The grading scale in the Icelandic education system

Studiebøger i en bunke på gulvet
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Johannes Jansson/norden.org
Here you can read about the grading scale in the Icelandic education system.

Grades in Icelandic schools

Compulsory schools

According to the National Curriculum Guide for Compulsory Schools, assessment of students' abilities and progress is to be a regular part of school activities. The main purpose of assessment is to check pupils' status and use the results to inform them about their study and how they can achieve its goals. The National Curriculum Guide sets assessment criteria for subjects, fields of study and key skills. The assessment criteria describe how well a pupil has acquired the defined competence. The certificate awarded upon the conclusion of the 10th grade is taken into account when pupils enrol in secondary school and choose a study programme.

The assessment criteria describe competence on a scale of six grades: A, B+, B, C+, C and D. 

More details of the competence criteria, assessment and assessment criteria can be found on the website of the Directorate of Education. 

Secondary schools

General secondary schools follow the National Curriculum Guide for Secondary Schools. It describes the objectives and organisation of study programmes and subjects. There are also various rules regarding the rights and obligations of students and schools. All secondary schools publish their own school curricula. These contain more detailed information about the activities of each school, studies offered, school rules and services available to students. School curricula can be found on the schools' websites. Methods of assessment and grading vary between secondary schools. 

Tertiary education

Most universities in Iceland give grades in whole or whole and half numbers from 0 to 10. The average grade is the weighted average of all grades for the final degree and is calculated to two decimal places. You can find information about grading, evaluation of credit units and grades themselves in the university's syllabus. 

Grading in schools in Nordic countries

Further information

More information can be found on the websites of individual schools in Iceland and on the website of the Directorate of Education. 

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