Afghanistan grading system for teachers
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The Afghanistan grading system uses the main school Numeric grading scale, a 100-point scale in which 90–100 is the top band and 40 is the pass mark.
Its percentage ranges are an official key, and grading rules are set nationally by the Ministry of Education.
This page explains the scale and how national rules shape school grading, then covers what teachers may encounter when teaching Afghan students online or abroad. It also points to related grading systems and sources used to verify the information.
The Afghan grading scale: 100-point
The Afghan numeric grading scale is an official key with percentage ranges and quality points. A is the top grade and carries 4 quality points; F means Failure and carries 0 quality points.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90-100 | A: 4 quality points | Yes | 90 to 100% |
| 80-89 | B: 3 quality points | Yes | 80 to 89% |
| 55-79 | C: 2 quality points | Yes | 55 to 79% |
| 40-54 | D: 1 quality point | Yes | 40 to 54% |
| 0-39 | F (Failure): 0 quality points | No | 0 to 39% |
Percent bands are set by the authority. The evidence presents these numeric ranges in the national grading scale.
Afghan secondary education uses a separate set of marks, with Pass covering 40 to 65 and Fail applying below 40. The lowest passing mark in secondary education is 40. (s3.amazonaws.com; Nuffic)
Compared with related systems
Afghanistan
4 of 5 grades pass
China
4 of 5 grades pass
Japan
4 of 5 grades pass
France
4 of 5 grades pass
How Afghan school grading is run
The Ministry of Education sets Afghanistan’s grading rules and issues the 12th Grade graduation certificate. Students who complete Afghan secondary education receive this certificate, which is a diploma that includes a transcript.
The امتحانات لیاقت، سویه، مشروطی و معذرتی continue to be held as before, with Ministry of Public Health health recommendations observed and separate preventive measures followed during the exams. (وزارت معارف; Nuffic)
If you teach Afghan students online or abroad
Students may bring a 12th Grade graduation certificate, which includes a transcript and is awarded to students who have completed Afghan secondary school. Record the grades in your own gradebook.
Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
- China5-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade D (Pass)
- Japan5-step numeric scale, 5 is best; passing grade 2 (Poor)
- France5-step points scale, 16.00 - 20.00 is best; passing grade 10.00 - 11.99 (Passable)
- Germany6-step numeric scale, 1 is best; passing grade 4 (Ausreichend)
- Ireland8-step numeric scale, 1 is best; passing grade 7
Sources and verification
- [1]moe.gov.af. اطلاعیه وزارت معارف | وزارت معارف. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [2]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [3]s3.amazonaws.com. Afghanistan.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 19, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Afghanistan?
For the national numeric grading scale, 40–54 is the lowest passing band (D). In Afghan secondary education, 40–65 is marked Pass, while marks below 40 are Fail.
Do schools in Afghanistan use percentages for grades?
Yes. The national numeric scale has official percentage ranges: 90–100%, 80–89%, 55–79%, 40–54%, and 0–39%. These correspond to A, B, C, D, and F (Failure), respectively.
Is a 55-79 a good grade in Afghanistan?
On the national numeric scale, 55–79 is a C. Afghan secondary education uses a separate system, where 70–78 is Good and 40–65 is Pass; 55–79 does not correspond to a single mark in that system.
