Why a single grade in the Philippines means something different everywhere
In short: If you are moving between universities in the Philippines, your transcript might be a puzzle. There is no national standard for grade equivalence, meaning a high mark in one institution could be viewed through a completely different lens in another.
Academic evaluation in the Philippines is characterized by significant institutional autonomy. While some universities adopt a 4.00-point scale—where 4.00 is the highest and 0.00 is failing, mirroring the U.S. system—others utilize a 5-point scale. In the latter, the scale runs from 1.00 down to 5.00, with 3.00 serving as the minimum passing mark. In some systems, a 4.00 is even used to denote an 'incomplete' status.
This lack of standardization extends to how passing marks are defined. At De La Salle University-Manila, a 60% passing grade is common, yet certain courses may set the threshold as low as 50% or as high as 70%. Similarly, at De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, most departments require 70% to pass, though specialized departments like Finance and Accounting may use a 50% or 60% threshold.
The complexity deepens when calculating student standing. A General Weighted Average (GWA) represents overall scholastic standing by including all subjects taken at a specific level, even those outside the standard curriculum. In contrast, a Curriculum Weighted Average (CWA) focuses strictly on subjects within a specific curriculum. For those pursuing distinction, such as the Dean's Lister at the University of Santo Tomas, the requirements are rigorous: a QPI of at least 86%, no individual subject grade below 80%, and a record of good moral character.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Academic grading in the Philippines
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