Japan Grading System: how grades work in Japanese schools
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Japan’s main school subject scale is the Five-point rating: 5 is the best grade and 1 the worst. A grade of 2 is the lowest passing mark.
There is no percentage key, and grading rules are set nationally by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
This page explains how to interpret Japanese grades and how grading works. It also offers guidance for teaching students from Japan and points to related grading systems and sources.
What each Japanese grade means
Japan’s main school scale runs from 1 to 5, with 5 as the best grade and 1 as the worst. Grade 2 is the lowest passing grade and is described as “Poor”; grade 1 is described as “Fail.” There is no percent key.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Excellent: Excellent | Yes |
| 4 | Very Good: Very Good | Yes |
| 3 | Good: Good | Yes |
| 2 | Poor: Poor | Yes |
| 1 | Fail: Fail | No |
Grade 2 is the lowest passing grade; grade 1 is described as Fail.
The overall subject rating uses a five-level scale in junior high and high school and a three-level scale in elementary school, but is not used in the lower elementary grades.
Compared with related systems
Japan
4 of 5 grades pass
Netherlands
5 of 10 grades pass
How grading works in Japan
Japan sets grading rules nationally through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
The Ministry specifies the learning-assessment format in the official student record, and the National Institute for Educational Policy Research provides reference materials.
Schools should plan systematic efforts to improve assessment validity and reliability (mext.go.jp).
Schools customarily show subject ratings on report cards two or three times a year, by term; the official student record has one rating field for each school year.
The method for determining ratings should follow the responsible board of education’s policy and guidance and the teacher’s professional, comprehensive judgment (mext.go.jp).
Teaching students from Japan
Students from Japan may bring a 通知表 (report card). In your gradebook, check the report card’s grading key and ask the student or their family about any grades you cannot interpret. Record the grades with the key used on the report card.
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]mext.go.jp. 学習評価の在り方について. pdf. Accessed Sep 23, 2026. Official source
- [2]mext.go.jp. 新学習指導要領の全面実施と 学習評価の改善について. pdf. Accessed Sep 23, 2026. Official source
- [3]wenr.wes.org. Japan: Secondary Education - WENR. 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 Japan?
In junior high and high school, grade 2 is the lowest passing grade and is described as “Poor.” Grade 1 is “Fail.”
Do schools in Japan use percentages for grades?
No. Japanese grades have no percentage key.
Is a 3 a good grade in Japan?
Yes. On the five-point scale used in junior high and high school, 3 means “Good.”
