Grading System In Visayas State University – All You Need To Know

ByRobert Wolf

Visayas State University is a familiar educational institution recognized for its academic excellence in the Philippines.  

If you’re a student of VSU or considering admission to the institute, you should know the grading system in Visayas State University.

In this blog post, we will go through the grading system being used at VSU and different insights into the institute overall. 

History and Background of Visayas State University:

Visayas State University (VSU) has a rich history rooted in the Philippines‘ agricultural development. Its story began in 1924 with the establishment of the Baybay Agricultural School in Leyte. 

Over the decades,  it evolved through various names like the Baybay Agricultural High School and the Baybay National Agricultural School, always retaining its core focus on agriculture. The institution gained collegiate status in 1960 as the Visayas Agricultural College, and further expanded in 1974, becoming the Visayas State College of Agriculture (ViSCA). 

 After integrating with other Leyte institutions, it was briefly known as Leyte State University from 2001 until 2007. Finally, it reached its current form as Visayas State University. 

Today, VSU is a leading Philippine university with a global reputation for excellence in agriculture, science and technology, and environmental sustainability.

Grading System

VSU primarily uses the General Weighted Average also called GWA as a grading system. GWA is a numerical representation of student performance that uses a grading scale from 1.0 to 5.0 where 1.0 is considered the highest passing grade and 5.0 is the lowest.

1.00 – Excellent

1.25 – Very Superior

1.50 – Superior

1.75 – Very Good

2.00 – Good

2.25 – Satisfactory

2.50 – Fair

2.75 – Passed

3.00 – Conditional

5.00 – Failed

INC – Incomplete

DRP – Dropped

Key Points to Remember

  • Passing Grade: At VSU, a grade of 3.00 or greater is considered to be a passing grade. It means if you’re grade lower than 3.0, it will be considered a fail.
  • Incomplete Grade: An “INC” tag of grade is given to a student who has justifiable reasons for not completing the particular requirements of the course requirement and the student will be given a specific time to complete these. 
  • Dropped: A DRP is given to stop if the course dropped in the given permitted time.

General Weighted Average

The General Weighted Average or GWA is a numerical representation of students’ performance in a specific academic year or semester. Follow the below steps to calculate GWA. You can also use the GWA calculator

Calculating a GWA requires subject average weightage and units. 

Multiply: Multiply the average grade of the subject/course to its corresponding unit or credit hour.

Addition: Sum the result of all courses after multiplying.

Divide: At the end, divide the total of all subject results with all the subject units. 

Example: If you earned a 1.50 in a 3-unit course, 2.20 in a 2-unit course, and 2.25 in a 3-unit course, then your GWA is:

((1.50 * 3) + (2.00 * 2) + (2.25 * 3)) / (3 + 2 + 3) = 1.94

Components of Assessment:

  • Examination: All the written and practical examinations are held to examine students’ overall performance in any subject.
  • Assignments/Quizzes: Students’ homework, projects, and presentations contribute to the overall assessment.
  • Class participation: Engagement in class participation also may add to the difference in grading e.g. class discussion, group activities, and other practical sessions.
  • Attendance: Your final grade is heavily influenced by your attendance in each subject regularly.

Conclusion

Visayas State University (VSU) has played a pivotal role in Philippine education, particularly in agriculture and sciences. Understanding the GWA grading system is essential for any student at VSU.  By understanding the grading scale, calculation of GWA, and the components that contribute to your final grades, you can track your academic progress and achieve your educational goals.  Remember, a passing grade at VSU is 3.0 or higher. If you have further questions about the grading policy, it’s always best to consult your professors or the university’s student handbook.