Uncertain as to how the Illinois grading system works? Following is a quick explanation.
Grade Point Scale
Illinois is on a four-point grading system (Student Code, 3-103) that includes both plus (+) and minus (−) grades. Grades are evaluated in terms of grade points, as displayed below.
| Grade | Grade Points |
| A+ | 4.00 |
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.67 |
| F | 0.00 |
| ABS | 0.00 |
Grade Symbols
Following are the symbols you may see when reviewing your grades. Become familiar with these terms and their meanings.
| Code | Description | Comments |
| & | Religious foundation | Grade does not count toward the student’s GPA or earned hours. |
| * | Other | Grade does not count toward the student’s GPA or earned hours. |
| ABS | Absent | Absent from the final exam without an acceptable excuse (counts as a failure; not acceptable for degree credit). If a student is absent from a final exam and it’s clear that taking that exam couldn’t have resulted in a passing grade, a grade of F may be given instead of ABS. |
| AU* | Audit | Indicates attendance as a visitor only. |
| BR | By rule | Beginning in Fall 2004, tracks students who have not complied with time limitations for incomplete or deferred grades. Grade comment of BR on SHATCKS (does not print on a transcript). |
| CR* | Credit earned | Used only in courses taken for credit/no credit. Instructors report the usual letter grades. Prior to Fall 2022, a grade of C- or better was automatically converted to CR. As of Fall 2022, a grade of D- or better is required to be converted to CR. |
| DFR* | Grade temporarily deferred | Used only in thesis, research, and special-problems courses extending over more than one semester that are taken by graduate students as preparation for thesis and by undergraduate students in satisfaction of the requirements for graduation with honors and in other approved courses that extend over more than one semester. |
| FR | F by rule | “F by rule” grade code for courses prior to Fall 2004. |
| H | Honors | Honors credit, as certified by the department offering the course |
| HON* | Honors | Used only for Carle Illinois College of Medicine core clerkship courses indicating completion with honors. |
| I* | Incomplete | Approved extension of time to complete the final examination or other requirements of the course. |
| NC* | No credit earned | Used only in courses taken under the credit/no credit grading option. Instructors report the usual letter grades. Prior to Fall 2022, a grade of D+ or lower or a grade of ABS was automatically converted to NC. As of Fall 2022, grades of F and ABS will automatically convert to NC. |
| NP* | No Pass | Used for Graduate, Law, and Undergraduate students during global health emergency. No credit is earned for courses with this grade designation. |
| NR* | Not reported | Automatically recorded when the instructor has not submitted the grade. |
| NV* | Not valid | Automatically recorded when the grade submitted by the instructor is not valid for the student’s grade mode. |
| NZ* | No Pass COVID | No Pass. Used for Graduate and Undergraduate students during global health emergency. |
| PD* | Pass with Distinction | Used for Law students only during global health emergency. |
| PP* | Pass | Used for Graduate, Law, and Undergraduate students during global health emergency. Credit is earned for courses with this grade designation. |
| PS* | Pass | Used for test-based credit. A minimum of C− is required. |
| PZ* | Pass COVID | Pass. A minimum grade of D- is required for credit. Used for Graduate and Undergraduate students during global health emergency. |
| S* | Satisfactory | Used only as final grades in graduate thesis research courses, in graduate and undergraduate courses given for zero credit, and in other courses that have been specifically approved by the head or chairperson of the department concerned, with concurrence of the college dean. |
| U* | Unsatisfactory | Used only as final grades in graduate thesis research courses, in graduate and undergraduate courses given for zero credit, and in other courses that have been specifically approved by the head or chairperson of the department concerned, with concurrence of the college dean. |
| W* | Authorized withdrawal | Approved withdrawal without credit. |
* Not included in the calculation of a GPA.