Bahamas Grading Scale: Understanding BGCSE grades
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The Bahamas grading scale used in the main school-leaving examination, the Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE), runs from A to G, with A the best grade and G the worst. No single pass mark or percent key is stated.
Grading rules are set nationally by the Ministry of Education, Science & Technology.
This page explains how to read Bahamian grades and how grading works, with guidance for teachers of Bahamian students online or abroad. It also covers related grading systems and sources for verification.
Reading the Bahamian scale
The BGCSE scale runs from A, the best grade, to G, the worst. No single pass mark or percentage key is stated for the scale.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent grasp: Candidate shows an excellent grasp. | Yes |
| B | Comprehensive grasp: Candidate shows a comprehensive grasp. | Yes |
| C | Good grasp: Candidate shows a good grasp. | Yes |
| D | Fairly good grasp: Candidate shows a fairly good grasp. | Yes |
| E | Moderate grasp: Candidate shows a moderate grasp. | Yes |
| F | Limited grasp: Candidate shows a limited grasp. | Yes |
| G | Very limited grasp: Candidate shows a very limited grasp. | Yes |
The sources state no pass mark for this scale; the grades report levels of achievement.
For the BHSD General Diploma pathway, students need a BJC grade of D or above; for the Excellence in Academic & Leadership pathway, they need B or above (ministryofeducationbahamas.com).
Compared with related systems
Bahamas
No pass mark
Canada
10 of 11 grades pass
Mexico
5 of 6 grades pass
Australia
No pass mark
How grading works in the Bahamas
The Ministry of Education, Science & Technology sets grading rules nationally.
Students are examined at four key stages: GLAT3 in Grade 3 and GLAT6 in Grade 6 are diagnostic and achievement examinations; BJC is typically taken in Grade 9 as an achievement examination; and BGCSE is typically taken in Grade 12 as an exit achievement examination (ministryofeducationbahamas.com).
The Bahamas High School Diploma is the national graduation framework established by the Ministry (ministryofeducationbahamas.com).
If you teach Bahamian students online or abroad
Ask students to provide the grading key used on their report cards or transcripts. Record the key in your gradebook and check that each mark is entered consistently.
Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
- Canada11-step letter-grade scale, A+ is best; passing grade D (Marginal)
- Mexico6-step numeric scale, 10 is best; passing grade 6
- Australia4-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade No pass mark
- China5-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade D (Pass)
- Germany6-step numeric scale, 1 is best; passing grade 4 (Ausreichend)
- Ireland8-step numeric scale, 1 is best; passing grade 7
Sources and verification
- [1]ministryofeducationbahamas.com. Bahamas High School Diploma | moe-bahamas. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [2]ministryofeducationbahamas.com. Examination & Assessment Division | moe-bahamas. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [3]tourismtoday.com. Additional Resources for Educators | Tourism Today. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 19, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in the Bahamas?
There is no single stated pass mark for the BGCSE scale. Specific diploma pathways have their own requirements: the BHSD General Diploma requires a BJC grade of D or above, while the Excellence in Academic & Leadership pathway requires B or above.
Do schools in the Bahamas use percentages for grades?
No. The BGCSE scale has no stated percentage key; its grades run from A to G.
Is a D a good grade in the Bahamas?
A is higher than D on the BGCSE scale, and D represents a fairly good grasp. The scale has no single stated pass mark, although a D or above is required for the BHSD General Diploma pathway on the BJC.
