Singapore University Grading System
Singapore's major universities each operate a distinct grade-point scale. NUS and NTU use a 5.0 CAP (Cumulative Average Point) scale; SMU uses a US-style 4.0 GPA; SUTD uses a mixed S/U and numerical system. Honours classification at NUS and NTU requires a cumulative CAP of 4.50 for First Class. OpenEduCat supports all four scales with bilingual transcript output and automated Dean's List recognition.
NUS and NTU Grade-Point Scale (5.0 CAP)
Both NUS and NTU use identical grade-point assignments on a 5.0 scale. A+ and A share the maximum of 5.0; each subsequent grade decreases by 0.5.
| Grade | Grade Points (CAP) | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 5.0 | Exceptional |
| A | 5.0 | Excellent |
| A- | 4.5 | Very Good |
| B+ | 4.0 | Good |
| B | 3.5 | Satisfactory |
| B- | 3.0 | Satisfactory |
| C+ | 2.5 | Pass |
| C | 2.0 | Pass |
| D+ | 1.5 | Borderline Pass |
| D | 1.0 | Borderline Pass |
| F | 0 | Fail |
Source: NUS Office of the Registrar and NTU academic handbook. A+ and A are both capped at 5.0; only A+ indicates the exceptional ceiling in narrative records.
SMU Grade-Point Scale (4.0 GPA)
SMU adopted a US-style 4.0 GPA scale for compatibility with international employers and graduate schools. A+ maps to 4.3, above the nominal 4.0 maximum.
| Grade | Grade Points (GPA) | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.3 | Exceptional |
| A | 4.0 | Excellent |
| A- | 3.7 | Very Good |
| B+ | 3.3 | Good |
| B | 3.0 | Satisfactory |
| B- | 2.7 | Satisfactory |
| C+ | 2.3 | Pass |
| C | 2.0 | Pass |
| D+ | 1.3 | Marginal Fail |
| D | 1.0 | Marginal Fail |
| F | 0 | Fail |
Source: SMU Office of the Registrar. The 4.3 value for A+ exceeds the nominal 4.0 ceiling and appears on official SMU transcripts.
Institution-by-Institution Overview
NUS, NTU, SMU, and SUTD each have distinct policies for Dean's List, Honours, and special grade categories.
NUS, National University of Singapore
- Scale
- 5.0 CAP
- Dean's List Threshold
- Top 5% of cohort per semester
- First Class Honours / Top Distinction
- CAP 4.50 or above at graduation
- Key Notes
- NUS publishes an annual Honour Roll for students with a cumulative CAP of 4.50 or above. The S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) option allows students to convert a limited number of module grades without affecting the CAP.
NTU, Nanyang Technological University
- Scale
- 5.0 CAP
- Dean's List Threshold
- Top 5% of the programme per semester
- First Class Honours / Top Distinction
- CAP 4.50 or above at graduation
- Key Notes
- NTU labels its metric GPA rather than CAP but uses an identical 5.0 scale and identical grade-point assignments to NUS. The Final Year Project (FYP) is worth 6–12 Academic Units and contributes to cumulative GPA.
SMU, Singapore Management University
- Scale
- 4.0 GPA
- Dean's List Threshold
- Top 5% per faculty per semester; semester GPA ≥ 3.80
- First Class Honours / Top Distinction
- No formal class label; top performance indicated by Dean's List
- Key Notes
- SMU's 4.0 GPA scale was adopted for US employer compatibility. A+ maps to 4.3 (above the nominal 4.0 maximum) but the scale is commonly presented as a 4.0-base. SMU does not award formal First/Second Class Honours.
SUTD, Singapore University of Technology and Design
- Scale
- Mixed (letter + numerical)
- Dean's List Threshold
- Programme-specific recognition
- First Class Honours / Top Distinction
- S/U/F for some modules; numerical grades for design projects
- Key Notes
- SUTD uses S (Satisfactory) / U (Unsatisfactory) / F (Fail) for certain foundational subjects and numerical percentage grades for design-intensive courses. Degree completion requires meeting minimum S/U pass requirements across all pillars.
How the CAP System Works
Calculation mechanics, credit weighting, Dean's List logic, and bilingual transcripts.
CAP calculation formula
CAP is computed as the sum of (grade points × module credit units) divided by the total credit units attempted. Example: a student earning A (5.0) in a 4-unit module and B+ (4.0) in a 4-unit module achieves a semester CAP of (5.0×4 + 4.0×4) ÷ 8 = 4.50. Modules taken on S/U option are excluded from the CAP calculation if the student opts to convert the grade.
Cross-module credit weighting
Different modules carry different modular credit (MC) values, typically 4 MCs for standard modules, but laboratory, project, and thesis modules can carry 6–12 MCs. Higher-weight modules have a proportionally greater effect on the cumulative CAP. A single high-weight thesis module earning A+ can substantially raise or sustain a borderline CAP.
CAP thresholds for graduation with distinction
At NUS, a Dean's List citation is issued each semester to students whose semester CAP places them in the top 5% of their cohort. This differs from the Honours classification, which is determined only at graduation using the cumulative CAP. A student can be on the Dean's List for some semesters without ultimately achieving First Class Honours if other semesters pull the cumulative CAP below 4.50.
Bilingual transcript support
NUS issues transcripts in English. Students requiring bilingual (English/Mandarin) transcripts for employment or graduate admission in China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong must request an official translated copy through the Registrar's office. OpenEduCat supports bilingual transcript output, allowing the registrar to publish the same record with localised field labels.
How OpenEduCat Supports Singapore University Grading
Both 5.0 CAP and 4.0 GPA scales, Dean's List automation, and bilingual transcript output.
5.0 CAP and 4.0 GPA scales pre-configured
OpenEduCat ships with both NUS/NTU 5.0 CAP and SMU 4.0 GPA grade tables pre-loaded. Administrators select the institutional scale at setup; the system assigns grade points automatically and calculates semester and cumulative CAP or GPA on every grade publication.
Multi-university scale support in one instance
For systems administrators managing multiple programmes across faculties that use different scales (e.g. a joint NUS–SMU programme), OpenEduCat allows per-programme scale assignment. Students in different programmes see their correct scale without any manual grade conversion.
Dean's List and Honour Roll automation
At semester end, OpenEduCat identifies students meeting the semester GPA threshold and cohort percentile cutoff, generates Dean's List citations, and stores the recognition flag on each student record. The citation prints on the corresponding semester transcript page automatically.
Bilingual grade report output
Transcript templates can be configured with dual-language field labels (English and a second language). The underlying grade data is identical in both outputs; only the labels and date formatting adapt to the target locale, meeting NUS Registrar requirements for China-bound graduates.
Related Singapore Gradebook Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Singapore university grading scales at NUS, NTU, SMU, and SUTD.
Configure Singapore CAP or GPA grading in OpenEduCat
NUS/NTU 5.0 CAP and SMU 4.0 GPA pre-configured. Automated Honours classification, Dean's List citation, and bilingual transcript output, ready from day one.