Converting raw scores into percentages, letter grades, or GPA is called grading. Raw scores are simply the number of points a student earns on an assessment. Grading is the process of transforming these raw, quantitative scores into a more qualitative and interpretable representation of a student's performance or achievement.
This transformation allows educators to communicate student progress and mastery effectively to students, parents, and other stakeholders. For instance, a raw score of 85 out of 100 might be converted to an 85% or a letter grade of 'B'. Similarly, individual course grades are often combined and weighted to calculate a Grade Point Average (GPA), providing a comprehensive summary of academic performance. While assessment is the broader process of gathering information about student learning, and testing is a specific method of assessment, grading specifically refers to the act of assigning a value or symbol to represent the quality of that learning or achievement.