Academic grading in Greece

There are four grading systems (or scales) in Greece – four different GPA – one for higher education, one for secondary education, and two for primary education (grades 3 to 4 and 5 to 6).

Primary school

In 1st and 2nd grades in Greek primary schools there is only descriptive evaluation, with no grades included. In the 3rd and 4th grade grades are only letters (Α–Δ) and in 5th and 6th grades numbers ranging from 1–10 are used.

Third and fourth grade

Letter Grade Verbal grading in English Verbal grading in Greek
Α Excellent Άριστα
Β Very good Πολύ Καλά
Γ Good Καλά
Δ[a] Almost good Σχεδόν Καλά

Fifth and sixth grade

Numerical Value / Grade Verbal grading in English Verbal grading in Greek
10 Excellent Άριστα
8 Very good Πολύ Καλά
6 Good Καλά
4[b] Almost good Σχεδόν Καλά

Secondary school

The 20-point grading system's range is widened in secondary school.

Gymnasium

Numerical Value / Grade Verbal grading in English Verbal grading in Greek
20-18.5 (18 and 8/15) Excellent Άριστα
18.4-17 Very good Πολύ Καλά
16-14 Good Καλά
13-10 Fair Μέτρια
9-0 Insufficient Ανεπαρκώς

Lyceum

The Lyceum school has 32–35 hours per week, with 20-point grading system, Law 4610/2019[1] The Apolytirio certificate qualification receives an additional final mention (level of distinction) with which it has been earned.

Numerical Value / Grade Verbal grading in English Verbal grading in Greek
20 – 18.1 Excellent Άριστα
18 – 16.1 Very good Λίαν καλώς
16 – 13.1 Good Καλώς
13 – 9.5 Αlmost good Σχεδόν καλώς
9.4 – 5.1 Insufficiently Ανεπαρκώς
5–0 Badly Κακώς

Universities and polytechnics

The table below depicts the Greek Grading system while illustrates approximately how the Grades are compared with ECTS, US and UK grades:

Greece (0.00 – 10.00) ECTS US (0.0 – 4.0 or 5.0)[2][3] UK (0% – 100%)[4][5]
Ἀριστα (Excellent) (8.50 – 10.00) ECTS A B, B+, A−, A, A+ First-Class Honours* (First or 1st) (70–100%)
Λίαν Καλώς (Very Good) (6.5 – 8.49) ECTS B D+, C−, C, C+, B- Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1) (60–69%)

Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) (50-59%)

Καλώς (Good) (5.00 – 6.49) ECTS C D−, D Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2) (50–59%)

Third-Class Honours (Third or 3rd) (40-49%)

No assessment/award at the end of 4th or 5th year, until all modules, from all years, are passed successfully. Years are extended.
Withdrawal F Ordinary degree (Pass) (without Honours) (35–39%)[c]
Fail (0–34%)
Other:
Aegrotat degree
HND (Higher National Diploma) for 2 years completed[d]
HNC (Higher National Certificate) for 1 year completed[d]

For the National Technical University of Athens (polytechnic) the above grades are different: 9–10 is "excellent", 7–9 is "very good", 5–7 is "good", 0–4.9 is "fail".

Depending on the school, grade inflation in Greece is rare and it is not uncommon for an examination to be failed—or passed with grade 5—by the vast majority students. Most of the degrees can be equivalent to a bachelor's degree with honours BSc(Hons) / BEng (Hons) since all courses are 4 to 5 years and most of them professionally accredited. All modules, from all years, must be passed with a minimum grade of 5.00 (50%) in order for a degree to be assessed/awarded and there is currently no limit in resits. The classification (Ἀριστα, Λίαν Καλὠς, Καλὠς) is derived from the overall credit-weighted average for all modules including the 'diplomatiki' (university/polytechnic) or 'ptichiaki' (TEI). (dissertation/project)

See also

Notes

a. ^ 'Δ' grade is used for students who are experiencing serious learning difficulties. For these students aided teaching programs are implemented.
b. ^ '1–4' grades are used for students who are experiencing serious learning difficulties. For these students aided teaching programs are implemented.
c. ^ varies from institution to institution according to their regulations
d. ^ varies from institution to institution according to their regulations

Reference

  1. ^ "Article 100, Law 4610, Government Gazette 70 A'/07.05.2019" (PDF). Hellenic Parliament. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)(in Greek), "Synergies between Universities and TEIs, Admission to Higher Education (tertiary), Experimental secondary education schools, General archive of state and other provisions"
  2. ^ "EducationUSA. Last accessed May 22, 2009". Archived from the original on October 8, 2009.
  3. ^ Undergraduate Study in the US Archived March 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ "BSc (Hons) Computer Applications – Top-up (Bath). Last accessed May 21, 2009".[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "Academic Protocol 1 : Taught Initial Degrees 2008–2009. Last accessed May 22, 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 16, 2012.