The Russian grading system in schools
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The Russian grading system uses the Five-point school grading scale, which runs from 1 to 5: 5 is the best grade and 1 the worst. The lowest passing grade is 3, and there is no percent key.
The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation sets the grading rules.
This page explains what each grade means and how grades are set and reported. It also covers considerations for teaching Russian students online or abroad, related grading systems, and sources used to verify the information.
What each Russian grade means
From 2nd to 11th grade, Russian school progress is mostly measured on a five-point scale.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | highest grade | Yes |
| 4 | Yes | |
| 3 | minimum passing mark: Confirms mastery of the basic general education program. | Yes |
| 2 | lowest grade for school work | No |
| 1 | Denotes misbehavior. | No |
The minimum mark confirming mastery of the basic general education program is «3».
A 5 is the highest grade, while a 2 is the lowest grade for school work and the minimum passing mark confirming mastery of the basic general education program is 3. A 1 denotes misbehavior.
Compared with related systems
Russia
3 of 5 grades pass
Denmark
5 of 7 grades pass
Finland
6 of 7 grades pass
Georgia
6 of 10 grades pass
Who sets Russian grades and how they are reported
Russian grading rules are set nationally by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
The Ministry of Education oversees the development of federal state educational standards for secondary and vocational education, while the Ministry of Science and Higher Education develops standards for higher education. (etu.ru; RUSSIA)
If you teach Russian students online or abroad
Ask students to share the grading documents they bring. Check the grade key on each document and record the grades with that key. 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]doc.fipi.ru. 04-44_18.02.2026.pdf. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [2]cis-legislation.com. Law of the Russian Federation "About education". Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Official source
- [3]news.itmo.ru. Making Sense of the Russian Grading System. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]etu.ru. Academic grading system in Russia. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [5]etf.europa.eu. NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK – RUSSIA. pdf. Accessed Oct 10, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 16, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Russia?
The minimum passing grade in Russian schools is 3. It confirms mastery of the basic general education program.
How do Russian grades convert to US grades?
No US grade conversion is specified for Russian grades.
Do schools in Russia use percentages for grades?
Russian school grades use a five-point scale, and there is no percentage key.
Is a 3 a good grade in Russia?
A 3 is the minimum passing grade in Russia, confirming mastery of the basic general education program.
