The Dutch Grading System in schools and universities
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The Dutch 10-point grading scale (10-puntensysteem) runs from 1 to 10, with 10 the best grade and 1 the worst. The lowest passing grade is 6. There is no percent key; grading rules are set nationally by the Minister of Education, Culture and Science.
This page explains what Dutch grades mean, who sets them and how they are reported, including the national school-leaving exam. It also covers teaching students from the Netherlands, related grading systems, and sources used for verification.
What each Dutch grade means
Dutch secondary-education marks use a scale from 1 (very poor) to 10 (excellent), with no percentage key. A 6 is the minimum passing grade, and a mark of 5.5 is rounded to 6.
| Grade | Native label | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Uitmuntend | Excellent | Yes |
| 9 | Zeer goed | Very good | Yes |
| 8 | Goed | Good | Yes |
| 7 | Ruim voldoende | Very satisfactory | Yes |
| 6 | Voldoende | Satisfactory | Yes |
| 5 | Bijna voldoende | Almost satisfactory | No |
| 4 | Onvoldoende | Unsatisfactory | No |
| 3 | Zeer onvoldoende | Very unsatisfactory | No |
| 2 | Slecht | Poor | No |
| 1 | Zeer slecht | Very poor | No |
In secondary education, 6 is the minimum passing grade; a 5.5 is rounded up to a 6. Grades 1 through 3 and 9 and 10 are almost never awarded.
For the VWO or HAVO school-leaving exam, a candidate passes if the average mark across all final examination subjects is at least 5.5 and the requirements for final marks, core subjects and the arithmetic test are met (Eurydice).
Who sets Dutch grades and how they are reported
The Minister of Education, Culture and Science sets grading rules nationally, approves the examination syllabus for school and national exams, and is responsible for drawing up attainment targets.
The National Institute for Curriculum Development publishes school exam guidelines for each subject and education level (Eurydice).
On most primary schools, children receive three report cards each year; schools decide how to report progress, using grades or words (Rijksoverheid.nl).
Students who complete Dutch secondary education must provide a diploma and a cijferlijst (grade list) (Nuffic).
Teaching students from the Netherlands
Students from the Netherlands may bring a leaving certificate or a schoolrapport (school report card). Check which document the student has provided, and ask for clarification if needed.
Record the grades in your gradebook using the key shown on the document. Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
More pages in this section are on the way.
Sources and verification
- [1]nuffic.nl. Cijfers en studieresultaten | Nuffic. Accessed Sep 17, 2026. Official source
- [2]rijksoverheid.nl. Hoe legt de basisschool de ontwikkeling van mijn kind vast? | Rijksoverheid.nl. Accessed Sep 17, 2026. Official source
- [3]nuffic.nl. Grading systems | Nuffic. Accessed Sep 17, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in general secondary education (HAVO, VWO). Accessed Sep 17, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Sep 23, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in the Netherlands?
In Dutch secondary education, 6 is the minimum passing grade. A grade of 5.5 is rounded up to 6.
Do schools in the Netherlands use percentages for grades?
No. Dutch secondary-education marks use a 1-to-10 scale, and there is no percentage key.
Is a 5 a good grade in the Netherlands?
No. A 5 means “Bijna voldoende” (almost satisfactory) and is a failing grade; 6 is the minimum passing grade in secondary education.
