The Polish Grading System for primary and secondary schools
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The Polish grading system uses a national Learning-achievement grading scale from 1 to 6, with 6 the best grade and 1 the worst.
The lowest passing grade is 2; there is no percent key, and grading rules are set nationally by the Minister of Education and Science.
This page explains how teachers can read and interpret Polish grades, how they are set and reported, and what to consider when teaching students from Poland. It also covers related grading systems and sources for verification.
Reading the Polish scale
Polish grades depend on the school stage and exam: the GCSE scale uses numbered grades and U, while higher education uses grades and a pass mark. Grade 2 is the lowest pass in secondary education, and grade 3 is the lowest pass in higher education.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | excellent | Yes |
| 5 | very good | Yes |
| 4 | good | Yes |
| 3 | satisfactory | Yes |
| 2 | acceptable | Yes |
| 1 | unsatisfactory | No |
‘Unsatisfactory’ is not a passing mark; a pupil with one such mark may take a repeat/resit exam, and a pupil who does not pass is not promoted, although the teaching council may conditionally promote a pupil with mark 1 in one subject only.
A school-year or primary-cycle distinction requires an average of at least 4.75 in compulsory classes and a behaviour mark of at least Very good. (Nuffic; Eurydice)
Compared with related systems
Poland
5 of 6 grades pass
Denmark
5 of 7 grades pass
Finland
6 of 7 grades pass
Georgia
6 of 10 grades pass
Who sets Polish grades and how they are reported
The Minister of Education and Science sets Poland’s national grading rules.
In primary and secondary schools, teachers conduct internal assessment under requirements and marking methods set by each school’s statutes, while the Central and Regional Examination Boards conduct external assessment.
The eighth-grader exam follows ministerial regulations (Eurydice).
Teaching students from Poland
Documents from Poland may include a świadectwo ukończenia liceum ogólnokształcącego, a school leaving certificate for a general secondary school, or a świadectwo dojrzałości, a maturity certificate.
Check which document the student has and record the grades using the key for the Polish scale. 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]gov.pl. Assessment objectives - Poland in the UK - Gov.pl website. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [2]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [3]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in general upper secondary education. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in single-structure education. Accessed Oct 10, 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 Poland?
In Poland, the lowest passing grade in secondary education is 2, which is acceptable; 1 is unsatisfactory and does not pass. In higher education, the lowest passing grade is 3.
Do schools in Poland use percentages for grades?
No. The Polish learning-achievement scale uses grades from 1 to 6, and there is no percent key.
Is a 3 a good grade in Poland?
A 3 is satisfactory in the school learning-achievement scale, but it is not the lowest passing grade: 2 is the lowest pass in secondary education. In higher education, 3 is the lowest passing grade.
