Low grade, high ranking in class

[Antariksh Singh Jamwal]

Hi everyone, I’m hoping to get some guidance.

I’m currently pursuing an LLM in the UK, and I did my undergraduate law degree in India. My issue is how to address my academic grades in applications. My overall percentage is 57%, which looks quite low by UK standards. However, my university had a very strict marking system—60% is considered a first class, and 55–60% falls into the “high second class,” which can roughly correspond to a 2:1 in the UK. Despite the percentage, I was ranked 6th out of a batch of over 300 students, and I have a letter from my university confirming this.

I’ve also done over 36 months' worth of internships, won several moots, and have a strong profile in terms of practical experience.

According to TCLA’s review, my application (cover letter, commercial awareness responses, etc.) was good, so I’m wondering if the grades are possibly hurting my chances.

How should I address this in my future applications? Should I include a brief explanation in the cover letter or attach the university’s grading policy?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Ram Sabaratnam]

Hi @Antariksh Singh Jamwal

Firms do take international grading systems into account, and they’re used to seeing candidates from jurisdictions like India where the grading scale operates very differently. Many firms refer to guidance similar to what UK universities use when converting overseas marks (for instance, recognising that 60% and above at many Indian law schools can equate to a First, and that 55–60% is broadly comparable to a 2:1). It’s not an exact science, but there are well-understood conversion frameworks in place.

That being said, I would try to see if there's a section in your application form which allows you to elaborate/contextualise any academic results (or an “additional information” box). Most application forms do have space for that sort of information. I’d definitely include your class rank and reference the university letter confirming this. That context will give recruiters a much clearer picture of your overall performance. Good luck with your applications!