Grading System, Academic Year and Language of Instruction in Colombia
Academic Year
School Education
The school
year is divided into 2 semesters of equal duration and consists of 40
weeks of instructions. The school year commences in February and ends in
November in most parts of the country. In some regions, the academic
year commences in September and concludes in June.
Holidays: Holidays in Colombia are in the month of June-July (4 weeks), Easter and October (1 week).
Higher Education
The Colombian higher education institutions academic year consists of 2 semesters, each of 16 weeks.
- First semester commences in January or February and ends in May or June
- Second semester commences in July or August and ends in November or December
Grading System
School Education
A 10-point grading scale is used at the secondary school level.
Scale | Percentage Equivalent | Grade description (In English) | Grade description (In Spanish) | Notes | US Grade |
9.0-10.00 | 90-100% | Excellent | Excelente (E) | Maximum grade | A+ |
8.0-8.9 | 80-89% | Outstanding | Sobresaliente (S) | | A |
7.0-7.9 | 70-79% | Good | Bueno (B) | | B |
6.0-6.9 | 60-69% | Acceptable | Aceptable (A) | Average | C |
4.0-5.9 | 40-59% | Insufficient | Insuficiente (I) | Fail | F |
0.00-3.9 | 0-39% | Deficient | Deficiente (D) | Fail | F |
Higher Education
A 5-point grading scale is used at the
higher education level in Colombia. Only a few higher education institutions in Colombia use a different grading scale- 10-point scale.
Scale | Grade description (In English) | Grade description (In Spanish) | Notes | US Grade |
4.60-5.00 | Excellent | Excelente | Maximum grade | A+ |
4.00-4.59 | Very Good | Muy Bueno | | A |
3.50-3.99 | Good | Bueno | | B |
3.00-3.49 | Acceptable | Aceptable | Minimum pass/Average | C |
0.00-2.99 | Insufficient/Fail | Insuficiente | Fail | F |
Language of Instruction
The language of instruction in Colombia is Spanish. Though programmes in English are also offered at the educational institutions in Colombia. International schools in Colombia provide bilingual education.