German grades to GPA, explained
The German grading scale runs from 1 to 6 — and it's the reverse of what many students expect: 1 is the best and 6 is the worst. Here's what each grade means, the pass mark, and how German grades roughly convert to a US GPA.
The German scale (1–6)
| Grade | German | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | sehr gut | Very good (best) |
| 2 | gut | Good |
| 3 | befriedigend | Satisfactory |
| 4 | ausreichend | Sufficient (lowest pass) |
| 5 | mangelhaft | Deficient (fail) |
| 6 | ungenügend | Insufficient (fail) |
At university level, grades are often given with decimals from 1.0 to 4.0 (1.0 best, 4.0 lowest pass, 5.0 fail).
Rough conversion to US GPA
| German grade | Approx. US letter | Approx. GPA |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 – 1.5 | A | 4.0 |
| 1.6 – 2.5 | A- / B+ | 3.3 – 3.7 |
| 2.6 – 3.5 | B / C+ | 2.5 – 3.0 |
| 3.6 – 4.0 | C / D (pass) | 1.7 – 2.3 |
| 5.0 – 6.0 | F (fail) | 0.0 |
These are approximate. Official conversions for university applications often use the modified Bavarian formula, which calculates your grade relative to the top and pass marks of your program. Always check the receiving institution's method.
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Grade my work freeFrequently asked questions
- Is 1 or 6 the best?
- 1 is the best (sehr gut); 6 is the worst. It's the reverse of the US system.
- What's the pass mark?
- 4 (ausreichend) is the lowest pass; 5 and 6 fail.
- What is a German 1.0 in GPA?
- Roughly a 4.0 / an A, though exact conversions vary by institution.
Related guides: How the IB is graded · The Danish 7-point scale