Australia University Grading System
Australia uses a High Distinction–to–Fail grade scale and a 7-point GPA system. Explore sub-pages for the grading scale, Honours classification, and how WAM is calculated.
Australian Grade Scale at a Glance
Five bands from High Distinction to Fail. Minimum passing mark is 50% at most Australian universities.
| Grade | Label | % Range | GPA Points (7.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD | High Distinction | 85–100% | 7 |
| D | Distinction | 75–84% | 6 |
| C | Credit | 65–74% | 5 |
| P | Pass | 50–64% | 4 |
| F | Fail | Below 50% | 0 |
Note: Some universities add a Conceded Pass (CP/PC) band for 45–49%. GPA of 0 applies to Fail grades; F does not earn credit points.
AQF, GPA, and WAM, Key Concepts
Understanding the framework behind Australian academic records.
AQF, Australian Qualifications Framework
The Australian Qualifications Framework sets the national policy for regulated qualifications from Certificate I through to Doctoral Degree. All universities registered under TEQSA (Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency) must award qualifications that align with AQF level descriptors. The grading scale and class-of-degree system sit inside the AQF context but individual universities retain autonomy over their exact grade boundaries.
GPA on a 7-point scale
Most Australian universities use a 7-point GPA scale where HD = 7, D = 6, C = 5, P = 4, and F = 0. The GPA is a credit-weighted average: sum of (grade points x credit points) divided by total credit points enrolled. A student with HD in a 6-unit subject and D in a 3-unit subject earns GPA = (7x6 + 6x3) / 9 = 6.67.
WAM, Weighted Average Mark
In parallel to GPA, many Australian universities also report WAM (Weighted Average Mark). WAM is calculated as: sum of (percentage mark x credit points) divided by total credit points. WAM preserves the raw percentage information and is commonly used for Honours admission and scholarship ranking. A student with 88% in a 6-unit subject and 74% in a 3-unit subject has WAM = (88x6 + 74x3) / 9 = 83.3.
Explore the Australian Grading System
Detailed sub-pages covering the grading scale and Honours degree classification.
Related Gradebook Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Australian university grading system.
Automate Australian grading with OpenEduCat
7-point GPA, WAM computation, Honours classification, and Australian transcript formats, pre-configured and ready on day one.