Botswana grading system for teachers
Researched from official sources, drafted with AI assistance, and checked by a human editor. How we make these pagesSuggest a correction
Jump to section
No single pass mark or percentage key is stated.
This page explains how the A* to X scale works and provides context for teachers interpreting Botswanan grades in online or overseas settings. It also covers related grading systems and source verification.
The Botswanan grading scale: A* to X
The 2024 PSLE uses a separate set of grades, with Grade E the minimum passing grade; U means the candidate did not meet the minimum requirements for Grade E (bec.co.bw).
| Grade | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| A* | Highest level of performance. | Yes |
| A | Yes | |
| B | Yes | |
| C | Yes | |
| D | Yes | |
| E | Yes | |
| F | Yes | |
| G | Lowest level of performance. | Yes |
| U | Assigned to candidates who fail to reach the minimum requirement for Grade G. | Yes |
| X | Assigned to candidates who do not meet the requirements for grading for various reasons. | Yes |
The sources state no pass mark for this scale; the grades report levels of achievement.
At JCE, Grades D and E are pass grades, while U means the candidate did not achieve the minimum requirements for Grade E (bec.co.bw).
Compared with related systems
Botswana
No pass mark
Australia
No pass mark
Canada
10 of 11 grades pass
How grading works in Botswana
Grading rules in Botswana are set nationally by the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC). The BEC released the 2025 Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examination results (bec.co.bw).
The BGCSE is a syllabus-based qualification with no aggregation; national performance is reported using the cumulative percentage of key grades awarded and the proportion of candidates by numeric aggregate for six best syllabuses under the Department of Tertiary Education Financing point system (bec.co.bw).
If you teach Botswanan students online or abroad
The sections above describe the Botswanan grading scale and how grading works in Botswana. Check each student’s report card, marking key or transcript, and ask the student or school to clarify any unfamiliar marks before recording them.
Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
Sources and verification
- [1]bec.co.bw. press-release-2025-bgcse-results-fm-ld-final-31.03.2026.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [2]bec.co.bw. press-release-2023-jce-results-released-fm-final-05.02.2024.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [3]bec.co.bw. press-release-2024-psle-results-release-fm-al-13.12.2024.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [4]bec.co.bw. 2025-psle-summary-of-provisional-results-report_final.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [5]bec.co.bw. PRESS RELEASE. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 20, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Botswana?
The passing grade depends on the examination. In the 2024 PSLE, Grade E is the minimum passing grade; at JCE, Grades D and E are pass grades.
Do schools in Botswana use percentages for grades?
The Botswana grading scale has no stated percentage key.
