Grading Policy Leiden University College The Hague Leiden University College The Hague has chosen to use the internationally recognized letter grade system for all assessment. The letter grading system expresses a student’s performance as a value ranging from A to F, in which A is the highest and E is not used. A plus or minus can be added to reflect student performance more adequately. F means a failing grade. The letter grades all carry a numerical equivalent, the grade point. The letter grades are represented by a full number ranging from 0.0 for F to 4.0 for A. A plus will add 0.3 to the grade while minus will subtract 0.3. The only exceptions are at the ends of the range: A+ has the same value as A (4.0); an A+ is only used to give the student an extra compliment. F is a failing grade and it would be slightly odd to indicate the extent to which the student failed. The average of a student’s grade points, the Grade Point Average, is calculated each semester and the cumulative average over the final four semesters is computed for graduation (final GPA). In addition, the GPA is used for a variety of decisions: allowing students to go on exchange, take an extra course, but also for decisions to be made on the continuation scholarships, financial aid, and academic probation. The table below provides an overview of the letter grades, grade points, grade descriptors, and the Dutch equivalent. At course level, only letter grades and the categorical description of their meaning are to be used. The Dutch grading system is mentioned not as a conversion table, but to afford a rough comparison for those who need to relate the grades to their pas grading experience. Letter Grade Description Grade Point A+ 4.0 Outstanding: An outstanding answer showing an extraordinary understanding of the issues and methodologies; original, independent thinking informs an answer based upon rigorous argument accurately supported by evidence derived from a wide range of source material; could not be bettered at undergraduate level in the time A 4.0 Very good: An answer demonstrating a high level of understanding of the issues and methodologies; the answer displays independent A‐ 3.7 thought, and strong and well organized argument, using a wide range of sources
B+ 3.3 Good: A good answer showing most but not necessarily all of the above. The level of independent thinking is a bit lower B 3.0 B‐ 2.7 C+ 2.3 Pass: An answer demonstrating satisfactory understanding of the issues, with a reasonable and reasonably well organised argument C 2.0 supported by a standard range of sources. The answer may display some C‐ 1.7 shortcomings, but no fundamental errors
D+ 1.3 Conditional Pass / Poor: An answer which shows minimal, inadequate or limited understanding of some of the issues raised D 1.0 by the question, with substantial omissions or irrelevant material, and D‐ 0.7 limited use of relevant material. Poorly conceived and poorly directed to the question Dutch Equivalent
8.6 ‐ 10 8.0 – 8.5 7.7 – 7.9 7.4 – 7.6 7.0 – 7.3 6.7 – 6.9 6.4 – 6.6 6.0 – 6.3 5.5 – 5.9 5.3 – 5.4 5.1 – 5.2 4.9 – 5.0 F 0.0 Fail: Unsatisfactory, but will show skeletal grasp of some relevant issues and necessary material and/or skills. There may be gross misconceptions which nevertheless show some evidence of an elementary grasp of issues. Or: no answer offered. Or: an answer which is totally irrelevant or fundamentally wrong 0.0 – 4.8 a. LUC will use normative grading, i.e. performance is assessed against set standards. b. A final GPA of 2.0 is required to graduate. The final GPA will be calculated over all credits awarded in the last four semesters of the programme (120 EC or more), to not include the first BA year. c. If students fail a course (F grade) they will have to repeat the whole course. d. Students are allowed to have two D‐grades (D‐/D/D+) among the final grades and will earn credits for these courses. However, they will not count for the BSA‐requirement of Leiden University (45 EC per year). Note that the requirement of a final GPA of 2.0 automatically entails that D’s will always have to be compensated by at least B’s (D+ by B‐, D by B, D‐ by B+). e. D‐grades are not allowed for a number of crucial elements in the curriculum: (1) courses counting towards the Major, (2) the Capstone, (3) the four Global Challenge courses (Peace, Earth, Justice, Energy) in BA1, (4) History of Philosophy, (5) the essential skills oriented courses (Academic Writing, Area Studies, Designing Academic Inquiry, and Numeracy). f. D‐grades will be included in the GPA and appear on the diploma supplement.