The French grading system (sur 20), explained
France grades everything out of 20 (sur 20). The pass mark is 10/20, and marks above 12, 14 and 16 earn honours called mentions. A 20/20 is almost never awarded, so a 16 is already an outstanding result.
The grades and what they mean
| Note /20 | Mention | Meaning | ≈ US GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16–20 | Très bien | Excellent (rare) | 4.0 |
| 14–15.9 | Bien | Very good | 3.7 |
| 12–13.9 | Assez bien | Good | 3.3 |
| 10–11.9 | Passable | Pass | 2.5–3.0 |
| 8–9.9 | — | Fail (may resit) | 1.5 |
| 0–7.9 | — | Clear fail | 0.0 |
The pass mark
10/20 is the pass mark (la moyenne). Between 8 and 10 you may be able to compensate with other subjects or resit; below 8 is a clear fail. Anything from 10 up earns a mention as it climbs.
Because a 20 is essentially unattainable, French averages look low to outsiders — a 14 (bien) is a genuinely strong result.
Converting French grades to a US GPA
As a rough guide: 16+ ≈ 4.0, 14 ≈ 3.7, 12 ≈ 3.3, 10 ≈ 2.5–3.0 (pass). Always confirm with the receiving institution — many use the WES or their own table.
The mentions explained
Très bien (16+) = with highest honours, bien (14+) = with honours, assez bien (12+) = with merit, passable (10+) = pass. These appear on the baccalauréat and university diplomas.
Obtiens ta note sur 20
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Grade my work freeFrequently asked questions
- What is the pass mark in France?
- 10 out of 20 (la moyenne). Below 10 is a fail, though 8–10 can sometimes be compensated or resat.
- What is a good grade sur 20?
- 12 (assez bien) is good, 14 (bien) is very good, and 16+ (très bien) is excellent and rarely awarded.
- Why are French grades so low?
- Markers essentially never give 19 or 20, so the usable top of the scale is ~16. A 14/20 is an A-level result, not a mediocre one.
Related guides: German grades to GPA · Spanish grading system