How is the Grading System in German Education

All the three types of Higher Education Institutions (Universitäten, Fachhochschulen and Kunst- und Musikhochschulen) in Germany offer Bachelor’s and Master’s study courses and Diploma program which can be compared to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in other countries. The German grading system differs quite a lot from the Indian system of grading as well as the UK/ US CGPA system. This system is also known as the TUM grading system.

German schools use a 6 point grading scale (GPA) from 1 to 6, where 1 is the best possible grade and 6 is the lowest, failing grade. The German grade conversion formula is used to find the grade that your local percentage equals to. 

Germany’s gymnasiums (higher secondary school) convert these grades into “points” in the last 3 years.

 

On the other hand, German universities (universitat) and universities of applied sciences (fachhochschule), a scale of 1 to 5 is used.

 

What German grades mean

Average range of German grades

What grades mean

1.0 – 1.3

sehr gut (very good): an outstanding achievement

1.7 – 2.3

gut (good): a substantially above average achievement

2.7 – 3.3

befriedigend (satisfactory): an average achievement

3.7 – 4.0

ausreichend (sufficient): an achievement which barely meets the requirements

5.0 – 6.0

mangelhaft/ ungenügend/ nicht bestanden (insufficient / failed): does not meet the requirements

It’s easier to understand the conversion of German grades into the international standards if we compare them with the US grading system and the UK grading system along with the percentage of marks.

Conversion table for German grades

Percentage

German grades at various levels

 

Primary & lower secondary school

(1st-10th grade)

Upper secondary school

(Gymnasium’s 11, 12 & 13 grades)

Tertiary

(Fachhochschule & Universität)

US
system

UK system

90-100%

1+

15 points

1.0

A+

A

1

14 points

1-

13 points

1.3

A

A

80-90%

2+

12 points

1.7

A-

2

11 points

2.0

A/B

2-

10 points

2.3

65-80%

3+

9 points

2.7

B+

B

3

8 points

3.0

B

B/C

3-

7 points

3.3

B-

C

50-65%

4+

6 points

3.7

C+

4

5 points

4.0

C

D

0-50%

4-

4 points

5.0

D+

E

5+

3 points

D

5

2 points

D

F

5-

1 point

6

0 points

F

G

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