“ Degree classifications (first, upper second, lower second, third, fail) mean rather little when you consider the mark range typically used to define them: first, anything from 70% upwards; upper second, from 60% to 69%; lower second, 50% to 59%; third, 40% to 49%; fail, anything below 40%. That’s just 30 marks to sort the sheep from the goats. Examiners are often resolutely reluctant to give much more than 70%, notwithstanding requests from university managements to ‘use the whole mark range at your disposal’. So the interpretation of these grades tends to go like this: First - excellent, outstanding, might one day go on to do research and become one of us; upper second - above average, maybe even just below outstanding; lower second – was there and completed the course without major mishap; third - was usually there but struggled, or did quite well when he/she was actually there, which wasn’t often; fail - well, either sadly or pathetically or even proudly hopeless.
