UBA CBC Regular vs Libre Status Calculator
The UBA CBC (Ciclo Básico Común) is the mandatory first-year cycle at the Universidad de Buenos Aires. To pass each subject you need to achieve Regular standing — which requires 75% class attendance AND a minimum score of 4/10 on each midterm exam (parcial). If either condition fails, you are classified as Libre: you can still attempt the final exam, but it is a harder, comprehensive oral or written test. This calculator checks both conditions simultaneously and shows your midterm average so you know exactly where you stand before the final exam period.
To be **Regular** at UBA CBC you need: (1) attendance ≥ 75% of classes AND (2) a score of 4 or higher on EACH midterm (parcial) — on the 1–10 Argentine scale. Both conditions must be met simultaneously. Failing either one makes you **Libre** (failed standing). Regular students sit a standard final exam; Libre students face a harder comprehensive final.
When to use this calculator
- A first-year student with 75% attendance and scores of 6 and 7 needs to confirm they qualify as Regular (and must sit the standard final, not the harder libre one).
- A student who missed several classes due to illness wants to calculate their exact attendance percentage before missing another class.
- A student who scored 3 on Exam 1 and 8 on Exam 2 wants to understand why the high second score cannot compensate for a failing first score — CBC scores each midterm independently.
- A student aiming for direct promotion (promoción directa) wants to verify if their average of 7.5 and 80% attendance qualifies them to skip the final exam in eligible subjects.
Worked Example
- Attendance: 80% ✅ (above 75% minimum)
- Midterm 1: 6 ✅ (above 4 minimum)
- Midterm 2: 7 ✅ (above 4 minimum)
- Average: (6 + 7) / 2 = 6.5
How it works
3 min readHow UBA CBC Academic Standing Works
The CBC uses a two-gate system: both conditions must be met at the same time. Failing either gate immediately results in Libre status — there is no compensation between conditions.
# Gate 1 — Attendance
attendance_ok = (attendance_pct >= 75)
# Gate 2 — Each midterm individually (scale 1–10)
exams_ok = (midterm1_score >= 4) AND (midterm2_score >= 4)
# Academic Standing
if attendance_ok AND exams_ok:
standing = "Regular" # sits standard final exam
else if NOT attendance_ok:
standing = "Libre – failed attendance" # makeup exam (recuperatorio) does NOT help
else:
standing = "Libre – failed midterm" # recuperatorio available for that exam
# Average midterm score
average = (midterm1_score + midterm2_score) / 2
# Direct Promotion (subject-dependent — confirm with your cátedra)
if standing == "Regular" AND average >= 7 AND attendance_pct >= 75:
note = "May qualify for Direct Promotion — no final exam"> Scale note: UBA grades run 1–10. Score 4 = minimum pass. Score 7+ = distinguished. Score 9–10 = outstanding.
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Quick Reference Table
| Attendance | Midterm 1 | Midterm 2 | Average | Standing | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80% | 6 | 7 | 6.5 | ✅ Regular | Final exam required |
| 75% | 4 | 4 | 4.0 | ✅ Regular | Minimum threshold met |
| 75% | 8 | 9 | 8.5 | ✅ Regular | Check direct promotion |
| 85% | 7 | 8 | 7.5 | ✅ Regular | Likely direct promotion |
| 74% | 8 | 9 | 8.5 | ❌ Libre | Attendance too low |
| 80% | 3 | 8 | 5.5 | ❌ Libre | Midterm 1 below 4 |
| 80% | 4 | 3 | 3.5 | ❌ Libre | Midterm 2 below 4 — recuperatorio available |
| 60% | 5 | 6 | 5.5 | ❌ Libre | Attendance too low |
| 90% | 3 | 9 | 6.0 | ❌ Libre | High Midterm 2 cannot save Midterm 1 |
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Worked Cases
Case 1 – Regular standing (standard example)
Inputs: 80% attendance, Midterm 1 = 6, Midterm 2 = 7
Check: Attendance ≥ 75% ✅ | Midterm 1 ≥ 4 ✅ | Midterm 2 ≥ 4 ✅
Average: (6 + 7) / 2 = 6.5
Standing: Regular — must sit the standard final exam. Average 6.5 is below the 7.0 threshold for direct promotion.
Case 2 – One failed midterm kills standing despite high scores overall
Inputs: 90% attendance, Midterm 1 = 3, Midterm 2 = 9
Check: Attendance ≥ 75% ✅ | Midterm 1 = 3 < 4 ❌
Average: (3 + 9) / 2 = 6.0 — irrelevant, standing already lost.
Standing: Libre (failed midterm). A recuperatorio (makeup exam) for Midterm 1 is available — that score would replace the 3.
Case 3 – Direct Promotion candidate
Inputs: 85% attendance, Midterm 1 = 8, Midterm 2 = 7
Check: All conditions met ✅
Average: (8 + 7) / 2 = 7.5
Standing: Regular + Average ≥ 7 → Eligible for Direct Promotion in courses that offer it. Confirm with your professor — not all CBC subjects grant this automatically.
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Common Mistakes
1. Thinking the average compensates for a failed exam. UBA CBC requires each individual exam to be ≥ 4. A score of 3 on Midterm 1 and 10 on Midterm 2 still results in Libre — despite a 6.5 average.
2. Treating 75% as a soft guideline. The 75% attendance floor is a hard regulatory cutoff. In a 20-session course, missing 6 classes drops you to 70% — Libre by attendance.
3. Assuming Regular means you passed. Regular status only qualifies you to sit the final exam. You must still score ≥ 4 on the final to pass the course. Regular students who miss or fail all exam calls eventually lose their regular status.
4. Forgetting Direct Promotion is course-specific. Even with an average of 8.0, if the cátedra does not offer promoción directa, you must still sit the final. Always verify with your professor.
5. Mixing up makeup exam rules. A recuperatorio score replaces the original failed exam — it is not averaged with it. Only the replacement score counts toward your standing.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Regular' mean at UBA CBC and why does it matter?
A Regular student has met the two CBC requirements (≥75% attendance AND ≥4 on each midterm) and is eligible to sit the standard final exam. A student who fails either condition becomes Libre — they can still attempt the subject's final exam, but the Libre final is a harder, comprehensive oral or written exam covering the entire syllabus, with a significantly lower pass rate.
What is the minimum attendance percentage required at UBA CBC?
Students must attend at least 75% of scheduled classes. For a course with 20 sessions, that means attending a minimum of 15. Missing 6 or more classes (in a 20-session course) results in automatic Libre classification by attendance — no matter how well you scored on midterms. Some cátedras enforce a stricter threshold; always check the course syllabus.
What is the minimum score on each midterm (parcial) at UBA CBC?
Each individual midterm must score 4 or higher on UBA's 1–10 grading scale. There is no cross-exam compensation: a score of 3 on Midterm 1 and 10 on Midterm 2 still results in Libre. If you score below 4, a single makeup exam (recuperatorio) is available for that parcial — the replacement score is the one that counts.
What is Direct Promotion (promoción directa) at CBC and how do I qualify?
Direct Promotion allows a Regular student with a midterm average of 7 or higher (and ≥75% attendance) to pass the course without sitting a final exam — the average of the two parciales becomes the final grade. However, not every CBC subject offers this modality. It depends on the specific cátedra (teaching chair) and may vary by sede (campus location). Always confirm with your professor.
If I have a makeup exam (recuperatorio), which score is used?
The recuperatorio score replaces the original failed exam score — the two are not averaged together. If you scored 3 on Midterm 1 and then score 6 on the recuperatorio, your Midterm 1 score becomes 6. Note: recuperatorios are only available for failed midterms (below 4), not for improving already-passing scores.
Can I lose my Regular standing after I've earned it?
Yes. In the Argentine university system, Regular standing has a time limit — at UBA it typically covers a fixed number of exam calls (turnos), often 3 exam periods across regular and extraordinary sessions. If a Regular student does not sit or pass the final within those calls, they lose Regular status and must retake the entire course from scratch.
Does CBC track attendance separately for lectures (teórica) and practicals (práctica)?
In most CBC subjects, the 75% attendance rule applies independently to theoretical (teórica) and practical (práctica) class types. Missing primarily practical classes can cause attendance failure for practicals even if your lecture attendance is perfect. Always check whether your specific subject counts attendance across all class types jointly or separately.
What does the UBA 1–10 grade scale mean in practice?
UBA uses a 1–10 integer scale: 1–3 = Insufficient (reprobado/failed), 4–6 = Sufficient to Good (aprobado/passed), 7–8 = Distinguished (notable), 9–10 = Outstanding (sobresaliente). The minimum passing grade is 4 at the CBC undergraduate level. Graduate programs may require 6 or higher to maintain enrollment.
Are UBA CBC requirements the same across all campuses and subjects?
The core requirements (75% attendance, ≥4 on each midterm, average ≥7 for direct promotion) are set by the UBA Rectorado resolution and apply to all CBC sedes (Ciudad Universitaria, Paternal, Drago, etc.). However, implementation details — rounding policies, whether recuperatorios cover both parciales, and direct promotion availability — can vary by cátedra and sede. Always confirm with your professor.