The “Courses & Grades” section within the Common Application is a structured area where applicants report their academic performance during secondary school. This entails listing courses taken and the corresponding grades received for each course, typically from the 9th grade onwards. For instance, an applicant might report taking “Algebra I” in 9th grade and receiving an “A” in the course. The specific format and requirements are outlined within the application itself.
Completing this section accurately is crucial as it provides colleges with a standardized and comprehensive overview of an applicant’s academic history. This allows admissions committees to assess academic rigor, grade trends, and subject matter proficiency. The provided data forms a vital component in evaluating an applicant’s overall preparedness for college-level coursework. Historically, before the advent of standardized application platforms, colleges relied on varying transcripts, making direct comparisons between applicants more challenging. This standardized method promotes fair evaluation.