Germany
German Grading Scale Explained
German universities grade on a reverse scale: 1.0 is the best grade, 4.0 is the minimum pass, and 5.0 is a fail. Lower is better — a 1.3 is an excellent result, not a poor one. Grades usually step in 0.3/0.7 increments (1.0, 1.3, 1.7, 2.0 …), and the words on your transcript map to bands: sehr gut (very good), gut (good), befriedigend (satisfactory), ausreichend (sufficient).
The bands
| Grade range | German term | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0–1.5 | sehr gut | Very good / excellent |
| 1.6–2.5 | gut | Good |
| 2.6–3.5 | befriedigend | Satisfactory |
| 3.6–4.0 | ausreichend | Sufficient — minimum pass |
| 5.0 | nicht ausreichend | Fail |
Scale variants between universities
- 0.3/0.7 steps: most universities grade 1.0, 1.3, 1.7, 2.0 … 4.0, then 5.0 for a fail.
- Whole grades: some faculties use only 1–5 without intermediate steps.
- 0.7 as best: a few universities (e.g. Hamburg, Marburg) award 0.7 above 1.0 for exceptional work.
The calculators on this site preload the variant used by each German university page.
Converting to and from German grades
Foreign grades are converted into the German system with the modified Bavarian formula — see the Bavarian formula guide. There is no official one-to-one German-to-US GPA conversion; US evaluators read a German 1.x as excellent, but each evaluator applies its own method. Use your official transcript plus a grading-scale explanation whenever possible.
Germany GPA Calculators
Use the calculator for your university after checking the conversion or grading guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1.0 or 4.0 better in Germany?
1.0 is the best possible grade; 4.0 is the minimum passing grade. The German scale runs in reverse compared with GPA systems — lower numbers are better.
What is a good German grade?
Anything up to 1.5 is "sehr gut" (excellent) and 1.6–2.5 is "gut" (good). Competitive master's programmes in Germany often expect a 2.5 or better, and many scholarships look for 1.x grades.
How do I convert my German grade to a US GPA?
There is no official conversion. A rough reading treats 1.0–1.5 as equivalent to an A/4.0-range record, but US evaluators each use their own method — submit your transcript with the official grading legend.