Turkey Grading System for teachers: scales and pass marks
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The Turkey grading system used in schools is the National 5-point grading scale, which runs from 5 to 0 to 1. Grade 5 is the best, while 0 and 1 are the worst; 2 is the lowest passing grade.
Grading rules are set nationally by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE), while percentage equivalents are a widely used convention, not a national rule.
This page explains how to read Turkish grades and how grading works, with guidance for teachers working with students from Turkey. It also covers related grading systems and sources for checking information.
Reading the Turkish scale
In general and technical secondary schools, the widely used percentage convention places 2 (D) at 45–54, but it is not a national rule.
| Grade | Native label | Meaning | Passing | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Pek İyi | Very good | Yes | 85 to 100% |
| 4 | İyi | Good | Yes | 70 to 84% |
| 3 | Orta | Average | Yes | 60 to 69% |
| 2 | Noksan | Pass | Yes | 50 to 59% |
| 0 to 1 | Pek Noksan/Geçmez | Fail | No | 0 to 49% |
Percent bands follow a widely used convention, not a national rule. WENR reports these percentage ranges as part of its description of the national grading scale.
Grade Point 2 is the lowest passing grade; Grade Point 0 to 1 is a fail.
In lower secondary schools and imam hatip lower secondary schools, 50.00 is the success threshold in most subjects and 70.00 in Turkish; semester, end-of-year and cumulative success grades use a scale of 100. (Nuffic; Eurydice)
In lower secondary schools and imam hatip lower secondary schools, a student succeeds in a course at year end if the average of the two semester scores is at least 50, or if the second-semester score is at least 70, regardless of the first-semester score (Eurydice).
Compared with related systems
Turkey
4 of 5 grades pass
Denmark
5 of 7 grades pass
Finland
6 of 7 grades pass
Georgia
6 of 10 grades pass
How grading works in Turkey
The Ministry of National Education (MoNE) sets grading rules nationally.
Its Assessment and Evaluation Regulation governs assessment in pre-primary, primary, lower secondary and imam hatip secondary schools; a separate regulation governs measurement and evaluation in upper secondary schools.
Upper secondary exams, performance studies, projects and applications are marked out of 100 points (Eurydice).
In upper secondary schools, a report card is issued at the end of each semester to report students’ success (Eurydice).
Teaching students from Turkey
Students from Turkey may bring a Lisans Geçici Mezuniyet Belgesi, a provisional certificate of the bachelor’s degree. Check the document and ask the student for the grading key if you need to enter the grades in your gradebook.
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]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Oct 5, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [2]wenr.wes.org. Türkiye: Secondary Education - WENR. Accessed Oct 5, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [3]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in general upper secondary education. Accessed Oct 5, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in Single Structure Education. Accessed Oct 5, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 14, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Turkey?
On Turkey’s national 5-point scale, 2 (Noksan, “Pass”) is the lowest passing grade, corresponding to 50–59% under a widely used convention. Grades 0–1 are failing. In lower secondary schools, the threshold is 50 in most subjects and 70 in Turkish; other school stages may use different scales and rules.
Do schools in Turkey use percentages for grades?
Yes. Schools use percentage scores, but the percentage equivalents for the national 5-point scale are a widely used convention, not a national rule. Lower-secondary grades and upper-secondary exams and assessments are also marked on a 100-point scale.
Is a 3 a good grade in Turkey?
On the national 5-point scale, 3 is Orta (“Average”), corresponding to 60–69% under a widely used convention. It is above the lowest passing grade, which is 2, but it is not among the top two grades.
