Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last Verified: October 2026Primary Sources Sourced
Quick answer
China has no single GPA scale. Universities record most course grades out of 100, with 60 as the pass mark, and each school converts marks to grade points by its own rule.
Peking University, Beihang University and Beijing Institute of Technology use GPA = 4 − 3 × (100 − X)² ÷ 1600. Tsinghua maps 12 letter grades to a 4.0 scale, and some schools use a straight 5.0 scale where 60 = 1.0 and each extra mark adds 0.1. A mark of 75 becomes 2.83, 2.3 or 2.5 depending on the school, so always use your own university’s rule.
Peking University stopped using GPA for students who entered in 2025.
The Chinese 100-point scale
Chinese universities usually record a course result as a mark out of 100 (百分制) and sometimes as one of five grade levels (等级制). Beihang University’s published scale and the Capital University of Economics and Business (CUEB) use these bands (Beihang, CUEB):
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 优秀 | Yōuxiù | Excellent | 90–100 |
| 良好 | Liánghǎo | Good | 80–89 |
| 中等 | Zhōngděng | Fair | 70–79 |
| 及格 | Jígé | Pass | 60–69 |
| 不及格 | Bùjígé | Fail | Below 60 |
GPA in Chinese is 绩点 (jìdiǎn, “grade point”) for a single course and 平均学分绩点 (“average credit-weighted grade point”) for the GPA. Peking University’s and Beihang’s documents use both terms. Not every school uses these band cut-offs: Tsinghua, for example, uses letter grades with different thresholds, shown below.
How Chinese universities convert marks to grade points
The published rules fall into three families. Whichever applies, the GPA is the credit-weighted average: Σ(grade point × credits) ÷ Σcredits.
1. A formula: Peking University, Beihang and BIT
Peking University’s grade-recording measures give the course grade point as 4 − 3 × (100 − X)² ÷ 1600 for marks X from 60 to 100. A mark of 100 gives 4.00, a mark of 60 gives 1.00, and anything below 60 gives 0 (Peking University measures, 2019). Beihang uses the same formula (Beihang). Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) also uses it and rounds each course’s grade point to one decimal place (BIT, 2022).
Courses graded in five levels instead of marks use a fixed grade point, and the two schools differ:
| Five-level grade | Beihang | BIT |
|---|---|---|
| 优秀 Excellent | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| 良好 Good | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| 中等 Fair | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| 及格 Pass | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| 不及格 Fail | 0 | 0 |
2. Letter bands: Tsinghua
Tsinghua’s grade-recording regulation records results in 12 letter grades and gives each a mark band and a grade point (Tsinghua regulation, 2015 version):
| Letter grade | Mark | Grade point |
|---|---|---|
| A+, A | 95–100 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90–94 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 85–89 | 3.3 |
| B | 80–84 | 3.0 |
| B- | 77–79 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 73–76 | 2.3 |
| C | 70–72 | 2.0 |
| C- | 67–69 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 63–66 | 1.3 |
| D | 60–62 | 1.0 |
| F | 59 and below | 0 |
3. A straight 5.0 scale: North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power and CUEB
North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power sets a mark of 60 at 1.0 and adds 0.1 for every extra mark, so 100 reaches 5.0. Its five-level grades convert as 优秀 = 4.5, 良好 = 3.5, 中等 = 2.5, 及格 = 1.5 and 不及格 = 0 (university grading note). CUEB’s published table matches it, with 90–100 worth 4.0–5.0, 80–89 worth 3.0–3.9, 70–79 worth 2.0–2.9 and 60–69 worth 1.0–1.9 (CUEB).
The same mark gives different grade points
These values come from the rules above, applied to the same four marks.
| Mark | Peking University / Beihang formula (4.0) | Tsinghua (4.0) | Straight 5.0 scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | 3.95 | 4.0 (A) | 4.5 |
| 88 | 3.73 | 3.3 (B+) | 3.8 |
| 75 | 2.83 | 2.3 (C+) | 2.5 |
| 62 | 1.29 | 1.0 (D) | 1.2 |
A grade point from one school should never be compared with another school’s without knowing which rule produced it.
Worked example
Four hypothetical courses worth 12 credits in total, converted three ways. Each cell is the grade point, and the bottom rows show grade points × credits, totalled.
| Course | Mark | Credits | Formula (4.0) | Tsinghua (4.0) | Straight (5.0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 95 | 3 | 3.95 → 11.86 | 4.0 → 12.0 | 4.5 → 13.5 |
| B | 88 | 4 | 3.73 → 14.92 | 3.3 → 13.2 | 3.8 → 15.2 |
| C | 76 | 2 | 2.92 → 5.84 | 2.3 → 4.6 | 2.6 → 5.2 |
| D | 62 | 3 | 1.29 → 3.88 | 1.0 → 3.0 | 1.2 → 3.6 |
| Total (12 credits) | 12 | 36.50 | 32.8 | 37.5 | |
| GPA (total ÷ 12) | 3.04 | 2.73 | 3.13 (out of 5.0) |
The same transcript gives 3.04, 2.73 or 3.13 depending on the rule. To check your own result, use the lookup tool below and compare it with the rule your university publishes.
| Method | Result |
|---|
Each row applies a rule published by the university or institution named on this page. Your own university’s rule decides your official grade point. This tool does not produce an official GPA.
The tool is a planning aid only and does not produce an official GPA.
Peking University’s 2025 change
On 25 July 2025, Peking University posted a notice on its internal network saying that from the Class of 2025, GPA is no longer used in academic evaluations. Course results may be recorded as marks or as letter grades, letter grades are not converted to grade points, and the university no longer sets a guideline rate for excellent results. From autumn 2025, students can also take one eligible course each semester on a pass/non-pass basis (Beijing News, Guangming Daily).
The 2019 formula above still describes how earlier cohorts’ grade points were calculated. Tsinghua also records results in 12 letter grades (EOL).
How US schools read Chinese marks
We found no China-to-US GPA conversion published by a government body. Each US institution sets its own. Western Kentucky University (WKU) and the NAIA publish the same bands for their own admissions (WKU, NAIA):
| Chinese mark | US grade used |
|---|---|
| 85–100 | A |
| 75–84 | B |
| 60–74 | C |
These bands are not universal. A mark of 88 is an A here but a B+ at Tsinghua, so check what the programme you are applying to uses.
WES evaluation of Chinese transcripts
- WES evaluates qualifications from programmes and institutions recognised by China’s Ministry of Education (WES support).
- WES advises applicants to submit complete transcripts listing every course, grade and credit (WES Advisor).
- WES describes its GPA as credits multiplied by quality points, totalled and divided by total credits. Its evaluations are non-binding advisory opinions.
- China joined the Apostille Convention, which entered into force for China on 7 November 2023 (HCCH). Ask the receiving institution whether it requires one.
Fees, report types and turnaround change, so confirm them on wes.org. Our WES evaluation guide explains the process step by step.
Reporting your Chinese grades on an application
- Report grades as they appear on your transcript, including the scale (marks, 4.0 or 5.0).
- Attach your university’s grade-conversion note if one exists. Many schools publish a bilingual one, such as Beihang’s page.
- Convert only if the application asks. If it names an evaluator, use that one.
- Report the figure you are given and do not round it up.
Converting other grading systems? See these guides:
Frequently asked questions
What is GPA in Chinese?
绩点 (jìdiǎn) is a course grade point, and 平均学分绩点 is the credit-weighted average, which universities label GPA (Beihang).
What is the passing grade in China?
60 out of 100. Peking University gives a mark of 60 a grade point of 1.00 and anything below 60 a grade point of 0 (Peking University measures).
Does China have a national GPA scale?
We found none. The sources above show a formula, a letter-band table and a straight 5.0 scale in use at different universities.
How does Peking University calculate GPA?
Course grade point = 4 − 3 × (100 − X)² ÷ 1600 for marks of 60 to 100, then a credit-weighted average. The university stopped using GPA for students who entered in 2025.
What is the average GPA in China?
We found no official national average. Schools use different scales, so one national figure would not be meaningful.
Can I convert my Chinese grades to a US GPA myself?
Only as an estimate. US institutions set their own bands, and some programmes require a formal evaluation, so follow the method your target programme names.
How we researched this
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We compared each rule with the university document linked beside it: Peking University’s grade-recording measures (2019), Beihang’s grading page, Beijing Institute of Technology’s 2022 GPA rules, Tsinghua’s grade-recording regulation (2015 version), CUEB’s grade table (2023) and North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power’s grading note. We also checked the published China standards of WKU and the NAIA, WES’s Advisor guidance and support pages, and the HCCH notice on China and the Apostille Convention. Peking University’s 2025 notice was posted on its internal network, so we cite news reports of it. The worked example uses hypothetical marks. Several schools update their rules, so confirm the current version with your registrar.
This page is for general information. LearnViaHub is not affiliated with WES, any university or any government agency mentioned. 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.