7. Understanding Marks and Grades

7.1 Standing In a Course

As of 1998, students are assigned a grade in each course as follows (grades earned prior to September 1998 remain as originally reported).

Grade Grade Point Value Percentage Equivalent Definition
A+
A
A-
4.0
4.0
3.7
90-100
85-89
80-84
Excellent
B+
B
B-
3.3
3.0
2.7
77-79
73-76
70-72
Good
C+
C
C-
2.3
2.0
1.7
67-69
63-66
60-62
Adequate
D+
D
D-
1.3
1.0
0.7
57-59
53-56
50-52
Marginal
F* 0.0 0-49 Wholly Inadequate
CR No Value No Value Credit in a Credit/No Credit course
NCR No Value No Value No credit in a Credit/No Credit course
NC% 0.0 No Value No credit in a Credit/No Credit course

*F = Fail

Note:
Grades of 'F', 'NCR', and 'NC%' are failing grades, yielding no standing in a course and no degree credit. Students are cautioned that a numerical score on an assignment is not deemed to be automatically equivalent to the corresponding letter grade.

7.2 Credit/ No Credit

UTSC degree students may select up to 2.0 full credits of their degree credits to be assessed on a Credit/No Credit basis. Courses identified as program requirements, or that are intended for individual study, such as supervised reading courses, are not eligible for Credit/No Credit assessment. UTSC students must choose, or cancel, this mode of assessment via ACORN no later than the last day of classes at UTSC, regardless of the division at which the course is taught. Once the deadline has passed, students may not under any circumstances reverse this decision.

To achieve a status of CR (Credit), a student must earn a final grade of at least 50%.  Grades below that will be assessed as NCR (No Credit).  Courses with a final status of CR will count as degree credits but will not affect the student's GPA.  They may count as breadth requirements and degree credits, but cannot be used to satisfy program requirements.

Courses with a final status of NCR will not count as degree credits but will not count as failures, and will also not be included in the GPA calculation.  Regardless of when CR/NCR status in a course is declared, if a student has specified the CR/NCR option for a course in which an academic offence has been committed, the CR/NCR option will be revoked and the percentage mark will stand as the course mark. If no academic sanction is applied, the CR/NCR status can be reinstated.

The CR/NCR option is open only to degree students. Once students have graduated, they may not complete courses on a CR/NCR basis, even if they enrolled in the course before their graduation; for example, a student graduating in June, selecting a Summer course as CR/NCR. Or a student graduating in November, selecting a Fall or Winter course as CR/NCR, will have the CR/NCR designation removed and a percentage grade will appear on the student's record.

Certain courses, including some music courses, are graded on a CR/NCR basis. In these courses, to achieve a passing grade a student must receive a final mark of at least 50%. This will be designated as CR on a transcript and will not be included in the grade point average. A failing grade (below 50%) will be designated on the transcript as NCR, and the course will be included as an “F” (value zero) in the grade point average.

In courses graded on a CR/NCR basis, students may opt for a normal graded assessment with specific grades assigned.  Students must choose this mode of assessment no later than the last day to enroll in the relevant course.  Requests for this type of assessment are made through the course instructor offering the course. Once the deadline has passed, students may not under any circumstances reverse this decision.

7.3 Other Course Grade Notations

The following notations have no grade point value, do not yield credit, and are not included in the calculation of CGPA:

Notation Definition
AEG Aegrotat standing: grade is assigned based on work completed where medical or similar evidence demonstrates that a student is unable to complete course requirements within a reasonable time, and where a student has already completed at least 60% of the work of the course with a grade of C minus or better.
  • Students must petition for the assignment of an AEG grade to a course.
  • Where a student is assigned AEG standing, the course counts as a credit but is not included in the CGPA.
  • Students who require a letter grade will be expected to complete the work of the course.
EXT Extra
GWR Grade withheld pending the review of an alleged academic offence.
IPR Course is in progress.
LWD Late withdrawal: withdrawal after the last day to drop courses without academic penalty, but before the examination period begins.
NGA No grade available.
SDF Standing is deferred based on incomplete course work because of medical or similar reasons.
WDR Withdrawal without academic penalty after the relevant deadline. Students must petition for the assignment of a WDR grade to a course.
 

7.4 Grade Reports

Grade reports are not issued to students. Instead, final grades, grade point averages and academic standing are made available through ACORN. Grades are available as soon as they have been submitted and approved. CGPAs for individual students are available shortly after the student's last grade is approved, and academic standing is available in September, January and May. Students who are on academic probation, suspended, or refused further registration, will receive an email regarding their academic status.

7.5 Grade Point Averages

  1. A grade point average (GPA) is calculated as follows: the grade points earned in each full (1.0) credit course and one-half the grade points earned in each half- (0.5) credit course are added together and this total is divided by the number of full credits taken.
  2. A sessional grade point average (SGPA) is the average of the grades in courses taken in the most recent semester (Summer, Fall, Winter).
  3. A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is the average of the grades of all courses passed or failed at UTSC.
  4. Sessional and cumulative grade point averages are calculated at the end of each session and included on the student's academic record and transcript.
  5. Courses taken for credit by degree students while registered at UTSC, FAS or UTM are normally included in UTSC grade point averages. Courses taken while registered at other institutions or other divisions or faculties of UT are not normally included in grade point averages.

7.6 Determination of Academic Status

The following rules apply to all students except visiting students whose academic status is not assessed or as described below in "Determination of Academic Status for Students Re-enrolling at the University of Toronto Scarborough," "Determination of Academic Status for Students in the Certificate Program in Business," and "Determination of Academic Status for Students Admitted on Probation."

Academic status is determined as follows for students who have attempted at least 3.0 credits since beginning their studies at UTSC, or another Arts and Science division of the University (not including Credit/No Credit, Pass/Fail, or courses marked Extra).  It is determined at the end of each academic session (Summer, Fall and Winter):

  1. In Good Standing
    Students who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 1.60 or better are said to be "in good standing".
  2. On Probation
    • Students who have attempted at least 3.0 credits and have a CGPA of less than 1.60 are placed on probation.
    • Students returning from suspension (see item 5 below and any provision in previous rules) shall be placed on probation again.
  3. Probation Cleared
    Students may clear probation by achieving a CGPA of 1.60 or better. Students who have cleared probation shall be said to be again "in good standing".
  4. Probation Continued
    Students may continue on probation by achieving a sessional grade point average of at least 1.60 in each session until they return to good standing.
  5. Suspended or Refused Further Registration
    Students on probation who, by the end of a given session, have not achieved a sessional grade point average of at least 1.60 shall be liable for suspension or refusal of further registration as follows, regardless of the number of credits taken in the session:
    • Students who have incurred no previous suspension will be suspended for four months (one session);
    • Students who have previously incurred a four-month (one-session) suspension will be suspended for twelve months (three sessions);
    • Students who have previously incurred a twelve-month (three-session) suspension will be suspended for thirty-six months (nine sessions); and
    • Students who have previously incurred a thirty-six month (nine-session) suspension will be refused further registration.

Determination of Academic Status for Students in the Certificate program in Business

Academic status is determined at the end of each session as follows for all students who have completed at least two full credits since beginning their studies:

  1. In good standing
    Students who maintain a CGPA of at least 2.00 are said to be in good standing.
  2. Refused further registration
    Students who, at the end of a given session, have not achieved a CGPA of at least 2.00 or better are refused further registration in the Certificate program.

Determination of Academic Status for Students Admitted On Probation

Candidates who fail to satisfy normal admission requirements, but successfully appeal for special consideration may be admitted on probation.

  • The academic requirements that such students must meet are the same as those required of students who encounter academic difficulties while registered in the university, including course load restrictions.
  • The academic status will remain "On Probation" until the student achieves a CGPA of 1.60 or higher.
  • Students on probation who fail to achieve a sessional grade point average of 1.60 or higher will be subject to academic suspension.
  • Students who are admitted on probation are urged to seek advice on course selection and study methods from the Academic Advising & Career Centre.

Determination of Standing for Students in Co-op Programs

The Co-op Office and the Registrar’s Office will start assessing a student's standing in the Co-op program at the end of each semester, once students have attempted at least 4 credits (including all courses taken regardless of whether they are passed or failed).

When a student's status is reviewed, they will be assessed based upon their Cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA) and will fall into one of the following 3 categories: 1) In good standing, 2) On Probation or 3) Removed from Co-op. 

In Good Standing: indicates a student has achieved a cGPA of 2.5 or higher and is eligible to remain in the in the Co-op program. 

On Probation: If a student's cGPA is between 2.3-2.49, they are considered "On Probation." When on probation students are not able to compete for co-op work terms until their status changes to "In Good Standing." Students will have one semester to clear probation (achieve In Good Standing) by achieving a cGPA of 2.50 or higher in the next semester. If after one semester, students achieve a sessional (for the current semester) GPA of at least 2.5 but their cGPA is not 2.5 or higher, the probation period may be extended for one more semester. If an extension is permitted, they will have one more semester to achieve a cGPA of 2.5. If this is not attained, students are then will be removed from the Co-op program. If after one semester a student's cGPA is not 2.5 or higher and their sessional cGPA is not at least 2.5 they will be removed from the co-op program and put into the non-Co-op version of their program. 

Removal from Co-op: If a student's cGPA is below 2.3, they will be removed from the Co-op Program. Students may elect to reapply to the Co-op Program after being removed. This must be requested during the limited subject POSt request periods, as long as they meet admission requirements. 

Please note: The Standing referenced here is a student's overall standing in the University as seen on academic transcripts. Students are notified of their co-op standing only if they fall into the Probation or Removal categories. Any students in the Co-op program who are being put on probation or removed will be contacted by the Co-op Office regarding this. 

7.7 Academic Transcripts

The academic transcript is the official statement of the academic record of each student. The transcript records the following information:

  1. Student’s full name and university student number.
  2. Student's academic record, listed chronologically by session, including:
    • Each course attempted, its abbreviated title, and its grade including courses from which late withdrawal has been approved;
    • The sessional grade point average;
    • The CGPA at the end of the session;
    • The annual grade point average;
    • Completion of a Co-operative program;
    • Completion of degree and program requirements, and date of conferral of the degree; and
    • Graduation with high distinction or with distinction.
  3. The following kinds of special consideration granted by petition:
    • WDR - withdrawal without academic penalty from a course after the relevant deadline;
    • Deferral of suspension;
    • Award of aegrotat standing; and
    • Other considerations deemed to have altered the academic record.

Students can obtain an unofficial copy of their academic history at no cost directly from ACORN. Official transcripts can be ordered for a fee through ACORN.