Agree. As a GEO3 or lower, it is difficult to get B, because

i) your school must "invest" in you opportunities to excel
ii) you must also prove yourself more capable than your peers

When you are a GEO4, there will be more opportunities presented where you can do well. Again, this is subjected to the school and at times, having a supportive RO who might recommend you for projects, etc.

Yes, there is a bell curve for each grade and no, you are not required to give an A. There is a cap to the number of As and Bs. I think most schools would generally not be too generous with the As unless they strongly believe that there is one/two officers that performs way better than the Bs.

This was shared on an earlier:
c: 1.5
c+: 2.0-2.2
b: 2.25 - 2.75
a: 3

Bear in mind that the quantum amt differs for each grade and giving 3 x to an A grader would mean B graders might get lesser. It might be wiser to give the best officer a 2.75 (high B) than an A grade, which would take away 0.25 which can be distributed to the other officers.

That quantum would be better spent differentiating between your C+ and B, which can differ as little as 0.05.

*Edited the table based on what someone shared earlier*
c: 1.25 - 1.75
c+: 2.0-2.2
b: 2.25 - 2.75
a: 3

Hi, is it true that you will be promoted to the next grade (Geo 3 to 4 onwards) when you have 2 years of consecutive Bs after an initial C+ in the year of promotion? Which means the fastest rate that you can go from Geo 3 to 4/ 4 to 5 is 2 years?

Hi, not really. It seems like it’s possible to be promoted in consecutive years. Look at Pg 135 of this thread.

Oh, are such promotions in consecutive years only for special cases like mid-career switch or very high-flying scholars? The others, even if they are getting good grades like C+ and B, will need to have minimum number of years at every grade?

PB
 

If I did my practicum in the first term and joined the school in the second term, will my PB be pro-rated?

Nope
 

Now no more differentiation between dip and degree holders since all on the generic sub grade from geo 3 to geo 5

Pro rated pb
 

When you are on training, your PB will be pro rated as you are not performing and contributing.

Can be promoted. Not necessarily will be promoted.
There is no hard and fast rule for Promotion , but to be promoted, certain criteria need to be met. But meeting those criteria , or exceeding them, does not imply a confirmed promotion.