Academic grading in Japan

In Japan, each school has a different grading system. Many universities use the following set of categories:

Grade in Japanese (Kanji)	English translation	Corresponding percentage	4-scale university
shū (秀)	Exemplary, excellent	S (90–100%), rarely given
yū (優)	Very good	A (80–89%)	A (80–100%)
ryō (良)	Good	B (70–79%)	B (70–79%)
ka (可)	Average, pass	C (60–69%)	C (60–69%)
nin (認)[lower-alpha 1]	Approved, acceptable	D/F (50–59%), uncommon	D/F (50–59%), uncommon
fuka (不可)	Unacceptable, failed	F (0–59% or 0–49%)	F (0–59% or 0–49%)

Public schooling below the high school level is classified as compulsory education (義務教育, gimu-kyōiku), and every Japanese child is required to attend school until they pass middle school. An interesting phenomenon is that even if an individual student fails a course, they may pass with their class regardless of grades on tests. The grades on tests have no effect on schooling until taking entrance exams to get into high school.

Parents often send their children to cram schools (塾, Juku) or private schools, for test training purposes.

Most national universities employ a 4-scale grading system (only with A, B, C and F). Below-average students are given an F, and are encouraged to retake the same subject(s) in the following semesters.

GPA is a simple numerical representation of college results in Japan. University grades are determined by a score between 0 and 100. This score (GPA) is determined by the total of three points: "test score", "attendance score", and "report score". (Example: Test score [65 points] + attendance point [20 points] + report score [10] = 95)

Some professors are only based on test scores, while others are based on report scores and attendance points. In addition, universities evaluate kanji for "Hide" or "Yu" or English for "S" or "A" according to their scores.

For universities, graduation requires a minimum of 124 credits and the required number of credits for each university. To earn 1 credit, 45 hours of study time is required, including preparation and review time.[1]

Note

1. Nin or gō (合) is sometimes used when you pass without grading for some reason , for example when you used credit transfer or adopting grade scale is not suitable for the class.

References

1. "大学の成績の評価での『優』の位置づけは？". 鳳凰の羽 (in Japanese). 2016-06-12. Retrieved 2020-01-20.

• Clyde Vroman (1966), Japan: a study of the educational system of Japan and guide to the academic placement of students from Japan in United States educational institutions, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, LCCN 74014323, OCLC 87904
• Ellen E. Mashiko (1989), "VI. Admissions-Related Issues, Grading Systems and Academic Credentials", Japan: a study of the educational system of Japan and a guide to the academic placement of students in educational institutions of the United States, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, p. 55, ISBN 0-910054-93-2, OCLC 19847995, archived from the original on 2017-02-11
• Ellen E. Mashiko (1996), Japan: a study of the educational system of Japan and a guide to the academic placement of students in educational institutions of the United States, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, ISBN 0-929851-78-1
• 大学の成績の評価での『優』の位置づけは？. (2017, September 12). Retrieved from http://houou-hane.net/post-274-2/