So the grading % scheme is quite different from what we are used to. The scale is a D- is 50-52.2%, D is 52.2-54.4%, D+ is 54.4-56.6%, C- is 56.6-58.8%, C is 58.8-61.1%, C+ is 61.1-63.3%, B- is 63.3-65.5%, B is 65.5-67.7%, B+ is 67.7-69.9%, A- is 69.9-72.2%, A is 72.2-74.4%, A+ is 74.4-100%. That being said, the GPA calculations are also much different: A D- is a 2.0, a D is a 2.2, A D+ is a 2.4, a C- is 2.6, a C is a 2.8, a C+ is a 3.0, a B- is a 3.2, a B is a 3.4, a B+ is a 3.6, A- is 3.8, an A is a 4.0 and an A+ is a 4.2.
No one really gets above a B all that often (not to say its not possible!), a C is considered a great grade and a D is average ... So yes by American standards a lot of the class fails (by getting less than a 60%) but the exams are designed so that majority of people don't get above a 60 so it just takes some getting used to!! But if you think of it in terms of GPA, it works out pretty similar. You have to maintain a 2.4 GPA each year to demonstrate adequate academic progress for your financial aid (for the american's at least who get federal funds). A 2.4 in the US would be like a C+, where as here its a D+.