The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has outlined significant changes to the grading system for candidates who sat the 2024 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination under the revised lower secondary curriculum.
Speaking during the release of results at State Lodge Nakasero, UNEB Chairperson Celestino Obua said the reporting of achievement levels has shifted from the previous stanine system — which ranged from 1 to 9 and categorised results as Distinctions, Credits, Pass and Fail — to a letter-based grading format.
Under the new system, candidates are assessed using grades A to E. Grade A represents exceptional achievement, B denotes outstanding performance, C indicates satisfactory attainment, D reflects basic achievement, while E signifies elementary performance.
Mr Obua said the changes were made following consultations in which the board considered several grading models with varying levels of detail before settling on the letter-grade format.
He emphasised that each grade is accompanied by descriptors designed to clearly communicate what a certificate holder is capable of doing. The final subject grade, he added, is derived from a combination of Continuous Assessment (CA) and End-of-Cycle examination scores.
The transcript — which replaces the traditional result slip and certificate format — will reflect the revised method of reporting, including the updated content presentation.
The reforms follow the introduction of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) for lower secondary schools by Uganda’s Ministry of Education in 2020. The new curriculum requires broader assessment methods, incorporating Continuous Assessment and Project Work alongside the final End-of-Cycle examination.
