Admissions·Canada· 6 min read

How the Canadian Grading System Works

A clear overview of grades in Canada — letter grades, percentages, and GPA — and why the exact scale varies by province, university, and even individual course.

Key facts

Grade formats used: Letter grades, percentages, and GPA (often together)
Standardization: Varies by province, university, and program
Common GPA base: Frequently 4.0, but other scales exist
Verify on: Each university's official grading-scale page

Three ways grades are expressed

In Canada you will see academic performance shown in up to three connected ways: a letter grade (such as A, B, C), a percentage, and a grade point average (GPA). Many universities use a combination — for example, a course might report a percentage that maps to a letter grade, which in turn carries grade points that feed your GPA.

There is no single national grading standard. Education is organized largely at the provincial level, and each university sets its own grading scale, so the precise meaning of a grade depends on where it was earned.

Letter grades and percentages

Most institutions map percentage ranges to letter grades, but the exact boundaries differ. The band that counts as an "A" at one university may not be identical at another, and some programs use plus/minus letters (A+, A, A-) while others do not.

Because the cut-points vary, the safest interpretation of any grade is the one published by the institution that issued it. When a university lists its official grading scale, that table — not a generic chart — is what applies.

GPA and grade points

GPA condenses your grades into a single average. Each letter grade is assigned grade points, and your GPA is the weighted average of those points across your courses. A 4.0 scale is common, but you will also encounter 4.33, 9.0, and other scales depending on the university.

This is why a GPA only has a precise meaning within its own system, and why comparing GPAs across universities or countries requires knowing each scale. For international applicants, this is also why there is no universal way to turn a percentage into a Canadian GPA.

School-level grading and provincial differences

At the high-school (secondary) level, grading also varies by province, since each province runs its own school system. Grade 12 results — usually reported as percentages — are what universities look at most closely for undergraduate admission.

If you are comparing schools or planning ahead, remember that a "good" grade is defined within each province's and school's own scale, so always read results in the context of the system that produced them.

Why this matters for your application

Understanding that grading is decentralized helps you avoid two mistakes: assuming a single conversion exists, and assuming a grade means the same thing everywhere. When you apply, you submit your real transcript, and the university interprets it using its own scale and its international-admissions guidelines.

For the exact scale, cut-points, and how your qualification is read, rely on the official grading-scale and admissions pages of the specific university — and verify any figure you saw elsewhere before depending on it.

Frequently asked questions

Does Canada have one national grading system?

No. Education is organized largely at the provincial level, and each university sets its own grading scale. Letter grades, percentages, and GPA are all used, but the exact boundaries and scales vary by institution and province.

What GPA scale do Canadian universities use?

A 4.0 scale is common, but some universities use 4.33, 9.0, or other scales, sometimes alongside percentages. Because scales differ, check the official grading-scale page of the specific university.

How are letter grades and percentages related?

Most universities map percentage ranges to letter grades, but the cut-points differ between institutions, and some use plus/minus letters. The authoritative mapping is the one each university publishes on its official grading page.

Which grades do universities focus on for undergraduate admission?

They focus most on your Grade 12 (or equivalent) results, especially in the subjects a program requires. These are typically reported as percentages and read in the context of your school system's scale.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: University of British Columbia — grades (grading scale); McGill University — grading and grade point averages (GPA).

Last verified: 2026-06-10.