Different Grading Scale and Checkered Grades?

Prep School Admissions
1

Hi, I go to an international school with a completely different grading scale. For reference here’s what it looks like.

Exemplary : Student exhibits significant understanding of targeted concepts and
successfully completes tasks that have high cognitive demands and are
complex. In addition to consistently meeting grade or course level
expectations, student demonstrates flexible application of targeted concepts
and skills and is able to transfer learning to new situations.

Meets: Student exhibits understanding of targeted concepts and successfully
completes complex tasks requiring reasoning. Student consistently meets
grade or course level expectations.

Approaches: Student exhibits partial understanding of targeted concepts and skills. Student
is successful in tasks using simpler knowledge and skills, but struggles with
the more complex ideas and processes. Student inconsistently meets grade
or course level expectations.

Below: Bad, basically

It might seem like an Exemp = A and a Meets = B, but that’s not exactly the case at my school. A Meets Expectations in most classes is like an A, and an Exemplary is like an A+. I have a fair share of Exemplaries in my report card and great reviews/descriptions from almost all of my teachers, but I have occasional Approaches, and some Meets Expectations. The number of Exemplaries I have is similar to the amount of Meets Expectations I have. Also, please note that I am taking every single advanced course offered at my school, which is rare. Is this an issue?

2

No.

2 Likes
3

BS understand that there are different systems. If it is possible, perhaps your current school could send a distribution of grades. But if they can’t, don’t worry too much.

1 Like
4

Hi, and thanks for responding! Is your answer ‘no’ to taking advanced courses, or no to my grades being an issue?

5

No to grades being an issue. As for classes, they are seen in context. In some systems, kids have access to more options but overall, at this point in your educational career, it is mostly about building a strong foundation.

So it shows that your own school sees you as a strong and capable student. But it’s unlikely to give you an edge over a student who didn’t have that opportunity who has also excelled with what was available.

1 Like
6

No. The grading scale is no issue

7

My kids go/went to a school with an almost identical grading system. As far as I know there is nowhere to see a distribution of grades for the entire class (so no ranking). My kid applied to 6 BS last year and not one asked for any clarification on the grading or school report.

The school is definitely not a known entity to BS admission departments either, since boarding school in my neck of the woods is seen as something you send your kid to if they need behavioral intervention!

8

While the grading scale probably won’t be an issue, the presence of “Approaches” might be, depending on where you apply and other aspects of your applications.