NURSING GRADING SYSTEM IN GHANA

*Photo Credit: @PatsTune* — Nursing Grading System

In Ghana, Registered General Nurse programs are offered as either three-year diploma courses at public Nursing Training Colleges or four-year degree programs at universities. Nursing and Midwifery Training Colleges typically grade each course by percentage and letter grade. For example, Nursing Training College Atibie assigns grades as follows: A = 80–100% (4.00 points, “Excellent”), A– = 75–79% (3.70, “Very Good”), B+ = 70–74% (3.50, “Good”), C+ = 65–69% (3.00, “Good”), C = 60–64% (2.50, “Average”), D+ = 55–59% (2.00, “Pass”), and D = 50–54% (1.50, “Pass”). Any score below 50% (grade E in this scheme) is recorded as failing. Each letter grade carries a grade point, and students’ GPA is calculated as the credit-weighted average of these points.

GPA, CGPA, and Degree Classification

Students’ Cumulative GPA (CGPA) is computed by dividing the total accumulated grade points by the total credit hours taken. The Final GPA (FGPA) at the end of the program determines graduates’ classifications. In BSc nursing degrees, Ghana follows a British-style honours system: an FGPA of 3.60–4.00 yields First Class, 3.00–3.59 Upper Second Class, 2.50–2.99 Lower Second Class, 2.00–2.49 Third Class, and 1.50–1.99 a Pass. (Diploma programs traditionally do not award classes, but students must still meet the CGPA requirement to earn the diploma.) For example, a student finishing with FGPA of 2.85 would receive a Second Class Lower degree, while FGPA of 3.75 would be First Class.

Pass/Fail Standards

A score of 50% (grade D) or higher is generally required to pass each course. Students earning below 50% in a course receive a failing grade and must repeat that course. In addition to individual courses, students must maintain a minimum GPA to continue in the program. For instance, Atibie College’s regulations state that falling below a CGPA of 1.50 by the end of any academic year leads to dismissal. In practice, this means that, even if all individual course grades are passed, a very low CGPA (under about 1.50/4.00) may force a student to repeat the year or withdraw. Thus, the pass criteria in coursework are 50% per subject and a satisfactory overall GPA.

Licensing Examination (NMC)

After completing training, nurses and midwives must pass the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) licensure exams to obtain a practising license. Each licensing exam paper has 100 multiple-choice questions scored as percentage points. According to NMC guidelines, a candidate’s score is simply the number of correct answers (out of 100), and 50% is the pass mark. The NMC translates these percentages into grades on a 4.0 scale. For example, 80–100% earns an A (4.0, Excellent), 75–79% an A– (3.75, Very Good), 70–74% a B+ (3.50, Good), down to 50–54% a C (1.50, Pass). Scores below 50% receive a D (0.0, Fail).

Candidates must pass each exam paper. Those who achieve at least 50% on all required papers are deemed to have passed the licensure examination. Upon passing, the NMC issues the nurse a Professional Identification Number (PIN) and registration certificate. If a candidate fails any paper (scores below 50%), they must re-sit only the failed paper at a subsequent examination session. There is no limit to the number of resit attempts, so candidates may keep re-taking exams until they pass. In summary, the NMC calculates each exam score as a percentage (pass = 50%) and reports results both as grades (A, B+, C, etc.) and grade points, with passing candidates ultimately receiving licensure.