Argentina grading system for secondary school
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The Argentina grading system uses a 10-point scale for secondary school, with 10 at the top and 6 as the passing mark. There is no percentage key. Regional authorities set grading rules, with coordination by the Consejo Federal de Educación.
This guide explains how to read Argentine grades and how grading works, including what teachers may need when teaching students online or abroad. It also points to related systems and sources for verification.
Reading the Argentine scale
The Argentine grading scale has no percentage key. In Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, grades in 4.º a 7.º grado (2.º ciclo) combine numeric grades with progress ratings, including En proceso.
| Grade | Native label | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Sobresaliente | Outstanding | Yes |
| 9 | Distinguido | Excellent | Yes |
| 8 | Muy Bueno | Very good | Yes |
| 7 | Bueno | Good | Yes |
| 6 | Suficiente | Sufficient | Yes |
| 1-5 | Insuficiente | Fail | No |
Grades 1-5, “Insuficiente,” mean Fail.
Students pass with En proceso or higher, or with 4 or more; in 7.º grado, they need 6 or more to pass (buenosaires.gob.ar).
Compared with related systems
Argentina
5 of 6 grades pass
Canada
10 of 11 grades pass
Mexico
5 of 6 grades pass
Denmark
5 of 7 grades pass
How grading works in Argentina
Grading rules are set by the regions and coordinated nationally by the Consejo Federal de Educación, so practices differ somewhat between regions.
The council will establish criteria and modalities for updating accreditation and comprehensive formative evaluation, and for designing proposals with assessment, accreditation and promotion guidelines, based on federal agreements (Ley 27652).
In Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, primary school boletines change from 2025. They show each student’s progress bimestre by bimestre and explain what is evaluated in each subject (buenosaires.gob.ar).
In the City, a student may remain in the same grade if, at the end of the Período de Acompañamiento para la Promoción, they still have a failing grade in Lengua and Matemática, and the school team and supervision consider this advisable after an overall evaluation (buenosaires.gob.ar).
If you teach Argentine students online or abroad
Check the grading key on each document, ask the student’s school to clarify any unfamiliar marks, and record the grades with the key shown. Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
- Canada11-step letter-grade scale, A+ is best; passing grade D (Marginal)
- Mexico6-step numeric scale, 10 is best; passing grade 6
- Denmark7-step numeric scale, 12 is best; passing grade 02 (Den tilstrækkelige præstation)
- Finland7-step numeric scale, 10 is best; passing grade 5 (välttävä)
- 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]boletinoficial.gob.ar. BOLETIN OFICIAL REPUBLICA ARGENTINA - ESTRATEGIA INTEGRAL PARA FORTALECER LAS TRAYECTORIAS EDUCATIVAS AFECTADAS POR LA PANDEMIA POR COVID-19 - Ley 27652. Accessed Oct 3, 2026. Official source
- [2]buenosaires.gob.ar. Nuevos boletines para la escuela primaria | Buenos Aires Ciudad - Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Accessed Oct 3, 2026. Official source
- [3]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Oct 3, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 14, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Argentina?
In Argentine secondary education, 6 is the lowest passing grade and is called “Suficiente” (Sufficient). Grades from 1 to 5 are “Insuficiente” and mean fail.
Do schools in Argentina use percentages for grades?
No. Argentine secondary grades use a 10-point scale, and there is no percentage key.
Is a 7 a good grade in Argentina?
Yes. In Argentine secondary education, 7 is “Bueno” (Good), and it is above the passing mark of 6.
