DepEd Grading System 2026 (DO 015 s. 2026): New Weights, Three Terms, Transmutation Table & Descriptors
What changed in the K to 12 grading system for SY 2026–2027 under DepEd Order 015 s. 2026 — component weights per subject, the summative-test exam formula, the adjusted transmutation table, new descriptors, awards — with worked examples and a free calculator.
Starting School Year 2026–2027, DepEd grades are computed differently. DepEd Order No. 015, s. 2026 — the Revised Guidelines on Classroom Assessment, Grading System, and Awards and Recognition for the K to 12 Basic Education Program, signed 4 June 2026 — replaces DO 8, s. 2015 and goes with the new three-term school calendar. If you are a teacher building a class record, a parent reading a card, or a student checking your standing, here is what changed, with the tables and a worked example. The free DepEd Grade Calculator applies all of it.
What Changed at a Glance
- Three terms instead of four quarters; the Final Grade is the average of the three Term Grades.
- New component weights — more weight on Performance Tasks, less on Written Work (table below).
- The exam component is a formula: Summative Test 1 (30%) + Summative Test 2 (30%) + Term Exam (40%).
- Adjusted transmutation table for SY 2026–27 only (70 → 75); zero-based grading with no transmutation from SY 2027–28.
- New descriptors: Advancing, Benchmarking, Connecting, Developing, Emerging.
- Kindergarten–Grade 1 move to descriptive (non-numerical) grading this year, Grade 2 next year, Grade 3 the year after.
- Awards: one Academic Excellence Award (GA ≥ 90, no final grade below 80), no ranking.
Component Weights (DO 015 s. 2026)
| Learning area | Written Work | Performance Tasks | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| English, Filipino, Mathematics, Science, Araling Panlipunan, GMRC / Values Education (Gr 4–10) | 20% | 50% | 30% |
| EPP / TLE, MAPEH (Gr 4–10) | 20% | 60% | 20% |
| Grades 2–3 subjects incl. Makabansa (transition year) | 20% | 50% | 30% |
| SHS core subjects and academic electives | 20% | 50% | 30% |
| SHS Field Exposure / Arts Apprenticeship / Creative Production & Innovation | 15% | 70% | 15% |
| SHS Arts, Sports, Health & Wellness electives | 20% | 60% | 20% |
| SHS Research electives, Design & Innovation | 40% | 60% | 0% |
| SHS TechPro electives | 15% | 65% | 20% |
| SHS Work Immersion | 20% | 80% | 0% |
For areas with an exam, the exam percentage is itself a weighted mix: ST1 30% + ST2 30% + Term Exam 40% (Field Exposure-type subjects use the term exam only). Grade 12 in SY 2026–27 stays on the DO 8 weights below with the adjusted transmutation, because the Strengthened SHS curriculum starts with Grade 11.
How a Term Grade Is Computed
- Percentage Score per component: total raw score ÷ highest possible score × 100.
- Weighted Score: PS × the component's weight.
- Initial Grade: sum of the weighted scores.
- Term Grade: look the initial grade up in the transmutation table (SY 2026–27), rounded to a whole number.
- Final Grade: average of the three term grades; 75 is passing. General Average = average of all final grades.
Worked example (Mathematics, Grade 7)
- Written Work: 78 of 100 → 78.00% × 20% = 15.60
- Performance Tasks: 112 of 130 → 86.15% × 50% = 43.08
- Exam: ST1 22/30 (73.33%), ST2 25/30 (83.33%), Term Exam 38/50 (76.00%) → 73.33×0.3 + 83.33×0.3 + 76×0.4 = 77.40% × 30% = 23.22
- Initial Grade = 15.60 + 43.08 + 23.22 = 81.90 → transmuted (81.80–82.97 → 85) → Term Grade 85, Benchmarking.
Try your own numbers in the calculator — it shows every intermediate step.
Adjusted Transmutation Table (SY 2026–27)
Above 70 the bands are 1.18 points wide; below 70 about 4.67. Selected rows (the full table is in the transmutation table page):
| Initial grade | Transmuted grade |
|---|---|
| 99.50 – 100 | 100 |
| 98.32 – 99.49 | 99 |
| 97.14 – 98.31 | 98 |
| 90.06 – 91.23 | 92 |
| 87.70 – 88.87 | 90 |
| 81.80 – 82.97 | 85 |
| 75.90 – 77.07 | 80 |
| 71.18 – 72.35 | 76 |
| 70.00 – 71.17 | 75 |
| 65.34 – 69.99 | 74 |
| 60.67 – 65.33 | 73 |
| 46.67 – 51.33 | 70 |
| 0 – 4.67 | 60 |
Note: an earlier DepEd policy briefer (April 2026) circulated a draft table with different bands (e.g. 70.00–72.99 → 75). The signed order uses the table above. From SY 2027–28 the initial grade is reported as-is (floor 60) for Key Stages 2–4.
Descriptors
| Grade | Descriptor | Filipino |
|---|---|---|
| 90–100 | Advancing | Namumukod-tangi |
| 80–89 | Benchmarking | Napamamalas |
| 75–79 | Connecting | Natutungo |
| 65–74 | Developing | Napauunlad |
| 0–64 | Emerging | Nagsisimula |
Grades 1–3 use letters A–E on the same bands; Kindergarten uses CO / DV / BG.
For Comparison: DO 8 s. 2015
| Learning area | WW | PT | Quarterly Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Languages, Araling Panlipunan, EsP (Gr 1–10) | 30% | 50% | 20% |
| Science, Mathematics (Gr 1–10) | 40% | 40% | 20% |
| MAPEH, EPP / TLE (Gr 1–10) | 20% | 60% | 20% |
| SHS core subjects | 25% | 50% | 25% |
| SHS academic track — other subjects | 25% | 45% | 30% |
| SHS academic — work immersion / research / business simulation / exhibit | 35% | 40% | 25% |
| SHS TVL / Sports / Arts & Design | 20% | 60% | 20% |
DO 8 transmutation: 100 → 100, then 1.6-point bands (98.40–99.99 → 99 … 60.00–61.59 → 75), then 4-point bands (56.00–59.99 → 74 … 0–3.99 → 60). Descriptors: Outstanding 90–100, Very Satisfactory 85–89, Satisfactory 80–84, Fairly Satisfactory 75–79, Did Not Meet Expectations below 75. Final grade = average of four quarters. The calculator has this system as a toggle.
Awards and Recognition
Key Stage 1 has no numerical awards. In Key Stages 2–4, learners with a General Average of at least 90 and no final grade below 80 receive the Academic Excellence Award, listed alphabetically rather than ranked. (Claims of a 95 cut-off circulating on social media are not in the order.)
Sources
DepEd Order No. 015, s. 2026 (deped.gov.ph issuances; DepEd BLD Guide to LS Updates); DO 009, s. 2026 (three-term calendar); DO 8, s. 2015; transcriptions on DepEd Club, DepEd Tambayan PH and TeacherPH. Always confirm against your division's e-Class Record template — this article and the calculator are helpers, not the official record.
Frequently asked questions
What is DepEd Order 015 s. 2026?
The “Revised Guidelines on Classroom Assessment, Grading System, and Awards and Recognition for the K to 12 Basic Education Program”, signed 4 June 2026. It replaces DO 8 s. 2015 starting SY 2026–2027 and goes with the three-term school calendar (DO 009 s. 2026).
What are the new grading weights?
Grades 4–10: English, Filipino, Math, Science, AP and GMRC/Values — Written Work 20%, Performance Tasks 50%, Exam 30%; EPP/TLE and MAPEH — 20/60/20. SHS core and academic electives 20/50/30, with other weights for field exposure (15/70/15), arts/sports electives (20/60/20), research (40/60), TechPro (15/65/20) and work immersion (20/80).
How is the exam component computed?
Exam = Summative Test 1 × 30% + Summative Test 2 × 30% + Term Exam × 40% (each as a percentage score). That exam percentage then takes the subject’s exam weight (e.g. 30%).
Is there still a transmutation table?
Yes, for SY 2026–27 only: an adjusted table where an initial grade of 70.00 becomes 75 (steps of 1.18 above 70, about 4.67 below). From SY 2027–28, grading is zero-based with no transmutation for Key Stages 2–4.
What are the new descriptors?
Advancing (90–100, Namumukod-tangi), Benchmarking (80–89, Napamamalas), Connecting (75–79, Natutungo), Developing (65–74, Napauunlad), Emerging (0–64, Nagsisimula). Passing is 75.
Who gets academic awards now?
Key Stages 2–4: the Academic Excellence Award for a General Average of at least 90 with no final grade below 80, listed alphabetically. Key Stage 1 has no numerical awards.
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