D is for Distinction

The grading scale at UNSW is completely different to how it is done in the States. There are no GPAs or ABCDF grades that compute into numbers. In fact, when I said the word GPA to a fellow Australian classmate I was met with a totally blank look. Instead, you have HD=High Distinction, D=Distinction, CR=Credit, and PS=Pass. Under the description it does give a “mark range” from 50-100, but I do not find this to mean anything since you don’t get a number grade back, only one of the four letters.

Again, I’m not really sure what happens from here. Your grade doesn’t ever get averaged into a number grade so I have no idea how they compute your final grade. According to one classmate, you either pass or you don’t. I got a “D” on my first graded assignment so I was happy, even though I still have no idea what it means.

This is how UNSW breaks down the letter grades

Grade Description
HD
High Distinction
An outstanding performance; mark range 85 - 100. Indicates that the student has produced outstanding work, and has demonstrated a high level of understanding across the entire content of the course.

DN Distinction
A superior performance; mark range 75 - 84. Indicates that the student has demonstrated superior ability to consider the course and its assessment requirements from a number of perspectives and to explore their interrelation.

CR Credit
A good performance; mark range 65 - 74. Indicates that the student has demonstrated the ability to think analytically, and contextually about the course and its assessment requirements, and to understand/present alternative points of view/perspectives and supporting evidence.

PS Pass
An acceptable level of performance; mark range 50 - 64. Indicates that the student has addressed the assessment requirements of the course and has demonstrated an acceptable understanding of the issues entailed.