# Explanation of British educational term needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 14, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001 "2004-07-14T01:54:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/1 "2004-07-14T01:54:57Z")
Papa Tiger is currently unemployed, and is applying for jobs far and wide. So here’s his question: On British job vacancy announcements the education requirements state things like: “You will have an Engineering Degree or equivalent (typically 2.1 or higher) or Masters”. What do they mean by 2.1 or higher? Can anyone explain this? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/2 "2004-07-14T02:21:38Z")
A First (1) is the highest, then there’s 2.1, 2.2. and down to 3, and ‘ungraded’ meaning a basic degree. 2.1 is a very good degree. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/3 "2004-07-14T02:24:46Z")
It depends on the final score of your degree Pass=40-45% 3=45-50% 2.3=50-55% 2.2=55-60% 2.1=60-70% 1=70-100% ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/4 "2004-07-14T02:44:37Z")
A 2:1 is an Upper Second Class Honours Degree. Degrees here are divided into classes: First Class Honours, a ‘First’ - top marks, generally regarded as proof of cleverness. Upper Second Class, a ‘2:1’ - pretty good, holder is unlikely to be stupid. Lower Second Class, a ‘2:2’ - yer average university graduate. Third Class, a ‘Third’ - acceptable on a resumé, but you wouldn’t brag about it. Pass - thick. Some employers will draw the line at 2:1s, possibly because so many people have 2:2s (commonly known as ‘Desmonds’, after the South African archbishop). ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/5 "2004-07-14T03:23:40Z")
Thanks, all! That’s exactly the info he needed. I appreciate the help. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/6 "2004-07-14T03:26:15Z")
> [@Usram](#): > > Pass - thick. Or severely unmotivated. I am not ‘thick’. P.s. thanks for confirming that there is no such grade as 2.3 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/7 "2004-07-14T03:33:18Z")
A 2.2 is sometimes called a \*Desmond \* - you work it out 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/8 "2004-07-14T03:36:04Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Or severely unmotivated. I am not ‘thick’. > P.s. thanks for confirming that there is no such grade as 2.3 😉 I’m sorry if I offended you. If it’s any consolation, I didn’t even get a Pass. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/9 "2004-07-14T03:45:52Z")
> [@Usram](#): > > I’m sorry if I offended you. Nah, you didn’t offend me. 🙂 I console myself by remembering that I got the highest mark in the whole year (not just class) for one of my programming assignments. I was there for the programming. unfortunately for me there’s a heck of a lot more to Software Engineering than programming. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/10 "2004-07-14T12:03:06Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > unfortunately for me there’s a heck of a lot more to Software Engineering than programming. \ If only I could convince my colleagues of that. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explanation-of-british-educational-term-needed/255001/11 "2004-07-14T12:14:20Z")
a Geoff (Hurst) is good - could be great depending on the university a Geoff from some of the polyversities is worse than a Thora (Hurd) from one of the top grade Unis. Hope that helps. Owl - Proud possesor of A Geoff in History that has been absolutely no use whatsoever in the real world.