Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last checked: 28 October 2026
Quick answer
Spain grades each subject on a 0 to 10 scale with one decimal: 0–4.9 Suspenso (fail), 5.0–6.9 Aprobado (pass), 7.0–8.9 Notable and 9.0–10 Sobresaliente. A Matrícula de Honor mention can be added for 9.0 or more, limited to 5% of the students enrolled in the subject (Royal Decree 1125/2003, art. 5).
The average on your transcript is a credit-weighted average of the numeric grades. We found no official Spain-to-US GPA formula.
Prefer to check your own grade? Use the tool below, then compare it with the official scale and examples on this page.
Spanish grade tool
Look up a grade's official descriptor, or work out a credit-weighted average on the 0 to 10 scale.
Enter only subjects you passed with a numeric grade. Spain's official average divides by the credits obtained, so failed subjects and credits recognised for activities outside the plan are left out.
Descriptors, the one-decimal scale, the average formula and the Matrícula de Honor rule follow Royal Decree 1125/2003, article 5. The tool gives no US GPA or ECTS letter because no official Spain-to-US formula was found, and institutions map ECTS letters differently. This is a guide, not an official result.
The Spanish 0–10 scale
Royal Decree 1125/2003 sets one scale for official university degrees, and the BOE publishes a consolidated text of it (BOE-A-2003-17643). UPV notes that the same system applies to all higher-education institutions in Spain (UPV).
| Grade | Descriptor | English |
|---|---|---|
| 9.0–10 | Sobresaliente (SB) | Outstanding |
| 7.0–8.9 | Notable (NT) | Remarkable |
| 5.0–6.9 | Aprobado (AP) | Pass |
| 0–4.9 | Suspenso (SS) | Fail |
The decree says grades have one decimal. Some universities show two, and UPV states that one or two decimals may appear (UPV). A subject is passed at 5.0 or more, so 5.0 is the lowest passing grade, not a good grade.
Matrícula de Honor
The decree lets a university add the mention “Matrícula de Honor” for students with a grade of 9.0 or more. It cannot exceed 5% of the students enrolled in the subject that academic year, unless fewer than 20 are enrolled, in which case one may be given (art. 5.6). It is a mention added to the numeric grade, which stays unchanged (Universidad de Cádiz regulation).
| Students enrolled in the subject | Maximum Matrículas de Honor |
|---|---|
| 15 | 1 |
| 20 | 1 |
| 39 | 1 |
| 40 | 2 |
| 100 | 5 |
| 250 | 12 |
How the transcript average works
The transcript shows numeric grades together with the percentage distribution of those grades among all students of the degree that year (art. 5.2). The average is Σ(credits obtained × grade) ÷ Σcredits obtained (art. 5.3). Because it divides by credits obtained, subjects you failed earn no credits and are not in it. Credits recognised for activities outside the plan are not graded numerically and do not count (art. 5.5; UPV).
Worked example (hypothetical). 6 credits at 7.5, 6 at 9.2 and 4.5 at 6.0 give (45 + 55.2 + 27) ÷ 16.5 = 127.2 ÷ 16.5 = 7.71, which is in the Notable band.
How institutions map Spanish grades
Each institution publishes its own table. These three disagree, so none is an official standard.
| Spanish grade | Illinois State (Nebrija exchange) | UAB (ECTS column) | Regent’s University London (ECTS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 with Matrícula de Honor | A | A+ | A |
| 9.0–10 | A | A | A |
| 8.0–8.9 | B | B | A (8–10) |
| 7.0–7.9 | B | B | B |
| 6.0–6.9 | C | C | C |
| 5.0–5.9 | C | C | D (5.5) or E (5) |
| 0–4.9 | F | F | F |
Sources: Illinois State University articulation with Universidad Antonio de Nebrija (updated 22 March 2023), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Regent’s University London grade conversion table. The Illinois State table applies to students on that exchange, not to every US school. The UAB and Regent’s columns give ECTS letters, and the same 8.0 is a B at UAB and an A at Regent’s.
Spanish grades on US applications
We found no official Spain-to-US GPA formula, so we show none. Follow each program’s instructions. If it does not ask for a US GPA, give your grades on the 0 to 10 scale exactly as on your transcript, and attach the Suplemento Europeo al Título if the application allows documents. If it requires an evaluation, our WES evaluation guide explains the process. For other systems, see GPA systems around the world and our Portugal guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is 5.0 a good grade in Spain?
No. It is the lowest passing grade, in the Aprobado band of 5.0 to 6.9 (Royal Decree 1125/2003).
What is a Matrícula de Honor?
A mention for a grade of 9.0 or more, limited to 5% of the students enrolled in a subject, or one mention when fewer than 20 are enrolled.
Do failed subjects count in the average?
No. The official average divides by credits obtained, so failed subjects are not in it.
Is there a separate final degree scale?
The decree gives one scale. A student’s transcript average is the credit-weighted average of the numeric grades, so it is expressed on the same 0 to 10 scale.
What is a Notable?
Notable (NT) covers 7.0 to 8.9 on the 0 to 10 scale (art. 5.4).
Is there an official Spain-to-US GPA conversion?
We found none. US schools and evaluators decide, and published tables differ, as the comparison above shows.
How we researched this
Last checked: 28 October 2026. We read the full text of Royal Decree 1125/2003 (published in the BOE, article 5), UPV’s explanation of the Spanish system, a Universidad de Cádiz regulation on Matrícula de Honor, and the published grade tables of Illinois State University, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Regent’s University London. The worked example and the table of maximum Matrículas de Honor are our own arithmetic.
Limits: we re-read article 5 of the decree on a university-hosted copy and the Cádiz regulation, and the UAB table on its page. Regent’s PDF (revised September 2019) was only partly readable, so its lower rows are as printed on this page earlier and not re-confirmed. We did not re-open the Illinois State and UPV pages. These are three institutions’ tables, not a standard. Rules change and universities add their own practices, so confirm yours with your registrar.
This page is for general information. LearnViaHub is not affiliated with any Spanish ministry or university, Illinois State University, Regent’s University London or any credential evaluator.
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.