Grades
Online grades
Grades are available via online services beginning January 13 for fall courses and May 26 for spring courses.
Letter grades
Grades reflect the quality and quantity of a student’s work submitted throughout the term according to the grading standards listed below. Undergraduate- and graduate-credit students may earn the following grades:
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A and A− grades represent work whose superior quality indicates a full mastery of the subject and, in the case of A, work of extraordinary distinction. There is no grade of A+.
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B+, B, and B− grades represent work of good to very good quality throughout the term; however, it does not merit special distinction.
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C+, C, and C− grades designate an average command of the course material.
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D+, D, and D- grades indicate work that shows a deficiency in knowledge of the material.
- E is a failing grade representing work that deserves no credit. E may also be assigned to students who do not submit required work in courses from which they have not officially withdrawn by the withdrawal deadline.
Grade point average
A grade point average (GPA) is calculated for Extension School degree and certificate program applicants and candidates. The following numerical values are assigned to letter grades: A=4.0, A−=3.67, B+=3.33, B=3.0, B−=2.67, C+=2.33, C=2.0, C−=1.67, D+=1.33, D=1.0, D−=0.67, E=0, WD=0, RQ=0.
Institute for English Language notations
Grades are not assigned to students enrolled in noncredit Institute for English Language courses. The following notations are assigned.
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AR (met all requirements) is assigned to students with active classroom participation, completion of all assignments, and perfect attendance for the term.
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MR (met most requirements) is assigned to students with satisfactory classroom participation, completion of most assignments, and good attendance for the term.
- NM (did not meet requirements) is assigned to students who fail to meet the course requirement
Noncompletion grades
Students enrolled in courses for credit are expected to complete all coursework on time. Students who do not complete a course by the end of a term may receive 1 of the following noncompletion grades. Noncompletion grades may affect academic standing. Candidates and potential candidates for degree, certificate, and diploma programs should check their individual program requirements.
*** is an interim grade notation assigned by the Registrar’s Office to students with cases pending before the Administrative Board.
DE (distance exam) is an interim grade assigned by the Registrar’s Office to distance students whose final grades are not available when grades are posted online. The grade is changed when the instructor submits the final grade.
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EXT (extension of time) is an interim grade that may be requested by credit students who, due to extenuating circumstances, need additional time to submit written work (not a classroom final exam) after a course has ended. Instructors may approve or deny a request for an extension of time in accordance with their grading policies. Students who owe a substantial amount of work should not request an extension of time; rather, they should withdraw from the course by the deadline. Requests for EXT grades must be approved by instructors and documented on extension-of-time forms.
Students must submit the completed Academic Services copy to 51 Brattle Street by the start of the final exam period. The latest deadline instructors may set for students to submit outstanding work is February 5 for fall courses and June 25 for spring courses. Students who receive an extension of time should be aware that they do not retain access to the Harvard Libraries electronic resources after the term ends. In addition, distance education lectures are not available after the term ends.
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MU (make-up final exam) is an interim grade assigned by the Registrar’s Office to students whose appeals for a make-up final exam are approved. This notation is changed to a letter grade when the student takes the make-up exam. Students who do not take the make-up exam as scheduled are assigned an E for that exam.
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RQ (required to withdraw) is a permanent final grade assigned to credit and noncredit students who are required by the Administrative Board to withdraw from 1 or more courses. An RQ grade is equivalent to a failing grade and does not result in any tuition refund.
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WA (administrative withdrawal) is assigned to students who are administratively withdrawn in accordance with Extension School policies. WA may be a permanent notation.
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WD (withdrawal) is a permanent final grade assigned to credit students who officially withdraw by the final withdrawal deadline. Withdrawn students may continue to attend classes; however, they may no longer submit work or take exams. WD grades may not be changed to letter grades and do not result in any tuition refund. An E grade may be assigned to students who do not complete course requirements and do not officially withdraw by the withdrawal deadline.
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WN (noncredit withdrawal) is a permanent notation assigned to noncredit students who withdraw by the final withdrawal deadline. WN notations do not result in any tuition refund.
Grade changes
All grades, with the exception of DE, EXT, MU, or asterisk (***), and in some cases WA, are considered final when they are submitted to Academic Services. Students should ask their instructors for explanations of their grades if they believe errors were made; however, a student may not submit extra work or resubmit work to improve a final grade.
Letter grades can be changed only if there is clear evidence of a computational or clerical error that is documented in writing by the instructor. Grades cannot be changed after April 1 for fall courses and August 1 for spring courses.
Though students are entitled to an explanation of their grades, they should be careful not to harass instructors. Repeatedly calling an instructor about a grade or a few points on an exam or telling an instructor that a certain grade is needed could be considered harassment.