The Norwegian Grading System in Schools
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This page explains how the scale is used, outlines national grading practices and central written exams, and offers context for teachers working with Norwegian students online or abroad. It also points to related systems and sources for verification.
The Norwegian grading scale: 1 to 6
The Norwegian scale runs from 1 to 6, with 6 the top mark and 1 the lowest. The marks describe competence in the subject, from very low at 1 to very high at 6. In upper secondary education, grades 2 to 6 are passing.
| Grade | Native label | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | seks | six: Very high competence in the subject; highest grade. | Yes |
| 5 | fem | five: Very good competence in the subject. | Yes |
| 4 | fire | four: Good competence in the subject. | Yes |
| 3 | tre | three: Fairly good competence in the subject. | Yes |
| 2 | to | two: Low competence in the subject; passing in upper secondary education. | Yes |
| 1 | en | one: Very low competence in the subject; lowest grade. | No |
Grades 2 to 6 mean the subject is passed. A subject with grade 1 in the final assessment is passed if the exam grade is 2 or better, except when the exam is interdisciplinary. In upper secondary education, passing corresponds to grades 2 to 6.
A grade 1 in the final assessment is passed if the exam grade is 2 or higher, except for an interdisciplinary exam (udir.no).
Compared with related systems
Norway
5 of 6 grades pass
Denmark
5 of 7 grades pass
Finland
6 of 7 grades pass
Georgia
6 of 10 grades pass
How Norwegian school grading is run
Norwegian grading rules are set nationally by the Directorate of Education and Training, which develops, implements and administers the overall testing and assessment system, including centrally given examinations.
County authorities decide which subjects pupils will be examined in. Pupils receive written six-month evaluations twice during the school year for each subject and for order and conduct; from year 8, these evaluations include marks (Eurydice).
At the end of grade 10, pupils take a written examination in one of Norwegian/Sami, Mathematics or English, decided locally each year for groups of pupils.
They must be informed 48 hours before the examination, which is answered digitally and marked externally by volunteer teachers. Most pupils also sit an oral examination organised locally (Eurydice).
If you teach Norwegian students online or abroad
Ask students to share their report cards and transcripts, and check the grading key before recording their grades. 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]udir.no. Karakterer | udir.no. Accessed Sep 30, 2026. Official source
- [2]udir.no. 5 Karakterer og andre vurderingsuttrykk | udir.no. Accessed Sep 30, 2026. Official source
- [3]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in general upper secondary education. Accessed Sep 30, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in single-structure education. Accessed Sep 30, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 10, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Norway?
In Norway, grades 2 to 6 are passing. A grade 1 in the final assessment is passed if the exam grade is 2 or higher, except for an interdisciplinary exam.
Do schools in Norway use percentages for grades?
No. The Norwegian school grading scale uses marks from 1 to 6, not percentages.
Is a 3 a good grade in Norway?
A grade of 3 means fairly good competence in the subject. Grades 2 to 6 are passing, so 3 is a passing grade.
