Understanding the Swedish grading system
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There is no percentage key, and the Ministry of Education and Research sets the rules nationally.
This page explains how the grades are reported and what teachers should know when teaching students from Sweden. It also points to related grading systems and sources used to verify the information.
The Swedish grading scale: A to F
The Swedish A–F scale has six levels: A to E are passing grades, and F is a non-pass grade. A is the best grade, F the worst, and E is the lowest passing grade.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent: The highest grade; criteria describe knowledge at three levels: E, C and A. | Yes |
| B | Yes | |
| C | Good: Criteria describe knowledge at three levels: E, C and A. | Yes |
| D | Yes | |
| E | Pass: Lowest passing grade; all parts of the E criteria must be met. | Yes |
| F | Fail: Given when there is sufficient evidence to assess the student’s knowledge but it does not reach E. | No |
A–E are passing grades; F is failing. All criteria for E must be met. A dash (–), not a grade, is used when assessment material is entirely absent due to substantial absenteeism; the evidence also says pupils who do not reach a pass level in a subject are not awarded a grade in that subject.
To receive E, a pupil must meet all the knowledge requirements for E. F is given when there is enough evidence to assess the pupil’s knowledge, but it does not reach E (Skolverket).
Compared with related systems
Sweden
5 of 6 grades pass
Denmark
5 of 7 grades pass
Finland
6 of 7 grades pass
Australia
No pass mark
Who sets Swedish grades and how they are reported
Swedish grading rules are set nationally by the Ministry of Education and Research. The teacher teaching a student when grades are assigned assesses the student’s knowledge against the grading criteria and assigns the grade that best matches it.
The principal and teachers are responsible for giving students clear, coordinated and adapted information about how grades are set (Skolverket).
Teaching students from Sweden
Ask students to provide their report cards or transcripts. Check which Swedish grading scale the documents use before recording the grades in your own system.
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)
- Australia4-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Canada11-step letter-grade scale, A+ is best; passing grade D (Marginal)
- 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]skolverket.se. Betygsskalan - Skolverket. Accessed Oct 1, 2026. Official source
- [2]skolverket.se. Nationella program - Skolverket. Accessed Oct 1, 2026. Official source
- [3]skolverket.se. Från bedömningar till betyg - Skolverket. Accessed Oct 1, 2026. Official source
- [4]skolverket.se. Betyg - Skolverket. Accessed Oct 1, 2026. Official source
- [5]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in single-structure education. Accessed Oct 1, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 11, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Sweden?
E is the lowest passing grade in Sweden. A pupil must meet all the knowledge requirements for E; F is a failing grade.
