Anna University Grading System: Absolute vs Relative

Decoding Anna University

Anna University (AU) is the premier engineering institution in Tamil Nadu, governing hundreds of affiliated colleges. It is notoriously strict with evaluations, making it difficult for students to score high CGPAs.

One of the biggest sources of confusion for AU students—especially those studying under the 2017 or 2021 regulations—is how grades are actually assigned. Is it based on your raw marks, or is it based on the class average?

Absolute Grading vs. Relative Grading

To understand AU, you first need to understand the two major philosophies of grading in universities.

Absolute Grading: This is straightforward. If you score 91 marks, you get an 'O' grade. If you score 81 marks, you get an 'A+' grade. It doesn't matter if the rest of the class failed or if the rest of the class got 100s. Your grade is tied strictly to your raw marks.

Relative Grading (The Curve): In relative grading, your grade depends on how the rest of the class performed. If an exam is incredibly difficult and the highest mark in the class is a 65, the professor might make that 65 the "O" grade.

What Does Anna University Use?

Historically (under the 2017 regulation), Anna University used Absolute Grading. You knew exactly what you needed to score to get an 'O' or an 'A+'.

However, under newer regulations (like 2021) and specifically for autonomous colleges under the AU umbrella, there has been a shift toward Relative Grading for classes with a large number of students.

If your college uses relative grading, Anna University dictates a complex statistical formula using the Mean (average) and Standard Deviation of the class's marks.

If you score 1.5 standard deviations above the mean, you get an 'O'.

If you score perfectly average (at the mean), you usually receive a 'B' or 'B+'.

The Anna University Grading Scale (2021 Regulation)

Regardless of how you earn the grade, the Grade Points awarded by AU are strict:

O (Outstanding): 10 Grade Points

A+ (Excellent): 9 Grade Points

A (Very Good): 8 Grade Points

B+ (Good): 7 Grade Points

B (Average): 6 Grade Points

C (Satisfactory): 5 Grade Points

U / RA (Reappearance/Fail): 0 Grade Points

How to Calculate Your AU CGPA

Your CGPA is the weighted average of your Grade Points multiplied by the credits of the subject.

Because Anna University has strict rules regarding arrears (failed subjects) and how they impact honors classification (First Class with Distinction), it is critical to track your CGPA accurately. You can use our dedicated Anna University CGPA Calculator to project your final degree classification.