“Oh god, what happened in this essay? How did I do so poorly? I really put in a lot of effort.”
This is an experience that almost every first-year student encounters, especially if they are unfamiliar with the Irish college evaluation system. However, that terrifying wave of frustration can easily be avoided by understanding how grades work in college.
Understanding how you will be evaluated is imperative to improving and understanding where you stand in a course. At the very beginning of the year, your department will give you a handbook (usually virtual!) including details of its expectations for assignments as well as corresponding grades. Departments publish these guidelines to enable students, especially first years, to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of essays that fall into each grade bracket.
One key difference between college and secondary school is that assignments are no longer graded on a scale of 0 to 100 per cent. The range is broken down into several different categories. The top category is achieving what is known as a “first class” or a “first (I)”. A first is any grade above 70 per cent. Achieving a first is not only very difficult but also rare, particularly as a first year. Sometimes, in extremely exceptional cases, the class genius may even score above 80 per cent – but only if they devote their entire existence to studying. Achieving such a high grade indicates that your marker feels your work could potentially be published in an academic journal, or that your understanding goes far beyond what can be expected of students of your level.
Achieving a first is not only very difficult but also rare, particularly as a first year
The next category is an “upper second class” or a “two-one (II.1)”. A two-one is any grade between 60-69 per cent. Achieving a two-one is very impressive and takes a substantial amount of work.
The next category is an “upper second class” or a “two-two (II.2)”. Students who achieve a two-two have scored between 50-59 per cent. Receiving a grade that falls into this bracket is very common. College standards will often drastically differ from the expectations you have previously worked with, so it is important to take into account any feedback you are given. You can also speak to college staff such as your tutors who can help you if you are finding it difficult to adjust to the new system.
A “third class” or a “third (III)” is the final passing category. Any grade between 40-49 per cent is considered a third. Achieving a third means that while there is some room for improvement, you have fundamentally understood the assignment. It is always important to bear in mind that you are just starting out, so passing is an achievement in itself.
The final categories are “Fail 1” or “Fail 2” which numerically range from 30-39 per cent and 20-29 per cent respectively. If you receive a grade in either of these categories and feel disappointed, remember that there is always an opportunity to perform better on the next assignment. It is always good to try your best to understand the necessary components of an assignment and this will likely only happen insofar as you engage with the material provided such as attending lectures, studying and experimenting with different techniques. College also has many support services including Student Learning Development (SLD) and your S2S mentor, so make sure to utilise them!
College standards will often drastically differ from the expectations you have previously worked with, so it is important to take into account any feedback you are given
Trying your best to succeed in college will be somewhat difficult, and it certainly isn’t the easiest adjustment for people to make initially. Bearing in mind the transition that you are undertaking is essential to acknowledge the differences in the work produced. Improvement is certainly possible, and it can be achieved through three main forms.
The first is ensuring that you understand the guidelines provided by your professor including your assignment’s specific details as well as your course guide. The second is using resources that are available consistently. This means asking questions if you have any or using SLD. College would like to support you in your path to success, so using what is provided is key.
Finally, making sure to incorporate feedback from past assignments is essential to demonstrate that you have understood what is necessary to improve. Oftentimes you will have the same marker, therefore they will probably want to see that you took the time to read and adjust your work accordingly. First year is the time in which you are supposed to mess up while trying. The distinguishing factor is whether you’re able to respond and learn from your mistakes.
Finally, when it comes to grades, you should make sure to prioritise your mental health. Transitioning to college is certainly a new experience, and this system is only one metric that you will be evaluated on throughout these few years. Performing well on assignments is certainly important, but not at the expense of your overall wellbeing. Therefore, if you are struggling or need time, remember that you can always speak to your tutor about getting an extension or additional support.
