Grades serve as indicators of the academic performance of students. They are also used as basis for promotion and for academic honors and awards. Furthermore, it is “an integral part curriculum implementation. It allows the teachers to track and measure learners’ progress and to adjust instruction accordingly. It also informs the learners, as well as their parents and guardians, of their progress.” (DepEd Order 8 s. 2015).
The trimestral (GS and JHS) and semestral (SHS) grades are determined through the different learning outcomes defined by the following Levels of Assessments: Knowledge (K); Process/Skills (P); Understanding (U); and Products/Performances (P). These levels, also known as KPUP, shall be the outcome reflected in the class record and shall be given the corresponding percentage:
Table 2. Level of Assessment
| Levels of Assessment | Percentage Weight |
| Knowledge | 15% |
| Process and Skills | 25% |
| Understanding | 30% |
| Performance Task | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
All subjects follow the above assessment matrix, except for TLE/ICT (Technology and Livelihood Education/Information and Communications Technology), MAPEH (Music, Art, Physical Education, and Health), CAT (Citizenship Advancement Training), and WI (Work Immersion) which follow the one in Table 3:
Table 3. Level of Assessment for TLA/ICT and MAPEH/CAT/WI
| Levels of Assessment | Percentage Weight | |
| TLE/ICT | MAPEH/CAT/WI | |
| Knowledge | 10% | 15% |
| Process and Skills | 20% | 25% |
| Understanding / Performance Task/Practical Test / Immersion | 70% | 60% |
| Total | 100% | 100% |
Meanwhile, Table 4 shows the assessment matrix for Chinese that is the designed to suit the context and purpose of the subject.
Table 4. Level of Assessment for Chinese
| Levels of Assessment | Percentage Weight |
| Listening | 20% |
| Reading | 20% |
| Writing | 30% |
| Speaking | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
KPU assessments are given as Daily Assessments and Periodical Exams. 70% of the KPU are computed from the Daily Assessments and 30% from the Periodical Exams. Products and Performances are assessed through the Performance Tasks (PT). There are some “performance-based” subjects such as Physical Education (PE) and Technology Livelihood Education (TLE) which do not have Periodical Exams.