Help!! Trying to understand my PG marks

Hello everyone,

I attended University of Sussex back in 2008, and I earned a Master of Arts in English Literature. I know it's been a few many years but I'm now trying to figure out what my marks mean? I was born and raised in California, so my understanding of the English marking system is very poor.

I earned a 75 on my final dissertation and a 70 as an overall mark. My classmates at the time congratulated me, reassuring me that my marks were not poor by any means! However, being American, 70 translates into a very LOW grade, and after all these years I'm starting to have doubts. I would love some clarification.


I have contacted the university, but they weren't able to provide me any helpful information at the time. Ultimately, I need to know what these marks translate into when converted to the American GPA system. As for now, I'd just like some insight as to how I did! Any piece of information would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

Hello everyone,

I attended University of Sussex back in 2008, and I earned a Master of Arts in English Literature. I know it's been a few many years but I'm now trying to figure out what my marks mean? I was born and raised in California, so my understanding of the English marking system is very poor.

I earned a 75 on my final dissertation and a 70 as an overall mark. My classmates at the time congratulated me, reassuring me that my marks were not poor by any means! However, being American, 70 translates into a very LOW grade, and after all these years I'm starting to have doubts. I would love some clarification.


I have contacted the university, but they weren't able to provide me any helpful information at the time. Ultimately, I need to know what these marks translate into when converted to the American GPA system. As for now, I'd just like some insight as to how I did! Any piece of information would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for getting back to me!! No, the MA was not integrated into my undergraduate study. I pursued it separately and years later. So I can assume then that both the undergrad and postgrad marking system is the same? I've read somewhere (probably another blog) that marking systems in UK are unique in that they differ from program to program, university to university. Is this true at all? Or is a 70 a distinction period and I can move on with my life?

Thanks so much

Hello everyone,

I attended University of Sussex back in 2008, and I earned a Master of Arts in English Literature. I know it's been a few many years but I'm now trying to figure out what my marks mean? I was born and raised in California, so my understanding of the English marking system is very poor.

I earned a 75 on my final dissertation and a 70 as an overall mark. My classmates at the time congratulated me, reassuring me that my marks were not poor by any means! However, being American, 70 translates into a very LOW grade, and after all these years I'm starting to have doubts. I would love some clarification.


I have contacted the university, but they weren't able to provide me any helpful information at the time. Ultimately, I need to know what these marks translate into when converted to the American GPA system. As for now, I'd just like some insight as to how I did! Any piece of information would be helpful. Thanks in advance.