CSEC grades explained, with CAPE grades and Units

Short answer: CSEC grades run from I, the highest, to VI. Each subject also gets profile grades from A to F. Grades I to III at General or Technical Proficiency are the ones that count for university matriculation. CAPE, taken in sixth form, runs from grade I to VII, with profile grades A to G.

CXC's own exam pages give no percentage for each grade and no GPA conversion. So a table that turns CSEC grades into percentages or a GPA does not come from those pages, and GradeCat does not give one.

CSEC overall grades, I to VI

CXC's CSEC page uses a six-point scheme. Grade I means a comprehensive grasp of the syllabus, and grade VI means a very limited grasp of the syllabus. The page describes only the two ends of the scale, so GradeCat does not put words to grades II to V.

The six-point scheme replaced an older five-point one. Grades I to III in the current scheme are equal to grades I to II in the old scheme, which matters if a parent's or an older sibling's certificate shows different numbers.

CSEC profile grades, A to F

Next to the overall grade, a CSEC result shows a letter for each profile (each part) of the subject:

A profile grade tells you where you were strong or weak inside one subject. It is the overall grade, I to VI, that universities and employers read first.

Which CSEC grades count for university

• Grades I to III at General or Technical Proficiency satisfy matriculation for four-year university programmes, and entry to community colleges, teachers' colleges and similar programmes.
• Grades I to IV at General or Technical Proficiency, and grades I to III at Basic Proficiency, are satisfactory for entry-level jobs.

So a grade IV is fine for many jobs but does not count toward matriculation, and a Basic Proficiency grade does not count toward matriculation at all. Each university then sets which subjects it needs and how many. GradeCat has not checked those lists.

Worked example 1: counting matriculation subjects

Made-up example. A student sits five subjects at General Proficiency:

That gives 4 subjects at grades I to III. Chemistry at grade IV is satisfactory for an entry-level job but does not count here.

Worked example 2: a Basic Proficiency subject

Made-up example. A second student's results:

That gives 3 subjects at grades I to III. Agricultural Science at grade II is good for an entry-level job, but at Basic Proficiency it does not count toward matriculation. Many programmes also ask for Mathematics, so this student would check whether a resit is needed.

CAPE grades, I to VII

CXC's CAPE page gives overall grades I to VII and profile grades A to G. A subject runs as one or two Units, and each Unit has 3 Modules. The final grade combines the exam with the School-Based Assessment (SBA), so the SBA counts toward your result.

The page does not say which CAPE grades are passes. It leaves entry grades to each institution, so ask the university or college you are applying to.

CAPE Units, the Diploma and the Associate Degree

• The CAPE Diploma needs at least 6 Units, including Caribbean Studies.
• The CAPE Associate Degree needs a set cluster of 10 Units, including Caribbean Studies and Communication Studies, within at most 5 years.
• UWI and the University of Guyana accept 6 CAPE Units for normal matriculation.

Worked example 3: counting CAPE Units

Made-up example. A student takes Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies, Biology Units 1 and 2, Chemistry Units 1 and 2, and Pure Mathematics Unit 1. That is 7 Units.

• UWI's normal matriculation: 7 Units is at least 6, so the count is met.
• The CAPE Diploma: 7 Units, with Caribbean Studies, so the count is met.
• The Associate Degree: 7 Units is 3 short of 10, and the 10 must follow a set cluster.

Which grade each Unit needs is not on CXC's page, so check that with UWI or your school.

CSEC grades to percentages, GPA or GCSE

Students often search for CSEC grades as percentages, as a GPA, or as GCSE grades. Neither CXC page GradeCat opened gives any of these. A university abroad that asks for a GPA or a GCSE equal usually sets its own rule, so ask its admissions office for the table it uses.

CSEC grades FAQ

What do CSEC grades mean?

Grade I is the highest, a comprehensive grasp of the syllabus, and grade VI the lowest. Profile grades run from A, outstanding, to F, poor.

Is a grade III good enough for university?

Yes, for matriculation. Grades I to III at General or Technical Proficiency satisfy matriculation for four-year university programmes.

What is the highest grade in CAPE?

Grade I. CAPE runs from grade I to VII, with profile grades A to G.

Can I convert CSEC grades to a GPA or a percentage?

Not from CXC's pages: they give no percentage ranges and no GPA conversion. Ask the institution that wants the GPA.

How many CAPE Units do I need for UWI?

Six. UWI and the University of Guyana accept six CAPE Units for normal matriculation. Your programme may ask for particular subjects.

Related tools and guides

• UWI GPA for First Class Honours: the 3.60 line and the grades you still need.
• UWI GPA Calculator: your GPA once you start at UWI.
• UWI Grading Scale: UWI's marks, letter grades and quality points.
• All tools for Jamaica
• GradeCat home: grade and GPA tools for other countries.

Sources

• Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC): CSEC: Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (opened 4 November 2026)
• Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC): CAPE: Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (opened 4 November 2026)

A count worked out here is an estimate, not an official result. The university's own entry rules come first. Found a mistake? Tell us.