Undergraduate Pass/Fail Option
Undergraduate students may elect a grading basis of Pass/Fail for one eligible course per semester. Review the outlined policy for information on eligibility, regulations, and frequently asked questions.
Your Grades
Your Grades
Grading Scale
Select your academic career to view the scale your grades are based on.
- Letter grades of A, B, C, D, and F are used.
- Pluses and minuses may be assigned to grades of B and C.
- Minus may be assigned to an A, and plus may be assigned to a D.
- Temporary grades of IN and AB do not affect grade point average.
- Courses with a grade (or notation) of LP, PS, SP, BE, W or PL are ignored in establishing the quality point average.
Grade points are assigned as follows:
- A = 4.0
- A- = 3.7
- B+ = 3.3
- B = 3.0
- B- = 2.7
- C+ = 2.3
- C = 2.0
- C- = 1.7
- D+ = 1.3
- D = 1.0
- F = 0.0
Grade Definitions
- A
Mastery of course content at the highest level of attainment that can reasonably be expected of students at a given stage of development. The A grade states clearly that the students have shown such outstanding promise in the aspect of the discipline under study that he/she may be strongly encouraged to continue. - B
Strong performance demonstrating a high level of attainment for a student at a given stage of development. The B grade states that the student has shown solid promise in the aspect of the discipline under study. - C
A totally acceptable performance demonstrating an adequate level of attainment for a student at a given stage of development. The C grade states that, while not yet showing unusual promise, the student may continue to study in the discipline with reasonable hope of intellectual development. - D
A marginal performance in the required exercises demonstrating a minimal passing level of attainment. A student has given no evidence of prospective growth in the discipline; an accumulation of D grades should be taken to mean that the student would be well advised not to continue in the academic field. - F
For whatever reason, an unacceptable performance. The F grade indicates that the student’s performance in the required exercises has revealed almost no understanding of the course content. A grade of F should warrant an advisor’s questioning whether the student may suitably register for further study in the discipline before remedial work is undertaken. - AB
Absent from final examination, but could have passed if exam taken. This is a temporary grade that converts to an F* after the last day of final exams for the next semester unless the student makes up the exam. - FA
Failed and absent from exam. The FA grade is given when the undergraduate student did not attend the exam, and could not pass the course regardless of performance on the exam. This would be appropriate for a student that never attended the course or has excessive absences in the course, as well as missing the exam. - IN
Work incomplete. This is a temporary grade that converts to F* after the last day of final exams into the next semester unless the student makes up the incomplete work. - PS
Students who declare a course on the Pass/Fail option will receive the grade of PS (pass) when a letter grade of A through C is recorded on the official grade roster. An F under the Pass/Fail option counts as hours attempted and is treated in the same manner as F grades earned under any other grading basis. Instructors are not informed of which students have elected the Pass/Fail option and must assign the regular letter grade which will be converted to PS/F.*Prior to Fall 2020 the PS grade was used when a student would have earned a letter grade of A through D and the LP grade was not used. - LP
Low passing grade for a course using the Pass/Fail grading basis option, when an undergraduate student would have earned a letter grade of C-, D+, or D. Effective special grading accommodation for Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and later approved as a permanent grade. - NR
This symbol is recorded as a notation for courses where grades are not recorded, such as when a faculty member has not submitted grades by the posted deadline for the term. - F*
The Office of the University Registrar automatically converts the temporary grades of AB and IN to F* when the time limit for a grade change on these temporary grades has expired. The deadline for submitting a grade change for an AB or IN to an undergraduate student record is the last day of final exams in the following term. Note: grade lapse is run for undergraduate students in Fall and Spring terms only. Temporary grades for summer terms are lapsed in the subsequent Fall term. - SP
Satisfactory Progress (Authorized only for the first portion of an Honors Program.) - W
Withdrew passing. Entered when a student drops after the eight-week drop period. - NE
No grade expected. This symbol is recorded as a notation for courses that are not graded, such as placeholders and some zero-credit courses.
All master’s and doctoral programs administered through The Graduate School operate under the same grading system. The graduate grading scale in use at UNC-Chapel Hill is unique in that it cannot be converted to the more traditional ABC grading scale. Graduate students do not carry a numerical GPA.
Definitions
- H– High Pass
- P– Pass
- L– Low Pass
- F– Fail
- IN– Work Incomplete
A temporary grade that converts to an F* unless the grade is replaced with a permanent grade by the last day of classes for the same term one year later. - F*
The Office of the University Registrar automatically converts the temporary grades of AB and IN to F* when the time limit for a grade change on these temporary grades has expired. The deadline for submitting a grade change for an AB or IN to a graduate student record is the last day of classes for the same term one year later. - AB– Absent from Final Examination
A temporary grade that converts to an F* unless the grade is replaced with a permanent grade by the last day of classes for the same term one year later. - NR
This symbol is recorded as a notation for courses where grades are not recorded, such as when a faculty member has not submitted grades by the posted deadline for the term. - NE
No grade expected. This symbol is recorded as a notation for courses that are not graded, such as placeholders and some zero-credit courses.
NOTE: Graduate students enrolled in courses numbered 099 and below (prior to Fall 2006) and 399 and below (starting with Fall 2006) should receive undergraduate grades.
Effective August 2007, letter grades of A, B, C, D, and F are used. Pluses and minuses may be assigned, but there is no grade of D-.
In rare instances, a grade of A+ is awarded in recognition of exceptionally high performance. Some designated courses are graded on a pass-fail basis. Students may not change a graded course to a pass/fail course.
- A+ = 4.3
- A = 4.0
- A- = 3.7
- B+ = 3.3
- B = 3.0
- B- = 2.7
- C+= 2.3
- C = 2.0
- C- = 1.7
- D+= 1.3
- D = 1.0
Definitions
- IN – Work Incomplete
- AB – Absent from Final Examination
- PS – Passing grade for course using Pass-Fail grading
- F – Failed
From Fall 1993 – August 2007, grades were assigned on a numerical scale ranging from 4.0 to 0.0. A grade of .7 will be considered the lowest passing grade. In rare instances, a grade of 4.3 may be awarded in recognition of exceptionally high performance.
- 4.3
- 4.0
- 3.9
- 3.8
- 3.7
- 3.6
- 3.5
- 3.4
- 3.3
- 3.2
- 3.1
- 3.0
- 2.9
- 2.8
- 2.7
- 2.6
- 2.5
- 2.4
- 2.3
- 2.2
- 2.1
- 2.0
- 1.9
- 1.8
- 1.7
- 1.6
- 1.5
- 1.4
- 1.3
- 1.2
- 1.1
- 1.0
- 0.9
- 0.8
- 0.7
- 0.0
- A – Clear Excellence
- B – High Level of Achievement
- C– Satisfactory Level of Achievement
- H– Clear Excellence
- P– Satisfactory
- F– Failed
- IN– Work Incomplete
- AB– Absent from Final Examination
- A – Highest Level of Attainment
- B – High Level of Attainment
- C – Adequate Level of Attainment
- D – Minimal Passing Level of Attainment
- F – Failed, Unacceptable Performance
- IN – Work Incomplete
- AB – Absent from Exam
- PS – Pass
The School of Medicine records their own grades and houses the transcripts for students seeking the MD degree.
Special Grade Symbols
The following symbols are not used by individual instructors but are assigned by the University Registrar’s office under the circumstances indicated.
A notation of BE is entered in the grade column of academic transcripts if students are awarded credit for a course as a result of evaluation by departmental, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or SAT II Subject Test examinations. The notation of BE should be used for any course for which credit hours are awarded.
Temporary grades of AB and IN convert to a permanent grade of F* when the time limit for a grade change on these temporary grades has expired.
Undergraduate Students: the deadline is the last day of final exams in the following term.
Graduate Students: The deadline is the last day of classes for the same term one year later.
A notation of NG is not used by individual instructors but rather is assigned by the Office of the University Registrar when a permanent grade is pending a judicial review by the Honor Court.
A notation of PL is entered in the grade column of academic transcripts if students are awarded exemption for a course as a result of an evaluation that would ordinarily place them in a succeeding course.
A notation of W is entered in the grade column of academic transcripts when a course drop for an undergraduate student is processed after the University census date of the term unless the student’s academic dean approves otherwise. Additionally, when a course is dropped between the second and eighth week of classes, a grade of WC (Withdrawal by Choice) shall be recorded and used internally for tracking and reporting purposes.
Note: the WC grade is only applied for dropped courses in Spring and Fall terms.
A notation of XF is entered to indicate that a student has not passed a course as the result of an Honor Court violation. The grade of XF can be replaced by a final grade of “F” if the student follows prescribed steps to remediate the violation.
Viewing Your Grades
Official grades are posted to ConnectCarolina by your instructor, where they will appear in your Student Center. You can expect to see your final grades by the deadline posted on the Grading Calendar.
Step 1 : Visit Your Student Center
Log into ConnectCarolina and select the Student Center tile.
Step 3 : Select the Term (If Applicable)
If you have more than one term of graded enrollment at UNC, you will need to select which term grades you wish to view. Your grades, completed units, and calculated GPA* will appear.
*Grade Point Average (GPA) is relevant only to specific academic careers. If the field is empty, it means your grading scale does not assign numeric grade points to compute a GPA.
Temporary Grade Change
Grades of AB, IN, SP, NR are changed to a permanent grade by your instructor after all outstanding coursework has been submitted and graded. Temporary grades are converted to F* if a grade change has not been posted by the deadline as listed on the Academic Calendar.
Permanent Grade Change
The change of a permanent grade (i.e. B+ to an A) requires the initial approval of your instructor, then the department Chair of the subject area, and lastly your Academic Dean’s Office.
Calculate Your Grade Point Average
ConnectCarolina automatically calculates GPA for eligible academic careers. However, you may calculate it yourself!
First, determine the total quality points earned by multiplying the number of grade points awarded for each course by the course’s assigned number of semester credit hours and adding the resulting quality points earned for each course. Then divide the total quality points earned in the term by the number of semester credit hours attempted (for letter grades) in the term.
Course |
Grade |
Grade Points |
X Credit Hours |
Quality Points |
| A | C+ | 2.3 | X 3.0 | 6.9 |
| B | B- | 2.7 | X 3.0 | 8.1 |
| C | B | 3.0 | X 4.0 | 12 |
| D | C- | 1.7 | X 3.0 | 5.1 |
| E | A- | 3.7 | X 1.0 | 3.7 |
| F | F | 0.0 | X 1.0 | 0 |
| G | A | 4.0 | X 3.0 | 12 |
Total Quality Points Earned: 47.80
Total Graded Hours: 18.0
Term Grade Point Average: 47.80 ÷ 18.0 = 2.656