In Nigeria today, many young people choose to attend polytechnics over universities because polytechnics focus on practical training that is needed to get a job. However, unlike universities, polytechnics have a different grading system that is used in assessment. These grading systems, if not well understood, can lead to you achieving below-average results without even knowing.
That is where this post comes in. In this post, you’ll be reading everything you need to know about grading systems in polytechnics. You’ll see how it is calculated and how they work. Let’s begin by considering how the polytechnic works.
Structure of Nigerian Polytechnics
The polytechnic system in Nigeria has two main levels. The first is the National Diploma (ND) and the second is the Higher National Diploma (HND).
The ND programme is designed to last for only two years. Then, students are allowed to go for SIWES industrial training afterwards. During this period, students are allowed to work in companies that expose them to the demand of their disciplines in real life.
Now, after the students arrive from the SIWES training, they are allowed to go to the next level, which is the HND level. At the HND level, students study more advanced courses that relate directly to their disciplines.
So if you calculate the number of years in total, you’re looking at five years to be spent in the polytechnic (that’s if you do the 2 years ND and 3 years HND).
Now that you’ve seen how the polytechnic works, let’s examine why these grading systems are used in the polytechnics just like the universities.
Why Are Grading Systems Used in Polytechnics?
A grading system is like a mirror that reflects how well a student has performed during their stay at the polytechnic. In fact, in polytechnics, the grading system matters a lot because it determines the kind of diploma they’ll get (Distinction, Upper Credit, Lower Credit, Pass, etc.). As a result, the results even affect their chances of getting a job in the future or not.
As you may already know, a polytechnic education is taken as a second option in the Nigerian job sector after universities. So, if you score a low grade, it could make companies not look at you when selecting candidates. So, students are advised to achieve a higher grade in the polytechnic to increase their chances of securing a job.
The Polytechnic Grading System in Nigeria
Nigerian polytechnics use what is known as a 4-point grading system. This means that the highest grade you can get in a course is 4.00 and the lowest is 0.00.
For instance, if a student scores between 80 and 100 percent that is considered an A. The “A” is equal to 4.00 points, and it means the student performed well.
In the same way, if you score between 70 and 79 percent, that is a “B”, which is 3.50 points. If you score between 60 and 69 percent, you get a C which is 3.00 points.
A score between 50 and 59 percent is 2.50 points, while anything below 50 percent is graded as F, which is 0.00 points, which means you failed the course and must retake it.
How Grades Are Calculated
You see, each course you take in school has what’s called a Credit Unit. The Credit Unit usually refers to the number of hours in a week you have that course.
Now, your Grade Point or GP for each course is calculated by multiplying the grade point by the number of credit units for that course.
For instance, your Mathematics has 3 Credit Units. If at the end of the semester, you scored an “A”. You’ll multiply the (3 x 4.00), which equals (12.00). Now, you do the same with the grades of all your other course and their scores.
After you’ve done that, add all the results together and divide them by the total number of credit units. Now, whatever you score is your Grade Point Average (GPA).
That’s not over yet. The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is what you’re looking for. So, you’ll add your GPAs across your four semesters during your ND.
Assuming you got the following GPAs across your four semesters during ND:
ND 1 first semester: 3.20
ND 1 second semester: 3.50
ND 2 first semester: 3.00
ND 2 second semester: 3.30
To find your CGPA, you simply add all these GPAs together and divide by the number of semesters.
That would be:
(3.20 + 3.50 + 3.00 + 3.30) ÷ 4 = 3.25
A CGPA of 3.25 means you graduated with a Lower Credit.
Difference between GPA and CGPA
Your GPA shows your performance for one semester, while your CGPA is the total average of all your semesters combined. At the end of your entire ND or HND programme, your CGPA is what determines the class of diploma you will graduate with.
If your CGPA is between 3.50 and 4.00, you graduate with a Distinction. This means you did excellently well. But if your CGPA is between 3.00 and 3.49, you will earn an Upper Credit. This is also good but below the Distinction.
On the other hand, a CGPA between 2.50 and 2.99 gives you a Lower Credit which means you did well but can still do better. But a CGPA between 2.00 and 2.49 gives you a Pass which means you met the minimum requirement to graduate.
How to Improve Your Grade
Here are tips that can help you improve your grade in the polytechnic.
1. Attend Classes
This is the first and most important step. When you attend classes regularly, you get to hear directly from your lecturers. You also understand how they explain difficult topics.
Some lecturers give important hints about what will come out in exams. So, if you miss class, you miss those hints too.
2. Take Your Continuous Assessments (C.A.) Seriously
Many students only focus on the final exams. They forget that Continuous Assessments also contribute to their final grade. In fact, in most polytechnics, C.A. can carry up to 30–40% of your total score. So, even if you don’t perform perfectly in the final exam, your already strong C.A. score can still help you pass well.
3. Ask Questions
Never feel shy to ask questions in class when you’re confused. Don’t be afraid because there’s no such thing as a “stupid question.” If you don’t understand something, it’s better to ask early than to keep struggling. You can also ask your classmates or senior colleagues who have already taken the course.
4. Manage Your Time Well
If you don’t know, time management is one of the secrets of top-performing students. In your polytechnics, there would be several extracurricular activities that would take up your time and energy.
So, take out time to plan your day well so you have time for classes and reading. Yes, reading a little every day is much more effective than trying to read everything overnight.
5. Study Past Questions
In Polytechnics, past questions are one of the most powerful tools that you can use for exam preparation. They help you understand how lecturers set questions and the areas they focus on most. Rather than just reading randomly.
You’ll know what to expect and how to answer correctly. Sometimes, lecturers even repeat similar questions. So, take out time before your exams to study these past questions.
6. Be Disciplined in your Goal
Normally, sometimes you may feel lazy. But, remember your goal. Yes, and that is to graduate with a good grade. Always work towards being better each day with your grades, and the sky is your starting point.
Conclusion
The polytechnic grading system in Nigeria helps students know how well they are performing in school. It uses a 4-point scale where your GPA shows your result for one semester, and your CGPA shows your overall performance at the end of your ND or HND. To get higher grades, attend classes regularly, take your continuous assessments seriously, study past questions, manage your time, and stay focused on your goals.
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