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Academic grading in Norway

In colleges and universities the international system, ranging from A to F, is used:

• A: 10% (8-12)
• B: 25% (20-30)
• C: 30% (24-36)
• D: 25% (20-30)
• E: 10% (8-12)
• F: Not passed

The formerly most common system of grades used at university level was based on a scale running from 1.0 (highest) through 6.0 (lowest), 4.0 being the lowest passing grade. However, the grades from 1.0 to 1.5 were rarely used, de facto reducing the grade range from 1.6 to 6.0. The way the new Bologna system was introduced implies that students who had started their studies while the old system still was in effect will graduate with transcripts containing grades from both systems (i.e., both numbers and letters).

Lower levels of education (secondary school) use a scale running from 1 to 6, with 6 being the highest and 2 as the lowest passing grade. For non-final tests and mid-term evaluations, the grades are often postfixed with + or − (except 6+ and 1−), and it is also common to use grades such as 5/6 or 4/3 indicating borderline grades. Finals, and the final grades for each subject, are graded with whole numbers.

The grading scale is as follows:

• 1 (lowest grade)
• 1+ it must be over the straight 1
• 1/2
• 2/1
• 2−
• 2
• 2+
• 2/3
• 3/2
• 3−
• 3
• 3+
• 3/4
• 4/3
• 4−
• 4
• 4+
• 4/5
• 5/4
• 5−
• 5
• 5+
• 5/6
• 6/5
• 6-
• 6 (highest grade)