Multi-Scale GPA Comparison Tool
Enter your US 4.0 GPA once and instantly see the equivalent in eight major international grading systems. Built for students applying abroad.
Enter your US 4.0 GPA once and instantly see what it converts to in eight major grading systems used by universities worldwide.
Conversions are estimates. Each university applies its own conversion table — always check the school's published guidance for high-stakes applications.
Major grading systems explained
United States — 4.0 scale
The most common scale globally for graduate admissions. A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, down to F = 0.0. Some schools use 4.33 (A+ = 4.33). Weighted high-school GPAs run on a 5.0 scale with +0.5 / +1.0 boosts for honors and AP courses.
United Kingdom — Class of Honours
Undergraduate degrees are awarded as First (1st), Upper Second (2:1), Lower Second (2:2), Third (3rd), or Pass. The 2:1 is the standard "good degree" benchmark — roughly equivalent to a US 3.3–3.7. UK universities do not compute a numeric GPA for the bachelor\u2019s degree; classification comes from a weighted module average.
Germany — 1.0 to 5.0 (lower is better)
1.0 is the highest possible mark, 4.0 is the lowest passing mark, and 5.0 is fail. The "modified Bavarian formula" is the standard cross-walk: x = 1 + 3 × (max − G) / (max − min), where G is your GPA and the min/max are typical passing/failing values. Most German universities accept a US 3.5+ as roughly equivalent to a 1.7 or better.
India — CGPA out of 10
Most Indian universities use a 10-point cumulative grade point average. The standard conversion to percentage is pct ≈ CGPA × 9.5, and to US GPA is US ≈ CGPA / 2.5. The IITs and select premier institutes use slightly different formulas that admissions committees know to apply.
China — 5.0 or 4.0 scale
Top Chinese universities (Tsinghua, Peking) use a 4.0 scale very similar to the US system. Many other universities use a 5.0 scale where a "good" grade is around 4.0. Conversion is institution-specific.
Australia — 7-point scale
Most Australian universities grade in five bands: High Distinction (7), Distinction (6), Credit (5), Pass (4), and Fail (0–3). A US GPA of 3.7+ maps to High Distinction.
How to present an international GPA on US graduate applications
The standard approach is to use a credentialing service — WES (World Education Services), ECE, or SpanTran — to produce an officially recognized course-by-course evaluation with a US GPA equivalent. The fee is typically $150–250, and most US graduate programs require it. Our calculator gives you a quick, free estimate so you know roughly what to expect before paying for the official evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need a multi-scale GPA tool?
If you are applying to universities outside your home country, admissions offices read GPAs in their local system. A US 3.7 means little to a German university expecting a 1.5 — but the Multi-Scale Comparison Tool shows you both at once, so you can present your record correctly.
How accurate are international scale conversions?
They are estimates. The biggest universities publish their own conversion tables (WES, ECE, the German DAAD), and our tool uses the most common public mappings. Always cross-check the destination university’s published guidance for high-stakes applications.
What is a 1st-class honours GPA equivalent?
A UK First (1st Class Honours) corresponds roughly to a US GPA of 3.7 or higher — typically the top 10–15% of a UK class. A 2:1 (Upper Second) is around 3.3–3.7, and a 2:2 (Lower Second) is around 2.7–3.3.
How does Indian CGPA convert to US GPA?
Indian universities typically use a 10-point CGPA. The most common conversion is GPA = CGPA / 2.5, so a 9.0 CGPA ≈ 3.6 US GPA. Tier-1 IITs and IIMs sometimes apply a stricter scale.