Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last checked: 17 October 2026
Quick answer
Germany grades in reverse: 1.0 is the best grade, 4.0 is the lowest pass, and 5.0 is a fail. A German 1.0 is not a low grade, and a German 4.0 is not a 4.0 GPA.
Schools use a 1 to 6 scale, and the Abitur scores each subject out of 15 points, where 15 is the best.
We found no official German-to-US GPA conversion. The table below is a planning estimate, and the converter shows how to turn your own grade into a German grade.
German grade converter
Enter your grade with the best and lowest passing values of your scale, or switch tabs to estimate a US GPA from a German grade. How the numbers are produced is explained further down.
German grade converter
Lower is better in Germany: 1.0 is the best grade and 4.0 is the lowest pass.
Formula: German grade = 1 + 3 × (Nmax − Nd) ÷ (Nmax − Nmin), cut to one decimal and not rounded, as in the KMK decision on foreign entrance certificates. For official use, Nmax and Nmin come from the ZAB assessment proposals in anabin; the presets above are our assumptions. This is an orientation figure, not a binding result.
German university grades: 1.0 to 4.0, with 5.0 as a fail
At German universities, 1.0 to 4.0 are passing grades and 5.0 is a fail. These are the bands commonly used for overall grades (Wikipedia, Academic grading in Germany, a secondary source):
| Grade | German term | English | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 to 1.5 | sehr gut | very good | Pass |
| 1.6 to 2.5 | gut | good | Pass |
| 2.6 to 3.5 | befriedigend | satisfactory | Pass |
| 3.6 to 4.0 | ausreichend | sufficient, barely meets requirements | Pass |
| 5.0 | nicht ausreichend | not sufficient | Fail |
Individual exam grades come in steps. TU Darmstadt, for example, grades in steps of 0.3 and does not award 0.7 or 5.3 (TU Darmstadt). Germans write decimals with a comma, so a transcript showing 2,3 means 2.3.
The band names and ranges are not identical everywhere. The exchange-student page of Hochschule Düsseldorf prints different labels, with ranges that overlap at 3.0 and 3.5 (Hochschule Düsseldorf). Check the grading key on your own transcript.
German school grades: 1 to 6
Schools grade from 1 to 6, and grades can carry a plus or a minus. A 4 is the lowest passing grade (Wikipedia).
| Grade | German term | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | sehr gut | very good |
| 2 | gut | good |
| 3 | befriedigend | satisfactory |
| 4 | ausreichend | sufficient (lowest pass) |
| 5 | mangelhaft | deficient (fail) |
| 6 | ungenügend | insufficient (fail) |
Abitur: the 15-point scale
In the upper years of school and in the Abitur, each subject is scored from 15 points down to 0. A certificate form we read prints the same 15-to-0 key (Niedersachsen certificate form), and the mapping to school grades is as follows (Wikipedia):
| Points | Grade | Points | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 1+ | 7 | 3− |
| 14 | 1 | 6 | 4+ |
| 13 | 1− | 5 | 4 |
| 12 | 2+ | 4 | 4− |
| 11 | 2 | 3 | 5+ |
| 10 | 2− | 2 | 5 |
| 9 | 3+ | 1 | 5− |
| 8 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Whether a given score counts as a pass depends on the course and the rules that apply, so we do not state pass marks for points. Your overall Abitur grade is printed on your certificate, so you report that grade rather than converting the points yourself.
Converting your grade to a German grade: the Bavarian formula
German universities use the modified Bavarian formula to place a foreign grade on the German scale. The rule comes from a decision of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (KMK) of 15 March 1991, in the version of 12 September 2013, on setting the overall grade for foreign university-entrance certificates (KMK decision, PDF).
German grade = 1 + 3 × (Nmax − Nd) ÷ (Nmax − Nmin)
- Nd is the grade you want to convert.
- Nmax and Nmin are the upper and lower reference values. In the KMK text they come from the ZAB assessment proposals, which are published in the anabin database.
- The result is cut to one decimal and is not rounded.
Two points the formula text settles. First, you do not choose Nmax and Nmin yourself in the official procedure. Second, the KMK decision covers entrance certificates. Universities also use the formula as an orientation for other grades: Hamburg and TU Darmstadt both say their calculators give an orientation and not a binding answer (Hamburg, TU Darmstadt).
Worked examples. The scale values here are our assumptions, because we found no official reference value for a US GPA:
| Your grade | Nmax / Nmin | Calculation | German grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| US GPA 3.5 | 4.0 / 1.0 | 1 + 3 × (4.0 − 3.5) ÷ (4.0 − 1.0) = 1.50 | 1.5 |
| US GPA 3.7 | 4.0 / 1.0 | 1 + 3 × (4.0 − 3.7) ÷ (4.0 − 1.0) = 1.30 | 1.3 |
| 85% | 100 / 40 | 1 + 3 × (100 − 85) ÷ (100 − 40) = 1.75 | 1.7 |
| 85% | 100 / 50 | 1 + 3 × (100 − 85) ÷ (100 − 50) = 1.90 | 1.9 |
The same 85% gives 1.7 or 1.9 depending on the lowest passing grade, and 1.75 becomes 1.7, not 1.8, because the result is cut. This is why the reference values matter.
Planning table for a US GPA, using Nmax 4.0 and Nmin 1.0 (our assumption that 1.0 is the lowest pass):
| US GPA | German grade |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 1.0 |
| 3.9 | 1.1 |
| 3.7 | 1.3 |
| 3.5 | 1.5 |
| 3.3 | 1.7 |
| 3.0 | 2.0 |
| 2.7 | 2.3 |
| 2.5 | 2.5 |
| 2.0 | 3.0 |
| 1.0 | 4.0 |
For a full transcript, see our GPA calculator. Your target university may use its own reference values, so check its admissions page.
German grade to US GPA
There is no official German-to-US GPA conversion that we could find. US schools and credential evaluators set their own methods, so ask your target programme which one it uses. If a formal evaluation is required, see our WES evaluation guide.
As a planning estimate, you can run the formula above backwards with Nmax 4.0 and Nmin 1.0, which gives US GPA = 5 − German grade:
| German grade | Estimated US GPA |
|---|---|
| 1.0 | 4.0 |
| 1.3 | 3.7 |
| 1.7 | 3.3 |
| 2.0 | 3.0 |
| 2.3 | 2.7 |
| 2.7 | 2.3 |
| 3.0 | 2.0 |
| 3.3 | 1.7 |
| 3.7 | 1.3 |
| 4.0 | 1.0 |
| 5.0 | Fail, no estimate |
This is our own arithmetic, not an evaluator’s table. It treats a German 4.0 as a 1.0 GPA, and a school or evaluator may read a barely passing German grade differently.
Reporting your German grades on an application
- Report your grades as printed, and say that 1.0 is the best grade and 4.0 the lowest pass.
- Include the grading key from your transcript where the application allows supporting documents.
- Convert only if the application asks, and use the method it names.
- Use the figure an evaluator gives you if a formal evaluation is required, and do not round it up.
Related guides:
Frequently asked questions
What is the German grading system?
Germany grades in reverse. At universities, 1.0 is the best grade, 4.0 is the lowest pass and 5.0 is a fail. Schools use 1 to 6, and the Abitur scores each subject from 15 points down to 0.
What is the passing grade in Germany?
At universities it is 4.0, and 5.0 is a fail. In schools a 4 is the lowest pass, and 5 and 6 are fails.
Is 1.0 or 5.0 the better German grade?
A 1.0 is the best grade and a 5.0 is a fail. Lower numbers are better.
What is a good German grade?
In the common bands, 1.0 to 1.5 is “sehr gut” and 1.6 to 2.5 is “gut”. How competitive a grade is depends on the programme, and we found no source that fixes one cut-off.
How do I convert my GPA to a German grade?
Use the modified Bavarian formula: 1 + 3 × (Nmax − Nd) ÷ (Nmax − Nmin), cut to one decimal. With Nmax 4.0 and Nmin 1.0, a 3.5 GPA gives 1.5. Those two values are our assumption, and universities may use their own.
How do I convert a German grade to a US GPA?
There is no official conversion. A planning estimate is 5 minus the German grade, for grades from 1.0 to 4.0, but US schools and evaluators use their own methods.
Is a German 4.0 the same as a 4.0 GPA?
No. A German 4.0 is the lowest passing grade. A German 1.0 is the best grade.
What is the Bavarian formula?
It is the method used to place a foreign grade on the German scale. It comes from a KMK decision of 15 March 1991, in the version of 12 September 2013, on foreign entrance certificates.
Do all German universities use the same grade bands?
No. The bands and labels vary, and some exchange pages print different ranges. Check the key on your own transcript.
How we researched this
Last checked: 17 October 2026. We read the KMK decision on overall grades for foreign entrance certificates (KMK page), the University of Hamburg and TU Darmstadt grade-conversion pages, the University of Erfurt’s formula sheet, Hochschule Düsseldorf’s grading page, a Niedersachsen certificate form and Wikipedia’s article on German grading.
Limits: the grade bands and the 15-point mapping come from a secondary source and may differ at your university or school. We found no official reference values for a US GPA and no official German-to-US conversion, so the US figures on this page are our own arithmetic with stated assumptions. We did not read individual university regulations beyond those named. Universities revise their rules, so confirm the current version with your registrar or admissions office.
This page is for general information. LearnViaHub is not affiliated with the KMK, DAAD, uni-assist, any German university or any credential evaluator. Check the requirements of your target programme before applying.
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education — including GPA systems, scholarships, student financing, and study-abroad guidance — for students worldwide.