The Albanian Grading System in primary and secondary schools
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The Albanian grading system uses a main school scale of numerical marks from 4 to 10, with 10 as the best grade and 4 the worst. The lowest passing grade is 5, and there is no percent key.
Grading rules are set nationally by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth.
This page explains what each grade means and how grading works in Albania, including the State Matura Exam. It also covers teaching Albanian students online or abroad, related grading systems, and sources for verification.
What each Albanian grade means
Students in 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade are assessed with words and phrases, while students in other grades receive grades from 4 to 10. The words used include mirë (good) and keq (bad). (2020 GEM Report; Eurydice)
| Grade | Passing |
|---|---|
| 10 | Yes |
| 5 | Yes |
| 4 | No |
5 is the lowest passing grade; the evidence says students in grades other than 1st, 2nd and 3rd repeat the class under specified failure conditions.
For students in grades other than 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 5 is the lowest passing grade (2020 GEM Report).
Compared with related systems
Albania
2 of 3 grades pass
Denmark
5 of 7 grades pass
Finland
6 of 7 grades pass
Georgia
6 of 10 grades pass
How grading works in Albania
Albania sets grading rules nationally through the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth. Students receive a dëftesë (marks transcript) each school year, currently online at SMIP.
Students in first, second and third grade do not repeat a class unless their parents request it.
Students in other grades repeat if they fail at least three core or selected subjects, fail one subject in the autumn session, or receive a “Poor” behaviour result at the end of the academic year.
The State Matura exams conclude upper secondary education and open the way to higher education or the labour market. They will be held from 1 to 26 June 2026 (Eurydice).
If you teach Albanian students online or abroad
Students from Albania may bring a dëftesë, a marks transcript.
Check the document type and record the grades in your own gradebook using the scale explained above. Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
- Denmark7-step numeric scale, 12 is best; passing grade 02 (Den tilstrækkelige præstation)
- Finland7-step numeric scale, 10 is best; passing grade 5 (välttävä)
- Georgia10-step numeric scale, 10 is best; passing grade 5 (Low)
- Italy11-step numeric scale, 10/10 is best; passing grade 6/10 (Sufficient attainment; pass)
- 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]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Organisation of general upper secondary education. Accessed Oct 6, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [2]gem-report-2020.unesco.org. Albania | 2020 GEM Report. pdf. Accessed Oct 6, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [3]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Overview. Accessed Oct 6, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in single-structure education. Accessed Oct 6, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 15, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Albania?
For students in grades other than 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 5 is the lowest passing grade on the 4–10 scale. Students in 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade are assessed with words and phrases instead.
Do schools in Albania use percentages for grades?
There is no percent key for the Albanian grading scale.
Is a 5 a good grade in Albania?
Yes. For students in grades other than 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 5 is the lowest passing grade, so it is a pass, though it is the lowest one.
