At Central Queensland University (CQU) in Australia, the pass grade for graded units is set at a minimum overall mark of 50%. This means students must achieve at least 50% in their combined assessments within a unit to be considered as having passed that unit.
Grading Scale Overview at CQU
CQU uses a standard grading scale for higher education coursework, which includes:
- High Distinction (HD): 85% – 100%
- Distinction (D): 75% – 84.99%
- Credit (C): 65% – 74.99%
- Pass (P): 50% – 64.99%
- Fail (F): Below 50%
For a unit to be passed, the student’s composite mark (the weighted average of all assessments) must be at least 50%, corresponding to a Pass grade or higher.
Non-Graded Units and Vocational Education
Some units, especially in vocational education and enabling courses, are assessed on a pass/fail basis rather than graded marks. In these cases, students must demonstrate competency or satisfactory performance to pass, with results recorded as “Competent” or “Not Competent”.
Additional Assessment Requirements
- Students must also pass any pass/fail components within graded units.
- Some assessment tasks may have minimum mark requirements higher than 50%, which must be met to pass the unit.
- Failure in a single assessment task in a pass/fail unit typically results in failing the entire unit unless a supplementary assessment opportunity is provided.
Grade Point Values for GPA Calculation
CQU assigns grade points for GPA calculations as follows:
| Grade | Grade Point | Percentage Range |
|---|---|---|
| High Distinction (HD) | 7 | 85% – 100% |
| Distinction (D) | 6 | 75% – 84.99% |
| Credit (C) | 5 | 65% – 74.99% |
| Pass (P) | 4 | 50% – 64.99% |
| Fail (F) | 0 | Below 50% |
This scale is used to calculate a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) across their course units.
Summary
To successfully pass a unit at Central Queensland University, students must achieve a minimum overall mark of 50%, which corresponds to a Pass grade. The university uses a clear grading system from High Distinction to Fail, with pass/fail assessments used in some vocational and enabling courses. Understanding these requirements helps students set clear goals for their academic performance at CQU.