What is the DepEd Grading System in the Philippines?
The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines has a standardized grading system that evaluates students’ academic performance fairly and consistently. This system applies to all schools under DepEd and helps measure students’ competencies in various subjects.
Unlike traditional grading methods, the DepEd system focuses on a student’s ability to apply knowledge and skills rather than just memorizing information. It also ensures that students are assessed through multiple components such as written work, performance tasks, and quarterly exams.
What is the DepEd Grading System?
The DepEd grading system is based on a competency-based assessment approach, where students are graded according to their mastery of subjects. The grading scale follows a percentage system (0-100%), with transmuted grades applied in some cases to ensure fair evaluation.
Students are graded through three major components:
- Written Work – Measures knowledge and understanding of concepts
- Performance Tasks – Evaluates the application of skills through hands-on projects or activities
- Quarterly Assessment – Final exams that gauge overall competency
Each component carries a different weight, depending on the subject and grade level, which we will discuss in detail below.
DepEd Grading Components and Their Weights
The grading system for Grades 1 to 12 consists of three key components. Their weight distribution varies based on whether the subject falls under Language, Math, Science, or other learning areas.
- Grade Level Written Work (%) Performance Tasks (%) Quarterly Assessment (%)
- Grades 1-10 40% 40% 20%
- Senior High (Core Subjects) 40% 40% 20%
- Senior High (Applied & Specialized Subjects) 30% 50% 20%
- For subjects like Math, Science, and English, more weight is given to written work, while subjects such as Arts and PE emphasize performance tasks to assess practical application skills.
Passing Grade and Grade Transmutation
To pass a subject, a student must earn a minimum raw grade of 60%, which is then transmuted to 75% on the final report card. This transmutation ensures students receive a fair evaluation while maintaining a standard grading threshold across all schools.
For example:
- If a student scores 60% in raw grades, it is converted to 75% on the report card.
- If a student scores 85% in raw grades, it remains 85% on the report card.
This system ensures fair representation of student performance while maintaining a national grading standard.
Floor Grade Policy
The DepEd grading system also includes a floor grade policy, which sets the lowest possible grade a student can receive on their report card. This policy aims to prevent discouragement and motivate students to improve rather than being burdened by extremely low marks.
Currently, the lowest grade that can appear on a student’s report card is 60% (converted to 75%), even if the actual performance is below this level.
However, teachers still track the actual scores to help identify students who need additional support and intervention.
Grading System in Kindergarten
For Kindergarten, DepEd uses a different assessment system that does not involve numerical grades. Instead, students are evaluated through:
- Observations
- Checklists
- Anecdotal Records
- Portfolio Assessment (collection of student work)
Instead of percentages, Kindergarten students receive marks such as:
- O (Outstanding) – Exceeds expectations
- VS (Very Satisfactory) – Meets expectations
- S (Satisfactory) – Developing skills
- NI (Needs Improvement) – Requires assistance
This approach ensures that young learners are assessed based on their developmental progress rather than test scores.
How to Compute Final Grades in DepEd?
Step 1: Calculate the Total Raw Score
Add all scores from written work, performance tasks, and quarterly assessments
Step 2: Convert to Percentage Scores
Apply the correct weight to each component (e.g., Written Work = 40%, Performance Tasks = 40%, Quarterly Exam = 20%)
Step 3: Compute the Final Grade per Subject
Sum up the weighted scores
Step 4: Transmute the Raw Grade (if necessary)
If the raw grade is below 60%, convert it to 75% to meet the passing mark
Step 5: Determine General Average
Add up all final grades across subjects and divide by the number of subjects
This grading system ensures consistency and fairness in evaluating students’ overall performance.
Why Is the DepEd Grading System Important?
The DepEd grading system plays a critical role in education because it:
- Standardizes student evaluation across the Philippines.
- Encourages skill-based learning rather than memorization.
- Provides feedback to students, parents, and teachers.
- Helps identify learning gaps for students needing improvement.
- Ensures fairness through grade transmutation and the floor grade policy.
Common Questions About the DepEd Grading System
Conclusion
The DepEd grading system is designed to assess student learning fairly and comprehensively. By combining written work, performance tasks, and assessments, it ensures a well-rounded evaluation of students’ knowledge and skills.
Understanding how grades are computed can help students improve their performance and make informed academic decisions. With a competency-based approach, DepEd ensures that education remains accessible, inclusive, and geared toward student success.
