Schoolcijfer

Schoolcijfer is the numeric assessment assigned by a school to a pupil or student for a particular course or subject. It functions as an indicator of the student's performance during a course and is recorded on progress reports, transcripts, and diplomas. A schoolcijfer may be based on a mix of assessments, including exams, quizzes, assignments, projects, and class participation. The exact weighting and components vary by country, school, and subject.

In the Dutch education system, the common grading scale uses numbers from 1 to 10. A grade of 6 or higher is typically required to pass, though passing thresholds can differ by subject and level. The final grade for a subject often combines the schoolcijfer with results from the national or school-level examination, following specific rules that may prioritize different components in different programs.

Usage-wise, the schoolcijfer is central to progression decisions, such as promotion to the next grade, graduation, or eligibility for certain programs and scholarships. In higher education admissions outside the Netherlands, the schoolcijfer may appear on a transcript or grade list and can influence selection, alongside standardized tests and other criteria.

Critically, the schoolcijfer provides a concise snapshot of achievement but may not capture all aspects of learning, such as improvement over time or practical skills. In practice, institutions may supplement it with portfolios or narrative assessments.