A failing grade means you did not earn credit for a class or assignment. On most U.S. grading scales, that is an F, and it usually means a score below 60%. But the exact cutoff depends on your school's scale, and the consequences depend on whether it is one test, a whole class, or a course in your major.
This guide explains the common failing cutoffs, scales where failing starts higher, what an F does to your GPA, how D grades fit in, and how to work out what you need to get back above the line.
Your syllabus and student handbook are always the final word. Schools and teachers set their own scales, so check yours before relying on any chart.
The short answer
On the common U.S. plus/minus scale (the one GradeCalc Lab uses), the bottom of the scale looks like this:
| Letter | Percent | GPA (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 |
| D− | 60–62% | 0.7 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
So on this scale, anything below 60% is failing, and a 60% is the lowest passing grade (a D−). The full chart from A+ to F is on our letter grade scale page.
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Open the free grade calculator →Scales where failing starts higher
Not every school uses ten-point bands. Some use a seven-point scale, where each letter covers fewer percentage points. On one common version, a D runs from 70 to 76%, and anything below 70% is an F.
That means the same 65% could be a passing D in one class and a failing grade in another. Some individual courses and programs also set their own minimum, for example requiring a C or better to pass a course in your major. If you are unsure, the grading scale is usually printed in the syllabus or posted in your learning portal.
F vs E: why some schools use an E
Some schools use E instead of F for a failing grade. It means the same thing: no credit and, usually, 0.0 grade points. Seeing an E on your report card does not mean a separate, slightly better grade. If your school uses letters like U (unsatisfactory) or NP (no pass), those are also failing marks, usually in pass/fail or credit/no-credit courses.
D grades: passing, but not always enough
A D is technically passing on most scales, but it can still cause problems:
- Prerequisites. Some courses require a C or better in the class before it. A D may let you pass but not move on.
- Major and program courses. Many programs require at least a C (sometimes a C−) in required courses.
- GPA minimums. A D is worth 1.0 or less, so several Ds can pull your GPA below a scholarship, team or program requirement.
- Transfer credit. Some colleges do not accept D grades for transfer.
For a closer look at the line just above failing, see is a 70 passing?.
How an F affects your GPA
An F is worth 0.0 grade points, but the credits still count in your GPA calculation at most schools. That is why one F can pull an average down sharply.
Example: four classes of 3 credits each.
| Class | Grade | Points | Credits | Points × credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12 |
| Biology | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9 |
| History | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9 |
| Algebra | F | 0.0 | 3 | 0 |
GPA = (12 + 9 + 9 + 0) ÷ 12 = 30 ÷ 12 = 2.5
If that F had been a C (2.0 points, so 6 quality points), the GPA would be (12 + 9 + 9 + 6) ÷ 12 = 36 ÷ 12 = 3.0. One class made a half-point difference. Our guide on how to calculate GPA walks through the method, and cumulative GPA shows how one semester affects your overall average.