |
Graduate and professional programs may use higher passing thresholds, so students should check the relevant faculty calendar.
The Grading System in Manitoba
Institutions in Manitoba commonly publish grade-point values, but the exact GPA scale can differ by institution. For example, the University of Manitoba uses a 4.5-point scale, while the University of Winnipeg uses a 4.5-point scale with different values for some A-range grades.
The University of Manitoba’s grade-point scale is as follows:
| GPA | Description | Equivalent Letter Grade |
|---|
| 4.5 | Exceptional | A+ |
| 4.0 | Excellent | A |
| 3.5 | Very good | B+ |
| 3.0 | Good | B |
| 2.5 | Satisfactory | C+ |
| 2.0 | Adequate | C |
| 1.0 | Marginal | D |
| 0.0 | Failure | F |
Universities in this province include the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg, and Université de Saint-Boniface.
The Grading System in Alberta
In the province of Alberta, university grading is determined by each institution and, in some cases, by faculties or course policies. The University of Alberta and the University of Calgary use four-point systems for GPA calculations, and an A+ may have the same grade-point value as an A.
Examples of universities in Alberta include the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta.
The University of Calgary’s undergraduate grade-point scale is one example of an Alberta university grading system:
| Letter Grade | Grade Point Value | Description |
|---|
| A+ | 4.00 | Outstanding performance |
| A | 4.00 | Excellent performance |
| A- | 3.70 | Approaching excellent performance |
| B+ | 3.30 | Exceeding good performance |
| B | 3.00 | Good performance |
| B- | 2.70 | Approaching good performance |
| C+ | 2.30 | Exceeding satisfactory performance |
| C | 2.00 | Satisfactory performance |
| C- | 1.70 | Approaching satisfactory performance |
| D+ | 1.30 | Marginal pass |
| D | 1.00 | Minimal pass |
| F | 0.00 | Failure |
Non-numeric grades, such as credit/no-credit, withdrawals, or incomplete grades, are also institution-specific. Students should check the registrar’s grading page or academic calendar for the university they attend.
The Grading System in Quebec and New Brunswick
Quebec and New Brunswick do not share one single post-secondary grading scale. Universities in these provinces may use different grade-point systems and different percentage ranges. For example, McGill University, Concordia University, and the University of New Brunswick all publish different grading details.
Universities in these provinces include McGill University, the University of New Brunswick, and Concordia University in Montréal.
| Institution | Example of Official Grading Information |
|---|
| McGill University | McGill’s general undergraduate scale lists A as 85-100% with 4.0 grade points, A- as 80-84% with 3.7 grade points, and F as 0-49% with 0 grade points. |
| Concordia University | Concordia uses grade points such as A+ = 4.30, A = 4.00, A- = 3.70, B+ = 3.30, and F = 0. |
| University of New Brunswick | UNB uses grade-point weights such as A+ = 4.3, A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, and F = 0.0. |
Passing requirements also vary by institution, level, and program. For example, McGill’s general undergraduate scale includes D at 50-54%, while Concordia’s published grade-point system includes D- at 0.70 grade points. Some programs may require higher grades for good standing, progression, or graduation.
The Grading System in Ontario
Ontario does not use one province-wide university grading scale. Universities publish their own grading systems. For example, the University of Ottawa uses a 10-point alphanumeric grading system, while the University of Toronto uses a 4.0 undergraduate GPA scale and Queen’s University uses a scale where A+ is worth 4.3 grade points.
Universities in Ontario include the University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Queen’s University, and the University of Guelph.
The University of Ottawa’s official grading system is one example of an Ontario university scale:
| Letter Grade | Numeric Value | Percentage Value |
|---|
| A+ | 10 | 90-100 |
| A | 9 | 85-89 |
| A- | 8 | 80-84 |
| B+ | 7 | 75-79 |
| B | 6 | 70-74 |
| C+ | 5 | 65-69 |
| C | 4 | 60-64 |
| D+ | 3 | 55-59 |
| D | 2 | 50-54 |
| E | 1 | 40-49 |
| F | 0 | 0-39 |
The Grading System in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan universities often report final grades as percentages, but the system still varies by institution and level of study. The University of Saskatchewan uses percentage descriptors for undergraduate courses, while the University of Regina publishes separate grading information for graduate students.
Universities in the province include the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina.
The University of Saskatchewan’s undergraduate percentage descriptors are as follows:
| Percentage | Description |
|---|
| 90-100 | Exceptional |
| 80-89 | Excellent |
| 70-79 | Good |
| 60-69 | Satisfactory |
| 50-59 | Minimal pass |
| Below 50 | Failure |
As described above, grading systems in Canada are not standardized across all provinces and universities. Secondary-school grading may be set by provincial policy, while universities and colleges usually publish their own grading scales, grade-point values, and passing requirements. Before applying or converting grades, check the official grading policy of the institution and program you are interested in.
We hope this article on the grading system in Canada was helpful. If you are interested, feel free to check out the Available Courses for International Students!
