Tanzania Grading System for CSEE and A’ Level
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The Tanzania grading system uses the CSEE letter scale from A to F, with A as the highest grade and F as the lowest. D is the minimum grade considered a pass, and the scale’s percentage equivalents are official.
Grading rules are established across the country by the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA).
This page explains how to read Tanzanian grades and their reporting, with context for teaching students from Tanzania. It also covers the ACSEE school-leaving examination, related grading systems and sources used to verify the information.
Reading the Tanzanian scale
The main school scale and the CSEE letter grades run from A, the best grade, to F, the worst; D is the lowest passing grade. The percentage bands are an official key.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent performance: Marks range 75–100. | Yes | 75 to 100% |
| B | Very good: Marks range 65–74. | Yes | 65 to 74% |
| C | Good: Marks range 45–64. | Yes | 45 to 64% |
| D | Satisfactory: Marks range 30–44. | Yes | 30 to 44% |
| F | Fail: Marks range 0–29. | No | 0 to 29% |
Percent bands are set by the authority. NECTA describes these percentage ranges as the standard CSEE grading system.
A–D are pass grades and F is a failure grade.
A to D are pass grades, and F is a failure grade, so D (30–44), Satisfactory, is the lowest passing grade. (necta.go.tz%20Reports%20/CSEE/2023/022%20ENGLISH%20%20%20LANGUAGE.pdf))
Compared with related systems
Tanzania
4 of 5 grades pass
Australia
No pass mark
Canada
10 of 11 grades pass
Germany
4 of 6 grades pass
Who sets Tanzanian grades and how they are reported
Tanzanian grading rules are set nationally by The National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA). Established under the Parliamentary Act No. 21 of 1973, NECTA administers all national examinations and assessments in Tanzania.
The Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) is a summative examination for school and private candidates.
Teaching students from Tanzania
Ask which document gives the grading key, check how the grades are defined, and record those definitions with the grades you enter. 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]necta.go.tz. Pages | NECTA. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [2]necta.go.tz. Pages | NECTA. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [3]necta.go.tz. 022%20ENGLISH%20%20%20LANGUAGE.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [4]tcu.go.tz. Admission%20Guidebook%20for%20Holders%20of%20Secondary%20School%20Qualifications_2026_2027.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 16, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Tanzania?
For the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE), D is the lowest passing grade, at 30–44% and described as satisfactory. A–D are pass grades; F is a failure.
Do schools in Tanzania use percentages for grades?
Yes. For the CSEE, grades have official percentage bands: A is 75–100%, B 65–74%, C 45–64%, D 30–44%, and F 0–29%.
Is a C a good grade in Tanzania?
For the CSEE, C means good and corresponds to 45–64%. It is a passing grade, but the scale ranks it below A and B.
