Grades mean different things in different countries. A 5.5 in the Netherlands is a pass, a 1.0 in Germany is the best grade, and a 4.0 in the United States is a perfect GPA. This page compares the main grading systems side by side, so you can read a foreign transcript or understand a scale before you convert it.
Short answer: there is no single world scale. Most countries use one of four styles: letters (A to F), percentages out of 100, a number scale such as 1 to 10 or 0 to 20, or descriptive bands such as Distinction and Pass. Pass marks differ widely, and many schools set their own cut-offs.
Grading systems at a glance
| Country | Main scale | Top grade | Pass mark or lowest pass | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Letters A to F, often with + and – | A | D, usually 60% | Cut-offs are set by each school. One university (UIW) uses A 93-100, A- 90-92, B+ 87-89, B 83-86, B- 80-82, down to D- 60-62 and F under 60. |
| Canada | Letters and percentages, set by province | A | 50% in Alberta (C) | Alberta Education: A 80-100, B 65-79, C 50-64, D 40-49, F 0-39. Other provinces and schools use different bands. |
| United Kingdom | GCSE 9 to 1, A-level A* to E, degree classes | 9 at GCSE, A* at A-level, First at university | 4 at GCSE, E at A-level, typically 40% at university | Degrees: First 70% and above, 2:1 60-70%, 2:2 50-60%, Third 40-50%. Universities may vary slightly. |
| Germany | Universities 1.0 to 5.0 (lower is better). Schools 1 to 6. | 1.0 (excellent) | 4.0 at universities | 5.0 is a fail. One university (TU Dresden) maps 1.0 to 93% of points and 4.0 to 42%, but each exam and school sets its own table. |
| France | 0 to 20 | 20 (a yearly average of 16 or above is rare and excellent) | Usually 10 out of 20 | A 12 is generally seen as a decent result. 0 to 10 is also used in some places. |
| India | Percentage out of 100, with divisions (a 10-point GPA at some institutions such as the IITs) | First with Distinction (70+ in one common scheme) | Can be as low as 33% per subject | The pass mark and the division cut-offs depend on the university. |
| Australia | HD, D, Cr, P, F | High Distinction | 50 | Sydney and UNSW: HD 85-100, D 75-84, Cr 65-74, P 50-64, F 0-49. Other universities may differ. |
| China | 100-point scale, plus letters or descriptive grades on some transcripts | Varies by school (for example 90-100 is A on some transcripts) | Usually 60 | Transcripts can use marks, letters, descriptive grades (Excellent to Fail), or a mix. Some subjects are pass/fail only. |
| Netherlands | 1 to 10 | 10 (outstanding) | 5.5 for a single subject | Grades 9 and 10 are very rarely given. 7 and 6 are the most common. |
How to read a foreign grade
- Find the official scale from the school or exam board. Use it before any converter.
- Check the top and pass marks. Compare the position of a score inside its own scale, not the number alone.
- Never compare the raw numbers across countries. A 6 means very different things in Germany and the Netherlands.
- When applying abroad, ask the receiving school how it converts your grades.
United States
The US scale is the one most used online. Most schools use letters A to F with a 4.0 GPA. Each school sets its own percentage bands; one university, for example, uses A 93-100, A- 90-92, B+ 87-89, B 83-86, B- 80-82, C+ 77-79, C 70-76, D+ 67-69, D 63-66, D- 60-62 and F under 60. To convert a mark, use our Percentage to Letter Grade tool, or set your own bands with the Grading Scale Calculator.
Canada
Canada has no single national scale. Provinces and schools set their own letter-to-percentage bands. Alberta Education, for example, lists A at 80-100%, B at 65-79%, C at 50-64%, D at 40-49% and F at 0-39%. Check your province and school.
United Kingdom
Schools in England use GCSE grades 9 to 1 (4 is a pass) and A-level grades A* to E. Universities classify degrees as First (70% and above), 2:1 (60% to 70%), 2:2 (50% to 60%) and Third (40% to 50%). A pass mark is typically 40%, and thresholds can vary slightly between universities.
Germany and the Netherlands
German universities grade from 1.0 (excellent) to 5.0 (failed), so a lower number is better, and 4.0 is the worst grade that still passes. German schools use a 1 to 6 scale. The Netherlands grades from 1 to 10, where 10 is outstanding and 5.5 is the pass mark. A 4.0 passes in Germany while a 4 fails in the Netherlands, so never compare the numbers directly.
France
France uses a 0 to 20 scale (0 to 10 in some places). An average of 10 out of 20 is generally enough to pass, 12 is seen as a decent result, and a yearly average of 16 or above is rare and regarded as excellent.
India
India uses percentages out of 100 with divisions such as First with Distinction and Second, and a 10-point GPA at some institutions such as the IITs. The pass mark for a subject can be as low as 33%, and it depends on the university.
Australia
Australia has no national scale. Universities use High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, Pass and Fail, with a pass mark of 50. At the University of Sydney and UNSW, HD is 85-100, D is 75-84, Cr is 65-74, P is 50-64 and F is 0-49. Bands differ between institutions.
China
China uses a 100-point scale on many university transcripts, where the pass mark is usually 60. Transcripts may instead show letter grades, descriptive grades (Excellent to Fail), or a mix, and some subjects are graded pass or fail only. Band boundaries differ between schools.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one grading system used worldwide?
No. Countries use letters, percentages, number scales or descriptive bands, and many schools set their own cut-offs.
What is a passing grade in different countries?
It varies. About 50 in Australia, usually 60 in China, 5.5 in the Netherlands, 4.0 at German universities, 10 out of 20 in France, about 40% in the UK, and as low as 33% per subject in India. See the table above.
Is a lower or higher number better?
It depends on the country. In Germany, 1.0 is the best grade. In the Netherlands, 10 is the best.
How do I convert my grades to the US system?
Use the school’s own conversion if it gives one. Otherwise, ask the receiving school which method it uses. Converters give estimates, not official results.
Is a 12 out of 20 a good grade in France?
It is generally seen as a decent result. An average of 16 or above is rare and regarded as excellent.
Which country has the strictest grading?
No source here ranks countries. Pass marks and norms differ, so a direct comparison would not be reliable.