Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last Verified: September 2026Sources Cited
Quick answer
GPA systems vary significantly around the world. The United States and Canada mainly use a 4.0 scale (some Canadian schools go to 4.33, others use different scales). The UK uses honours classifications (First, 2:1, 2:2, Third). Australia uses a 7.0 scale. India uses a 10.0 CGPA. Germany uses a reversed 1.0–5.0 scale (lower is better). France and Portugal use 0–20; Italy uses 18–30 for exams and 66–110 for degrees. China, Japan, Brazil, Mexico and Spain use percentage or 0–10 scales.
This page compares 23 countries in one table and links to the full guide for each.
For wider options, see our what is GPA guide, our GPA scales explained guide, and our how to calculate GPA guide.
Have a grade from another country? Try the comparison tool below to see how different methods treat it.
International grade comparison tool (estimate)
Pick a scale and enter your grade to see how different methods treat it. The gap between the methods is the point: there is no single official conversion.
Estimates only. This is not an official credential evaluation. Your destination institution, or an evaluation service, decides the actual conversion. Pass marks and the 8/10 reference levels come from the UNAM grade reference table, one institution's published method. Spotted a wrong result? Email [email protected].
Which Country Has the Highest GPA?
None does. Every country’s scale has a different maximum, so a 10.0 in India and a 4.0 in the US cannot be compared. What differs is the top grade on each scale:
| Top grade on the scale | Countries on this page |
|---|---|
| 4.0 (4.33 at some schools) | USA, Canada, Pakistan, Nepal (some), Philippines (some schools) |
| 4.5 / 5.0 | South Korea (4.5); Nigeria, Tanzania, Singapore (5.0) |
| 6.0 / 7.0 | Switzerland (6); Australia (7.0) |
| 10 / 20 | India, Spain, Brazil, Mexico (10); France, Portugal (20) |
| 100 / 110 | Japan, China (100); Italy (110 e lode for degrees) |
| Lower is better | Germany and the Philippines (1.0 is the top grade) |
| No GPA | UK (honours classes), Sweden (A–F) |
🇺🇸 United States: The 4.0 GPA Scale
A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0.0, with fractions for plus/minus (A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3). Many high schools also use a weighted 5.0 scale for AP/IB/Honors courses. Check: whether the application asks for a weighted or unweighted GPA. Full 4.0 scale with every grade →
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Honours Classification
The UK has no GPA. Degrees are classified from the average mark: First (70%+), 2:1 (60–69%), 2:2 (50–59%), Third (40–49%). UK marks run low: the UNAM grade table treats a UK mark of 55/100 as equal to its 8/10 level, far below the 80 a straight proportion would give.
Worked example: a 65% average falls in the 2:1 band (60–69%). Commonly cited US equivalents for a 2:1 are about 3.3–3.7, so ask the receiving institution which table it uses.
| UK class | Typical US GPA range |
|---|---|
| First (70%+) | about 3.7–4.0 |
| 2:1 (60–69%) | about 3.3–3.7 |
| 2:2 (50–59%) | about 2.7–3.2 |
| Third (40–49%) | about 2.0–2.5 |
Sources disagree by a few tenths. Check: report your classification and percentage, and use the receiving institution’s published equivalency if it has one. Full UK grading guide →
🇨🇦 Canada: 4.0, 4.33 and Other Scales
Canada has no uniform national system. Simon Fraser University gives an A+ 4.33; the University of Victoria uses a 9-point GPA (A+ = 9). Check: your own university’s legend, and do not assume a 4.0 scale. Sources: SFU, UVic.
Worked example: an A+ at Simon Fraser University counts as 4.33 points, not a capped 4.0. Full Canadian GPA guide →
🇦🇺 Australia: The 7-Point GPA Scale
At QUT, for example, 7 = High Distinction (85–100%), 6 = Distinction (75–84%), 5 = Credit (65–74%), 4 = Pass (50–64%), and 3 or below is a fail. Other universities set their own percentage ranges, and some also report a WAM (a percentage average) next to the GPA. Check: whether your transcript shows GPA, WAM or both, and which one your target asks for. Sources: QUT grading scale, QUT policy. Full Australian GPA guide →
🇮🇳 India: The 10-Point CGPA Scale
India commonly reports CGPA on a 10-point scale, alongside percentages. There is no single national formula for converting CGPA to percentage: the 9.5 multiplier is widely used (for example for CBSE) but is not universal. Check: your university’s official conversion statement. Evaluators and admissions offices commonly ask for it.
Worked example: illustration only: 9.0 × 9.5 = 85.5%, but your university’s official conversion statement overrides any multiplier. Full India guide → | CGPA to GPA converter →
🇩🇪 Germany: The Reverse 1.0–5.0 Scale
Lower is better: 1.0 is the top grade and 4.0 is the minimum pass (not Switzerland’s 1–6, where 6 is the top). German institutions convert foreign grades with the Modified Bavarian Formula: German grade = 1 + 3 × (best grade − your grade) ÷ (best grade − lowest passing grade). Example: on a 10-point scale with 5 as the pass mark, an 8 gives 1 + 3 × (10 − 8) ÷ (10 − 5) = 2.2 (formula as published by one German institute). It places the midpoint between pass and top at 2.5, the same pass-to-top logic as the UNAM grade table. Check: use your university’s real pass mark, and ask whether the target converts for you; some use uni-assist. Full German guide →
🇨🇭 Switzerland: The 1–6 Scale
6 is the highest and 4 the minimum pass, the opposite direction from Germany. A Swiss 4.5 is just above the pass mark; it is not a US 4.5 and cannot be read as a GPA. The UNAM grade table treats a Swiss 5 as its 8/10 level. Check: the receiving institution sets the US equivalent. Full Swiss guide →
🇫🇷 France: The 20-Point Scale
0–20, with 10 as the pass mark. The UNAM grade table treats 13/20 as equal to its 8/10 level, lower than the 15 you would get halfway between pass and top, which reflects strict grading. Check: do not treat 16/20 as “80%” in another system; send the original grade and ask which table the target uses. Full French guide →
🇮🇹 Italy: 18–30 for Exams, 66–110 for Degrees
Two separate scales: exams run 18–30 (18 = pass; 30 e lode is the top mark) and degrees run 66–110 (110 e lode is the top distinction). The UNAM grade table treats 24/30 as its 8/10 level. There is no official formula from Italian marks to a US GPA. Check: keep the two scales separate in an application, and ask the receiving university which table it applies. The ENIC-NARIC centre CIMEA publishes guidance. Full Italian guide →
🇪🇸 Spain: The 0–10 Scale
0–10 with 5 as the pass mark, lower than Mexico’s 6, so identical marks mean different things. The UNAM grade table treats a Spanish 7.5 as its 8/10 level. Full Spanish guide →
🇸🇪 Sweden: The A–F Scale
A is the top grade, E the minimum pass and F a fail (UNAM grade table). Check: send your letter grades as they appear on your transcript. Full Swedish guide →
🇳🇬 Nigeria: 5.0 University Scale, Separate Polytechnic Scale
Universities typically classify degrees by CGPA: First Class 4.50–5.00, 2:1 3.50–4.49, 2:2 2.40–3.49, Third 1.50–2.39, Pass 1.00–1.49. Polytechnics (ND/HND) use a separate scale, so the two are not interchangeable. Check: which institution type issued your transcript, and your university’s own regulations.
Worked example: a 4.60 CGPA falls in the First Class band (4.50–5.00) under the typical university classification. Full Nigerian guide →
🇹🇿 Tanzania: The 5.0 GPA Classification
Tanzanian universities classify degrees by cumulative grade-point average (maximum 5.0). The University of Dar es Salaam uses First Class 4.4 or higher, Upper Second 3.5–4.3, Lower Second 2.7–3.4, Pass 2.0–2.6. Check: the average is taken to one decimal place without rounding up (for example, 4.39 counts as 4.3, not 4.4), and other universities may set their own bands. Source: UDSM degree classification.
Worked example: at the University of Dar es Salaam, a 4.4 average is First Class, while a 4.39 counts as 4.3 (Upper Second).
🇵🇭 Philippines: Often the Reverse 1.0–5.0 Scale
Many universities use a reverse scale where 1.0 is the top grade and 3.0 the typical minimum pass. Some schools grade on a 4.0 letter-grade scale instead. Check: the legend on your transcript before converting. Full Philippine guide →
🇳🇵 Nepal: 4.0 and 10.0 Scales
Institutions use 4.0 or 10.0 CGPA scales. Check: your university’s scale and maximum before converting. Full Nepali guide →
🇵🇰 Pakistan: 4.0 GPA and Percentages
Universities generally use a 4.0 GPA scale (not 10.0), often with percentages. Check: foreign institutions commonly ask for degrees and transcripts attested by the HEC, often followed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and some want documents sent in a sealed envelope by your university. Sources: IBA, HEC. Full Pakistani guide →
🇸🇬 Singapore: 5.0 at NUS/NTU, 4.0-Based at SMU
NUS: A+ and A = 5.0, A− = 4.5, B+ = 4.0, B = 3.5, B− = 3.0, C+ = 2.5, C = 2.0, D+ = 1.5, D = 1.0, F = 0 (NUS). NTU also uses a 5.0 scale. SMU uses a 4.0-based scale with A+ = 4.3 and D = 1.0 as its lowest pass, per its 2016–17 exchange information (SMU grading). Check: a 3.5 at NUS and a 3.5 at SMU are not the same; confirm your current handbook. Full Singapore guide →
🇯🇵 Japan: 100-Point and GPA Scales
Universities typically grade on 100 points, with 60 as the usual pass mark, and many also report a GPA. Check: which figure the application asks for, and use the one on your official transcript. Full Japanese guide →
🇰🇷 South Korea: 4.5 and 4.3 Scales
Most universities use a 4.5-point top grade; some institutions use 4.3. Check: your transcript’s legend for the maximum before converting. Full Korean guide →
🇨🇳 China: The 100-Point Scale
Universities typically grade on 100 points, with 60 as the usual pass mark. Check: some foreign universities ask for CHSI verification reports of your transcript and degree, with an English translation. Source: University of Alberta guidance. Full Chinese guide →
🇧🇷 Brazil: The 0–10 Scale
0–10. The UNAM grade table lists 5 as the minimum pass and treats 7.5 as its 8/10 level; pass marks vary by institution (some use 6). Check: your university’s pass mark. Full Brazilian guide →
🇲🇽 Mexico: The 0–10 Scale
At UNAM, passing grades are 6 to 10, 6 is the minimum, 5 means “not accredited” and NP means “not presented” (UNAM exam regulation, art. 3). Rough estimate only: a US 3.5 is 87.5% of the 4.0 maximum, about 8.75/10 by simple proportion. This is not an official conversion. Full Mexican guide →
GPA Systems: Complete Comparison
All 23 systems in one view. Figures are typical; individual institutions may differ.
| Country | Scale | Top grade | Pass grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA | 4.0 | A = 4.0 | D = 1.0 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 4.0 / 4.33 / 9.0 (varies) | A+ = 4.33 (SFU) or 9 (UVic) | Varies by university |
| 🇬🇧 UK | Honours classification | First (70%+) | Third (40–49%) |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 7.0 | HD = 7.0 | P = 4.0 |
| 🇮🇳 India | 10.0 CGPA / % | O = 10.0 | D = 4.0 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 1.0–5.0 (reverse) | 1.0 (best) | 4.0 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 1–6 | 6 (best) | 4 |
| 🇫🇷 France | 0–20 | 20 | 10 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 18–30 / 66–110 | 30 e lode / 110 e lode | 18 / 66 |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 0–20 | 20 | 10 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 0–10 | 10 | 5 |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | A–F | A | E |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 5.0 (university) | A = 5.0 | E = 1.0 (polytechnic varies) |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | Up to 5.0 | First Class 4.4+ (UDSM) | Pass 2.0 (UDSM) |
| 🇵🇭 Philippines | 1.0–5.0 (reverse; some schools 4.0) | 1.0 (best) | 3.0 (typical) |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | 4.0 / 10.0 | A = 4.0 / 10.0 | Varies by institution |
| 🇵🇰 Pakistan | 4.0 (often with %) | A = 4.0 | Varies by university |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | 5.0 (NUS/NTU) / 4.0-based (SMU) | A+ = 5.0 (NUS) / 4.3 (SMU) | Varies by university |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 0–100 | 100 (秀) | 60 (可) |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 4.5 / 4.3 | A+ = 4.5 / 4.3 | Varies by institution |
| 🇨🇳 China | 0–100 | 100 | 60 |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 0–10 | 10 | Commonly 5 (some institutions 6) |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 0–10 | 10 | 6 (UNAM) |
How One University Actually Converts: A Published Example
Conversion is set by the receiving institution, and some publish their method. The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) lists, in its spring 2024 exchange call, the average on each foreign scale that it treats as equal to 8 out of 10 on its own scale. We compared those figures with a straight proportion (80% of each scale’s maximum):
| Country and scale | Pass mark | Straight proportion (80% of max) | UNAM’s published equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil, 0–10 | 5 | 8.0 | 7.5 |
| Spain, 0–10 | 5 | 8.0 | 7.5 |
| Portugal, 0–20 | 10 | 16 | 15 |
| France, 0–20 | 10 | 16 | 13 |
| Italy, 0–30 | 18 | 24 | 24 |
| Switzerland, 0–6 | 4 | 4.8 | 5 |
| UK, 0–100 | 40 | 80 | 55 |
| Germany, 5–1 (reverse) | 4 | no straight-line rule | 2.5 |
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest GPA?
None. Each country’s scale has a different maximum, so GPAs cannot be ranked across countries. See the table near the top for the top grade on each scale.
What is the average GPA in the world?
There is no official global average. Countries use different scales (4.0, 5.0, 7.0, 10.0, 20, 100), so one average would mix incompatible numbers.
Which countries use GPA?
GPA-style systems are used across North America, much of South and Southeast Asia, parts of the Middle East and parts of Africa. Many other countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Italy, use percentages, points or classifications instead, which can be converted to a GPA equivalent for international comparison.
Does the UK use GPA?
No. The UK uses honours classifications: First (70%+), 2:1 (60–69%), 2:2 (50–59%), Third (40–49%). For international applications these are converted to GPA equivalents, but the UK does not compute GPA internally.
Why is the German grading system backwards?
Germany uses a reverse scale where lower numbers are better: 1.0 is the top grade, 4.0 the minimum pass, 5.0 a fail. It is a long-standing convention in German-speaking countries and simply runs opposite to the US scale.
How we researched this
Last checked: 30 September 2026. We reviewed official university grading policies from Simon Fraser University, the University of Victoria, the University of Dar es Salaam, National University of Singapore, UNAM Mexico, and credential evaluation guidelines from WES and ECE.
This page is for general information and not official credential evaluation. Grading scales vary by institution. Check your target institution’s conversion policy 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.