Grades and study results
Secondary education study results
Since 2001, secondary education schools have been assessing study results with the letters A through E, with an A as the highest score and E as the lowest possible passing grade.
For the GCE O/L and GCE A/L, the Department of Examinations uses the following system to assess study results:
| Percentage | Result | Letter grade | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100-75 | Distinction | A | Outstanding |
| 74-65 | Very Good Pass | B | Very good |
| 64-50 | Credit Pass | C | Good |
| 49-35 | Ordinary Pass | S | Satisfactory |
| 34-00 | Weak (Failure) | W/F | Fail |
Secondary education documents
The Department of Examinations is responsible for the national examinations that students take at the end of key stage 1 (grades 10-11) and key stage 2 (grades 12- 13). The Department of Examinations also awards the official diplomas:
- General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level); and
- General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level).
Please note: documents from secondary schools are therefore not official.
Higher education study results
Higher education institutions use a number of grading systems in conjunction. One system uses a 100-point scale. Sometimes, the points are therefore given as percentages, with 100% (100 points) as the highest score. In addition, institutions also use letters (grades) and a Grade Point Average (GPA).
For example, the University of Colombo uses the following 3 systems to assess study results:
| Score (marks) | Grade | Grade Point Average (GPA) |
|---|---|---|
| 80-100 | A+ | 4.00 |
| 75-79 | A | 3.75 |
| 70-74 | A- | 3.50 |
| 65-69 | B+ | 3.25 |
| 60-64 | B | 3.00 |
| 55-59 | B- | 2.75 |
| 50-54 | C+ | 2.50 |
| 45-49 | C | 2.25 |
| 40-44 | C- | 2.00 |
| 30-39 | D | 0.00 (Fail) |
| 0-29 | E | 0.00 (Fail) |
| Incomplete | I | - |
| No Credit | NC | - |
| Audit | AU | - |
| Withdrawn | W | - |
| Withdrawn-failing | WF | - |
| Repeat completed | RC | - |
Some institutions award students with good study results with an honours classification (1st/2nd class), denoted on their diploma. Institutions use the GPA system to calculate who is eligible for an honours classification.
Higher education documents
Students can prove that they have completed a higher education study programme with the following documents:
- a diploma; and
- a grade list, preferably an official transcript of record.