What Is a Second-Class Honors Degree?

A second-class honors degree is part of the British undergraduate degree classification system that marks various levels of student achievement. The British undergraduate degree classification uses a scale system to categorize different grade point averages reached by students. Students are either awarded honors or not, depending on the grade they earn on the standard honors exam.

The honors classification system used in Britain is also used in several other countries, with minor differences among the regions. This system resembles the Latin honors system used to reward students with high grade point averages in the United States. British students who earn second-class honors have scores of 50 to 70 percent on their honors exam.