Australian University Grading Scale
Australian universities use a five-band grading scale, High Distinction (HD), Distinction (D), Credit (C), Pass (P), and Fail (F), mapped to a 7-point GPA system. In parallel, WAM (Weighted Average Mark) tracks raw percentage performance for Honours admission and competitive selection. The minimum passing mark is 50%.
AU_STANDARD, Grade Scale
Five standard bands used at most TEQSA-registered Australian universities, on the 7-point GPA scale.
| Grade | Label | % Range | GPA Points (7.0) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD | High Distinction | 85–100% | 7 | Highest grade. Awarded for exceptional understanding and performance. |
| D | Distinction | 75–84% | 6 | Above-average performance demonstrating thorough understanding. |
| C | Credit | 65–74% | 5 | Satisfactory performance exceeding basic requirements. |
| P | Pass | 50–64% | 4 | Meets the minimum standard for the subject. |
| CP/PC | Conceded Pass | 45–49% | 3 (or institution-specific) | Available at some universities. Conditional progression permitted. |
| F | Fail | Below 50% | 0 | Does not earn credit points. Re-enrolment or supplementary exam required. |
Source: TEQSA-registered Australian university grade policies. Individual institution thresholds may vary by up to 5 percentage points.
GPA vs WAM, Understanding the Difference
Australian transcripts often report both metrics. Each serves a different purpose.
GPA
Example: HD (7 pts) in a 6-credit subject + D (6 pts) in a 3-credit subject = (7×6 + 6×3) ÷ 9 = 6.67
Used for: Reported on transcripts; used for academic standing, Dean's List, and scholarship eligibility.
Grade points are discrete (7, 6, 5, 4, 0), two students with 86% and 99% both earn 7.0 GPA points for that subject.
WAM
Example: 88% in a 6-credit subject + 74% in a 3-credit subject = (88×6 + 74×3) ÷ 9 = 83.3 WAM
Used for: Used for Honours degree admission ranking, scholarship applications, and competitive selection processes.
WAM preserves the raw percentage, so a 99% HD and an 85% HD are treated differently. Students who just cleared the HD boundary are disadvantaged under pure GPA.
How OpenEduCat Implements the Australian Scale
AU_STANDARD 7-point scale pre-configured
The Australian module installs the five-band AU_STANDARD scale (HD=7, D=6, C=5, P=4, F=0) as grade records on activation. The optional Conceded Pass (CP) band is available as an extension record. No manual setup is required.
Parallel GPA and WAM computation
After each grade publication cycle, OpenEduCat computes both GPA (grade-point weighted) and WAM (percentage weighted) for every student. Both values appear on the academic transcript and are available in the student portal. WAM is stored per-semester and cumulatively.
Credit-point weighting across subject types
Australian subjects commonly carry 3, 6, or 12 credit points (some institutions use unit values instead). OpenEduCat stores the credit point value on each subject record and applies it consistently in both GPA and WAM calculations, regardless of whether the subject is a core unit, elective, or capstone.
Academic transcript in Australian format
The AU transcript format includes semester blocks with subject code, subject name, credit points, mark, grade letter, and grade points. The per-semester GPA, cumulative GPA, and cumulative WAM appear at the end of each semester block. Transcripts can be exported to PDF for submission to employers and postgraduate admissions offices.
Related Gradebook Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Australian university grading scale.
Configure the Australian grading scale for your institution
AU_STANDARD scale, 7-point GPA, WAM computation, and Australian transcript formats, pre-configured in OpenEduCat from day one.