This page includes information on the grading scales that apply to qualifications we offer. There are some exceptions.
On this page:
- Degrees, diplomas and certificates not listed separately
- Bachelor of Engineering Technology
- New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6)
Degrees, diplomas and certificates not listed separately
Small changes to the grading scale for Open Polytechnic developed courses* will take effect from November 2020. We are making these changes to align our grading scale with those of other tertiary education providers in New Zealand.
The changes are:
- Grading scales for courses – removal of Academic Withdrawal (AW grade) and replaced by Did Not Complete (DNC).
- Grading scales for assessment components – the introduction of an “F” grade. This grade is awarded when the assessment/examination was attempted, but the result did not meet the sub minimum requirement for the assessment/examination.
The 2020 grading scales are listed below:
2020 Grading Scale for Courses and Assessment Components
* Excludes Bachelor of Engineering Technology, and New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6). See further down the page for these grading scales.
Grade points
Grade points can be used to calculate a grade point average (GPA). It is calculated by assigning numbers to grades (as set out in the table below), weighting by course credit values and then dividing the sum by the credit total. A GPA is commonly calculated at the completion of a qualification and is used by universities and other educational institutions globally as part of admission requirements.
The GPA reflects the average grade across all courses, not just those that have been successfully completed. The higher the GPA the better the academic performance.
Grading scales for courses developed by Open Polytechnic
|
Grade Recorded |
Interpretation |
Course Outcome |
Grade Points |
|
A+ |
90 – 100% |
Pass |
9 |
|
A |
85 – 89% |
Pass |
8 |
|
A- |
80 – 84% |
Pass |
7 |
|
B+ |
75 – 79% |
Pass |
6 |
|
B |
70 – 74% |
Pass |
5 |
|
B- |
65 – 69% |
Pass |
4 |
|
C+ |
60 - 64% |
Pass |
3 |
|
C |
55 – 59% |
Pass |
2 |
|
C- |
50 – 54% |
Pass |
1 |
|
D |
40 – 49% |
Fail |
0 |
|
E |
0 – 39% |
Fail |
0 |
|
Pass |
Awarded pass and no appropriate grade can be awarded |
Pass |
5 |
|
Fail |
Failed course and no appropriate grade can be awarded |
Fail |
0 |
|
AEF |
Aegrotat Fail |
Fail |
0 |
|
AEG |
Aegrotat Pass |
Pass |
5 |
|
CC |
Credit granted on basis of learning outcomes met via passes on other courses |
Pass |
N/A |
|
EX |
Exempt |
Pass |
N/A |
|
FC |
Failed Mandatory Component (including < 40% in Examination) |
Fail |
0 |
|
DNC |
Did not complete all assessments, includes absence from examination |
Fail |
0 |
|
GP |
Grade Pending
|
On hold |
N/A |
Grading scale for assessment components of courses developed by Open Polytechnic
|
Grade Recorded |
Interpretation |
Final Outcome |
|
A+ |
90 – 100% |
Pass |
|
A |
85 – 89% |
Pass |
|
A- |
80 – 84% |
Pass |
|
B+ |
75 – 79% |
Pass |
|
B |
70 - 74% |
Pass |
|
B- |
65 – 69% |
Pass |
|
C+ |
60 – 64% |
Pass |
|
C |
55 – 59% |
Pass |
|
C- |
50 – 54% |
Pass |
|
D |
40 – 49% |
Fail |
|
E |
0 – 39% |
Fail |
|
F |
Attempted assessment, did not meet subminimum requirement |
Fail |
|
CM |
Competent (competency based assessment) |
Pass |
|
NY |
Not yet competent (competency based assessment) |
Fail |
|
AE |
Excellence (marks used to determine result) |
Pass |
|
AM |
Merit (marks used to determine result) |
Pass |
|
AC |
Achieved (marks used to determine result) |
Pass |
|
NA |
Not Achieved (marks used to determine result) |
Fail |
|
EX |
Exempt |
Pass |
|
FS |
Failed To Submit |
Fail |
|
AB |
Absent from the Examination |
Fail |
|
GP |
Grade Pending (place holder when waiting for a result – e.g. valid extension) |
On hold |
Grading scale for qualifications not developed by Open Polytechnic
These grading scales remain unchanged. The Bachelor of Engineering Technology and the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) have a grading scale set by external organisations.
Bachelor of Engineering Technology
| HD | 85 – 100% | High Distinction |
| A | 75 – 84% | Distinction |
| B | 65 – 74% | Credit |
| C | 50 – 64% | Pass |
| F | 0 – 49% | Fail |
| AG | Aegrotat Pass | |
| AB | Absent Final Exam | |
| P | Pass Residential Practice Unit | |
| F | Fail Residential Practice Unit | |
| FS | Failed To Submit | |
New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6)
| A+ | 90 – 100% | Pass |
| A | 85 – 89% | Pass |
| A- | 80 – 84% | Pass |
| B+ | 75 – 79% | Pass |
| B | 70 – 74% | Pass |
| B- | 65 – 69% | Pass |
| C+ | 60 – 64% | Pass |
| C | 55 – 59% | Pass |
| C- | 50 – 54% |
Pass |
| D | 40 – 49% | Fail |
| E | 0 – 39% | Fail |
| AG | Aegrotat Pass | |
| FR | Failed Final Exam (achieved less than 40% in the examination where this applies) | |
| FE | Fail Final Exam | |
| AB | Absent Final Exam | |
| FC | Failed Mandatory Component | |
| FS | Failed To Submit | |
Related information
How your work will be assessed