An arrear (shown as grade RA or U) means you did not clear a subject. It's common and completely recoverable — here's how arrears work and how to clear them.
What an arrear means
A subject with an RA/U grade counts as 0 grade points until you clear it, so it pulls your GPA down (see our GPA calculator). You keep the credits pending until you pass the arrear exam.
When arrear exams happen
Arrear papers are re-attempted in the next end-semester exam session (the Nov/Dec and Apr/May cycles), alongside regular exams. You register for them through your college for the relevant session.
How to clear an arrear
- Register for the arrear paper via your college during the exam-registration window and pay the arrear exam fee.
- Get your hall ticket and appear for the paper in that session.
- When you pass, the RA is replaced and the credits are earned.
There is generally no limit on attempts, but you must clear all arrears within the maximum programme duration.
Do arrears show on your transcript?
A cleared arrear is reflected in your final grade sheet. Many companies ask about standing (uncleared) arrears at the time of a placement drive — so clear them as early as you can.