Guidance on the Grade Score System
Rowing ACT introduced a Grade System in the 2016-17 season. This system includes 5 grades, which are used to classify the eligibility and capability of scullers and crews, to the various grade standard. There is a different grade score applied to Sweep and Sculling for each athlete. For a crew to be eligible for a grade event, the Average Grade Score must fall in the Event range. Further information on the Grade Score System can be found in the Rowing ACT By-Laws.
| Grade | Grade Score Range | School Year Score Adjustment at Season Start | Notes |
| A Grade | 0 – <1.35 | ||
| B Grade | 1.35 – <2.35 | ||
| C Grade | 2.35 – <3.10 | Year 11 – 2.9 Year 12 – 2.6 | |
| D Grade | 3.10 – <3.60 | Year 9 – 3.5 Year 10 – 3.2 | A masters Rower aged 55, or turning 55 in the calendar year will have a minimum grade score of 3.10 |
| E Grade | 3.60 – 4.0 | Year 8 – 3.9 | A masters rowing aged 65 or turning 65 in the calendar year will have a minimum grade score of 3.60 |
Adjustments to Grade Score
New members: Newly-registered rowers (other than school rowers) will be assessed and their RGS (Sculling & Sweep) determined as follows:
1. Where the rower has no previous rowing racing history: RGS = 4.0;
2. Where the rower has competitive racing history in any state or territory within the last 2 years, each RGS will be the same as for an existing registered rower;
3. Where the rower raced more than 2 years ago, the RGS will be awarded as follows:
a. if last raced 2 to 3 years before: each RGS will be 0.5 higher than would have been awarded (following assessment) given their previous competitive level;
b. if last raced 3 to 5 years before: each RGS 1.0 will be higher than would have been awarded (following assessment) given their previous competitive level; or
c. if last raced five years or more before: each RGS = 4.
A RGS determination of the Regatta Secretary under this By-Law may be reviewed by the Rowing ACT Credentials Sub-Committee, established for that purpose by the Rowing ACT Board, where the Captain of a Member Club makes a formal request relating to the RGS of a member of their Member Club. The emailed request is to include the reasons for the request and all relevant supporting information.
Rowing ACT has provided guidance on the expected time ranges of each grade here.
In regards to grade score adjustments, the result is taken from the overall result – The Regatta draw will as far as practical seed grade races, having regard to the experience and standard of scullers or crews entered. In the case of an event conducted in divisions, the winner of a grade event shall be taken to be the crew or sculler, of all divisions raced (if more than one), completing the race course in the fastest time (after equality adjustment, if applicable). If it has not been possible to record accurate times the first sculler or crew in the highest seeded division shall be deemed to be the winner of the event. A recognised sculling or sweep grade race is a race for which there is a minimum of 3 entries and includes the ACT Championship Regatta Open Championship events. It also includes combined races of coxed and coxless boats of the same type where an equality time adjustment, set by the Regatta Secretary, was applied. School, Masters, Underage and other open events have no effect on the Rowing Grade Score.
| Race Result | Adjustment to the relevant grade Score (Sweep/Scull) |
| Win | Subtract 0.15 from the current score |
| Loss | Add 0.03 from the current score |