Grading and certificates

Grading in NRW

Grading at schools in North Rhine-Westphalia follows clear rules. It should assess performance transparently, comprehensibly and fairly.

Basic principles

Noten sollen den Leistungsstand der Schüler*innen widerspiegeln – nicht ihr Verhalten oder ihre Persönlichkeit.
Bewertet werden schriftliche, mündliche und praktische Leistungen.
Die Notenvergabe erfolgt nach pädagogischem Ermessen, jedoch auf Basis klarer Kriterien.

Example:

In German, class tests, reading performance, oral contributions and creative tasks count towards the overall grade.

Grading scale

The classic grading scale ranges from very good (1) to unsatisfactory (6):

  • 1 = very good

  • 2 = good

  • 3 = satisfactory

  • 4 = sufficient

  • 5 = inadequate

  • 6 = unsatisfactory

Example:

A "4" means that the performance meets the requirements - with weaknesses, but still sufficient.

Performance evaluation

The weighting of performance can vary depending on the subject and type of school. Class tests are compulsory in many subjects, e.g. German, mathematics and foreign languages. Social learning or project work can also be included in the assessment - depending on the subject concept.

Example:

In social studies, a group presentation can be taken into account as well as a test.

Transparency and feedback

Schüler*innen und Eltern haben Anspruch auf Einsicht in die Bewertungskriterien.
Lehrkräfte müssen ihre Notenentscheidung begründen können.
Regelmäßige Rückmeldungen helfen, den Lernstand besser einzuschätzen.

Example:

After a class test, the teacher explains which criteria led to the assessment - and gives tips for improvement.