Gradebook · Philippines
Philippine Latin Honours — Summa, Magna, and Cum Laude
Philippine universities award three Latin honours at graduation under CHED CMO guidelines: Summa Cum Laude (GWA 1.0–1.20), Magna Cum Laude (1.21–1.45), and Cum Laude (1.46–1.75). Each tier requires a two-part test: the cumulative GWA must be within range, and no individual subject grade may be worse than the tier threshold. OpenEduCat evaluates both conditions automatically, providing live eligibility tracking and batch graduation rollup.
Latin Honours GWA Thresholds
Standard CHED CMO thresholds. Both the GWA range and the no-grade-below restriction must be satisfied simultaneously.
| Distinction | GWA Range | No Grade Below | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summa Cum Laude | 1.0–1.20 | 2.0 | Highest academic distinction. The student must have earned a cumulative GWA of 1.0 to 1.20 throughout the degree programme, with no individual subject grade worse than 2.0. A single grade of 2.25 or lower disqualifies the student even if the GWA is within range. |
| Magna Cum Laude | 1.21–1.45 | 2.5 | High distinction. Cumulative GWA between 1.21 and 1.45, with no subject grade worse than 2.5. The no-grade-below restriction is less stringent than Summa, but still requires consistent excellence across the full degree programme. |
| Cum Laude | 1.46–1.75 | 3.0 | With distinction. Cumulative GWA between 1.46 and 1.75, with no subject grade worse than 3.0 (the minimum passing grade). A student who passed all subjects but earned a 3.0 in one elective retains Cum Laude eligibility. |
| Pass (No Honours) | GWA > 1.75 or any grade restriction violated | N/A | Eligible for graduation without Latin honours. A cumulative GWA above 1.75, or any single grade below the tier-specific restriction, places the graduate in the standard Pass category regardless of overall GWA. |
Source: CHED Memorandum Orders (CMO). Individual institutions may apply slightly different GWA boundaries — OpenEduCat allows threshold configuration to match your institution's exact rules.
How OpenEduCat Automates Honours Classification
Both eligibility conditions checked automatically — no manual spreadsheet review required.
Dual Eligibility Check — GWA and No-Grade-Below
Latin honours in the Philippines require two simultaneous conditions: the cumulative GWA must fall within the tier range, and no individual subject grade may be worse than the tier threshold. OpenEduCat checks both conditions automatically. A student at GWA 1.18 who has a single 2.25 grade is correctly excluded from Summa Cum Laude without any manual review.
Continuous Honours Eligibility Monitoring
From first enrolment, OpenEduCat tracks whether a student currently meets each honours tier. Advisors can run a live honours eligibility report at any point in the programme, not just at graduation. Early warning alerts notify students whose cumulative GWA drifts outside a tier threshold so they can focus academic effort before the final semester.
Repeated Subject Handling
When a student repeats a failed subject, OpenEduCat applies the institutional policy (replace-with-better or average both attempts) and re-evaluates honours eligibility. If the 5.0 (Failure) is replaced for GWA but the original record still shows the failed grade, the no-grade-below check uses the institutional definition of which grade is the active record for honours purposes.
Batch Graduation Rollup
At graduation, OpenEduCat generates a batch honours classification report for the entire graduating cohort: each student's cumulative GWA, their lowest individual grade, and their resulting honours tier (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude, or Pass). The Registrar reviews the report, approves, and the honours designation is locked to the student record for TOR and diploma issuance.
Related Philippines Gradebook Pages
Latin Honours Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Philippine university Latin honours — GWA thresholds, no-grade-below rules, and CHED CMO requirements.
Automate Latin honours classification with OpenEduCat
Summa, Magna, and Cum Laude — both conditions checked automatically at every grade entry and at graduation batch rollup. CHED CMO thresholds pre-configured.