The Cameroon Grading Scale for Francophone and Anglophone Secondary Schools
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Cameroon grading scale generally refers to the Francophone secondary numeric scale, which runs from 0 to 20, with 16–20 as its top band and 10 as the pass mark. There is no percent key; grading rules are set nationally by the Cameroon GCE Board.
This page explains how to read Cameroonian grades, how the system works and compares with other systems, and what teachers should know when working with students from Cameroon.
It also covers the main school-leaving examination and provides related systems and sources for verification.
Reading the Cameroonian scale
In the Francophone System, 10 is the lowest passing grade; grades from 8 to 9.9 pass only when the academic-year average is at least 10.0. For the Diplôme de Baccalauréat, 10.0 is the lowest passing grade.
| Grade | Native label | Meaning | Passing | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-20 | Très Bien | Very Good | Yes | 4 |
| 14-15 | Bien | Good | Yes | 4 |
| 12-13 | Assez Bien | Quite Good | Yes | 3 |
| 10-11 | Passable | Satisfactory | Yes | 2 |
| 0-9 | Fail | No | 0 |
Grades 0-9 are Fail.
(s3.amazonaws.com; unbc.ca; naia.org) In Cameroon GCE “O” Level and TVEE “I” Level, C is the lowest pass; in Cameroon GCE “A” Level and TVEE “A” Level, C, D and E are passing grades (naia.org).
Compared with related systems
Cameroon
4 of 5 grades pass
France
4 of 5 grades pass
Germany
4 of 6 grades pass
Ireland
7 of 8 grades pass
How grading works in Cameroon
Grading rules are set nationally, with the Cameroon GCE Board organizing examinations across the country.
At the end of five years of Anglophone lower secondary school, students sit the Cameroon General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level Examination or the Technical and Vocational Education Examination Intermediate Level.
The Office du Baccalauréat du Cameroun prepares and organizes second-cycle secondary examinations.
How Cameroonian grades compare with other systems
For Anglophone students, the cumulative high school GPA is calculated by converting each exam grade listed on the GCE O-Level and GCE A-Level certificates to a US equivalent and then to quality points.
The total quality points are divided by the total number of certificate subjects, with each subject weighted equally (naia.org).
For Francophone students who take the Baccalauréat exam, the overall average on the final Relevé de Notes is directly converted to its US equivalent (naia.org).
Teaching students from Cameroon
Teaching students from Cameroon
Ask students to share the documents they have, such as report cards or transcripts. Check the grading key on each document, and record the grades with that key in your gradebook.
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]camgceb.org. Examinations – GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (GCE) BOARD. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [2]officedubac.cm. A propos de nous | OBC Office du Baccalauréat du Cameroun 🏭. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [3]s3.amazonaws.com. Cameroon.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]unbc.ca. cameroon-admissionrequirementssept2021draftat.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [5]naia.org. naiaincred-intlstandards-cameroon.pdf. pdf. 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 Cameroon?
In the Francophone secondary system, 10 out of 20 is the lowest passing grade. Grades from 8 to 9.9 pass only if the academic-year average is at least 10.0. In Cameroon GCE O-Level, C is the lowest pass; at A-Level, C, D and E are passing grades.
How do Cameroonian grades convert to US grades?
For Anglophone students, grades on GCE O-Level and A-Level certificates are converted to US equivalents and then to quality points; the total is divided by the number of certificate subjects, with each subject weighted equally. For Francophone students who take the Baccalauréat, the overall average on the final Relevé de Notes is directly converted to its US equivalent.
Do schools in Cameroon use percentages for grades?
There is no percent key for the Cameroonian grading scale. The Francophone secondary scale is numeric and runs from 0 to 20.
Is a 12-13 a good grade in Cameroon?
Yes. In the Francophone secondary system, 12–13 is Assez Bien, meaning “Quite Good.”
