Grading Scales
Grading scales define how marks are converted to grades on report cards. EduCore supports multiple grading scales, allowing you to use different scales for different exams or classes.
What Is a Grading Scale
A grading scale is a mapping from mark ranges (percentages) to grade labels and grade points. When a student’s marks are entered, the system automatically assigns the corresponding grade.
Built-In Grading Scales
CBSE 9-Point Scale
The default grading scale for CBSE schools. This is pre-configured and ready to use.
| Grade | Marks Range | Grade Point | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 91-100 | 10 | Outstanding |
| A2 | 81-90 | 9 | Excellent |
| B1 | 71-80 | 8 | Very Good |
| B2 | 61-70 | 7 | Good |
| C1 | 51-60 | 6 | Above Average |
| C2 | 41-50 | 5 | Average |
| D | 33-40 | 4 | Below Average |
| E1 | 21-32 | — | Needs Improvement |
| E2 | 0-20 | — | Unsatisfactory |
Percentage-Based Scale
A simple percentage-based grading scale.
| Grade | Marks Range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 90-100 | Distinction |
| A | 80-89 | First Class with Distinction |
| B+ | 70-79 | First Class |
| B | 60-69 | Second Class |
| C | 50-59 | Pass Class |
| D | 40-49 | Pass |
| F | 0-39 | Fail |
Division-Based Scale (State Board)
Used by some state boards including Uttarakhand.
| Division | Marks Range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| First Division | 60-100 | First Division |
| Second Division | 45-59 | Second Division |
| Third Division | 33-44 | Third Division |
| Fail | 0-32 | Fail |
Creating a Custom Grading Scale
If your school uses a grading pattern different from the built-in options:
- Navigate to Settings > Grading Scales from the sidebar.
- Click Create New Scale.
- Enter the scale name (e.g., “Primary School Grades”, “Co-Scholastic Scale”).
- Click Add Grade to add each grade level:
| Field | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Grade Label | The grade symbol or letter (e.g., “A”, “B”, “C”) | Yes |
| Minimum Marks | Lower bound of the marks range (inclusive) | Yes |
| Maximum Marks | Upper bound of the marks range (inclusive) | Yes |
| Grade Point | Numeric value for GPA calculation (optional) | No |
| Description | Full description (e.g., “Excellent”) | No |
- Add all grade levels, ensuring the ranges cover 0-100 without gaps or overlaps.
- Click Save Scale.
Example: 5-Point Scale for Primary Classes
| Grade | Min | Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 81 | 100 | Excellent |
| B | 61 | 80 | Very Good |
| C | 41 | 60 | Good |
| D | 21 | 40 | Needs Improvement |
| E | 0 | 20 | Unsatisfactory |
Example: Co-Scholastic Scale (CBSE)
For co-scholastic areas (Work Education, Art, Physical Education):
| Grade | Min | Max | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 81 | 100 | Outstanding |
| B | 61 | 80 | Very Good |
| C | 41 | 60 | Fair |
| D | 21 | 40 | Needs Improvement |
| E | 0 | 20 | Unsatisfactory |
Linking a Grading Scale to an Exam
When creating an exam, you select which grading scale to use:
- Navigate to Exams > Create Exam (or edit an existing exam).
- In the Grading Scale dropdown, select the appropriate scale.
- All marks entered for this exam will be graded using the selected scale.
Different Scales for Different Exams
You can use different grading scales for different exams:
| Exam | Grading Scale |
|---|---|
| Unit Tests (Class 1-5) | 5-Point Scale (Primary) |
| Unit Tests (Class 6-12) | CBSE 9-Point Scale |
| Half Yearly | CBSE 9-Point Scale |
| Annual Exam | CBSE 9-Point Scale |
| Co-Scholastic Assessment | Co-Scholastic Scale |
Editing a Grading Scale
- Navigate to Settings > Grading Scales.
- Click the edit icon next to the scale.
- Modify grade labels, ranges, or grade points.
- Click Save.
Tip: Editing a grading scale does not retroactively change grades on already-generated report cards. It only affects future grade calculations. If you need to recalculate, re-generate the report cards after editing the scale.
Deleting a Grading Scale
- Built-in scales cannot be deleted.
- Custom scales can be deleted only if they are not linked to any exam.
- To delete a custom scale that is in use, first change the linked exams to use a different scale.
How Grades Appear on Report Cards
CBSE Report Card
- Scholastic subjects: Grade and grade point columns
- Co-scholastic areas: Grade only (A/B/C/D/E)
- Overall grade is calculated as the average of grade points
ICSE Report Card
- Marks and percentage are shown
- No letter grades by default (ICSE uses marks-based reporting)
State Board Report Card
- Division is shown (First, Second, Third, Fail)
- Marks and percentage are also displayed
Best Practices
- Use the CBSE 9-point scale if you are a CBSE school. It matches the official CBSE format exactly.
- Create separate scales for different needs. A primary school 5-point scale is simpler and more appropriate for young children than a 9-point scale.
- Ensure no gaps in ranges. Every possible mark (0-100) should map to a grade. The system validates this when you save.
- Review scales annually. If the board updates its grading guidelines, update the scale accordingly.
- Test before generating report cards. Enter a few sample marks and verify the grades are calculated correctly before doing a bulk report card generation.