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Welcome to the University of Melbourne, where our grading system is as mysterious as the Melbourne weather—and almost as unpredictable! If you’re a new Narrm Scholar, don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here’s a breakdown of the grading system that’ll help you navigate your academic journey (and maybe even make sense of it).
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Translation: Congratulations! You’ve unlocked the academic version of winning the lottery. You didn’t just pass—you soared, probably by staying in the Baillieu Library for so long you forgot what daylight looks like. Professors will wonder if you’re part of some secret society of geniuses. A H1 is like a rare, mythical beast—whispers of its existence are heard, but few have ever seen it. If you get one, frame it, because it’s basically proof you’re a wizard. Don’t worry if you don’t—it’s so rare that students joke it’s reserved for people who can summon the perfect essay under a full moon.
Translation: You crushed it—almost perfect, but maybe one of your citations was in the wrong font or you misread the assignment question at 2 AM. People will still assume you’ve got your life together, even if you don’t remember the last time you had eight hours of sleep. You’re still in the upper echelon of students, and people will figure you were "just a few marks off an H1"—though that might not be entirely true.
Translation: You’re doing pretty well, mate—solid effort! You’re smart, but not "memorise-everything-and-dream-in-academic-references" smart. You nailed the core ideas, but maybe lost a few points to that conclusion you wrote in a caffeine-fuelled panic, or you didn't vibe with that one theory, or your brain switched off during Question 4 of the exam. Still, people will ask you to join their study groups, so you're doing just fine.
Translation: You did it! You passed! Did you scrape by with Red Bull-fuelled all-nighters and some divine intervention? Maybe. But you made it, and that’s what counts. Just don’t ask too many questions about how. This is the zone where you're smart and still have a social life. You’ve got a good grasp on the content, but there were a few wobbles along the way (no one has to know about that skipped week of lectures)(we’ve all done it).
Translation: You’re a survivor! A pass means you got what you needed and are officially done with that subject—no more, no less. You might’ve had to wrestle with a tough semester or tricky concepts, but at the end of the day, passing is what matters. And hey, no one asks you for your exact percentage at graduation!
Translation: Oof. It happens to the best of us. Whether you got tripped up by the readings or underestimated how long the assignments would take, don’t sweat it—we’ve all been there. Time to give that subject another go (or maybe rethink whether economics is really your calling). Everyone has a fail story, and it’s part of the uni experience. Just remember: next semester is your redemption arc. Consider this your official invitation to a round two! Maybe don’t tell your parents just yet, though.