The German Grading System and What Grades Mean
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Germany’s main school grading scale runs from 1 to 6: 1 is the best grade, and 6 is the worst. Grade 4 is the lowest passing grade; there is no percent key.
The Länder set grading rules, coordinated nationally by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder (Kultusministerkonferenz).
This page explains what each grade means and how grading works, then covers considerations for teachers working with German students online or abroad. It also points to related grading systems and sources for verification.
What each German grade means
German grades describe performance, and there is no percent key. In North Rhine-Westphalia, grade 4, ausreichend, means performance has deficiencies but still meets requirements overall. Grades 5 and 6 are failing grades in secondary education.
| Grade | Native label | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sehr gut | Very good | Yes |
| 2 | Gut | Good | Yes |
| 3 | Befriedigend | Satisfactory | Yes |
| 4 | Ausreichend | Sufficient | Yes |
| 5 | Mangelhaft | Almost sufficient | No |
| 6 | Ungenügend | Fail | No |
Grades 5 and 6 are failing grades.
In the qualification phase of the gymnasiale Oberstufe, performance is assessed on a scale of 15 to 0 points, with point options for marks 1 to 5 depending on the trend of marks. (Bildungsportal NRW; Nuffic; Eurydice)
The Allgemeine Hochschulreife is awarded with an average mark of 4 or at least 300 of 900 possible points (Eurydice). A leaving certificate after grade 9 is issued when marks are adequate or better in every subject or on the total average (Eurydice).
Compared with related systems
Germany
4 of 6 grades pass
Netherlands
5 of 10 grades pass
How grading works in Germany
Germany’s grading rules are set by the Länder, with national coordination by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder. Practices differ considerably between regions.
In almost all Länder, the education ministry sets Abitur examination tasks statewide, and the Länder have jointly developed examination-task pools (Eurydice).
Students receive a diploma and transcript from their school, often as one multi-page document, and the diploma names the federal state (Nuffic). Promotion depends on achievement at the end of the school year, as recorded in reports.
An adequate mark or better is generally required in each subject bearing on promotion, while poor or very poor marks can generally be offset to a certain extent by at least satisfactory marks in other subjects (Eurydice).
If you teach German students online or abroad
Students from Germany may bring an Abgangszeugnis (school-leaving report), an Erster Schulabschluss (First School Leaving Certificate), or a Mittlerer Schulabschluss (Intermediate School Leaving Certificate).
Check which document the student has and ask what its grades mean before recording them in your gradebook. Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
Sources and verification
- [1]schulministerium.nrw. Wie kommt eine Zeugnisnote zustande? | Bildungsportal NRW. Accessed Sep 23, 2026. Official source
- [2]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Sep 23, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [3]wenr.wes.org. Germany: Secondary Education - WENR. Accessed Sep 23, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in general lower secondary education. Accessed Sep 23, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [5]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in general upper secondary education. Accessed Sep 23, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Sep 25, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Germany?
In Germany’s main school grading scale, 4 is the lowest passing grade; grades 5 and 6 are failing. The scale runs from 1, the best grade, to 6, the worst.
How do German grades convert to US grades?
No US grade conversion is stated. Germany’s main school scale runs from 1 to 6, with 1 best and 6 worst.
Is a 4 a good grade in Germany?
A 4 is the lowest passing grade and means *ausreichend* (sufficient). In North Rhine-Westphalia, it describes performance with deficiencies that still meets requirements overall.
Is 1.7 a good German grade?
A 1.7 grade is not described, so its meaning cannot be determined from the stated scale.
Is 2.0 German GPA good?
A 2.0 grade is not described, so its meaning cannot be determined from the stated scale.
