By Simon Savard

Publié le 17 juin 2026

One day, when most kids dream of becoming astronauts, they will all realize that not everyone can pursue their dream job. For most Quebec kids, that realization comes in college, when their paths cross the malefic, horrendous, and disastrous R-score.  

From the moment I became aware of the R-score, I have never heard anyone say they like the grading system. In fact, students from around Quebec complain a lot about the R-score being a bad way to grade, because they don’t think it accurately reflects the effort they put in.  

I think the exact opposite. 

The R-score is the best-known way to grade students because it uses a unique and effective way to compute grades, it pushes students to surpass themselves, and it’s not “the” source of anxiety. 

To begin with, colleges around Quebec base their grades on many aspects. Indeed, according to College Bois-de-Boulogne, the R-score given to you at the end of the semester is mainly based on three things: the difference between your grade and your group’s average, the way the grades are distributed around the average, and the relative force of the group, which is determined by the notes obtained during  highschool. The idea of considering a group’s relative force is to compare students coming from different groups to generate R-scores. It is a concrete and easy way to compare two students who have the same grade, but who are in different classes. 

Furthermore, the R-score pushes many students to surpass themselves in their studies. Students tend to associate the R-score with stress and anxiety, but Kim Gauthier, a student at Collège d’Alma in the program of Natural Science, sees it the other way around. When asked how the R-score affects his life, Gauthier shares that it helped him build “working methods.” The same student also shares that “having a good R-score is earned through studies and not owed,” meaning that if a student wants to have a great R-score, he will have to work to get it. Also, when asked if the grading system was a great reflection of students’ capacities, the student answered as follows: “It does not reflect intelligence; however, it gives an idea of the student’s engagement in his or her studies.” This means that the grading system rewards students who are committed to their studies. 

Finally, the R-score should not be blamed for anxiety and stress. Maybe the thing students should blame is the criteria of admissibility of some programs being too high. Let me explain: any grading system with this level of objectivity across Quebec will be used as a reference for admission to the same programs. This means that no matter the grading system, being admitted into a limited program means outperforming other students.  

In sum, the R-score is the best-known way to grade students because it gives an objective way to grade students, it motivates students, and it is not the primary source of anxiety among students.  

Even after reading this, many people will still find a way to be pissed about this grading system, but I am curious: what would be a better grading system for college students, and on what data would it be based?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

La cote R est la mesure la plus equitable. Published on 02/19/2022 

A team of research conducted an experiment with students on the R-score and came up with the conclusion that it is the fairest grading system. 

Is the R-score, which serves as a measurement index for CEGEP students, socially fair? Published on 09/17/2024 

Different issues and advantage concerning the R-score are explained in this text. 

Ce que la Cote R nous Dévoile. Published on 02/02/2022(make a wish) 

Different data among diverse universities about what R-score is required to get admitted. 

Démystifier la Cote R Published in 2012 

Explains clearly how the R-score is calculated with examples.