Ukraine Grading System: Primary levels and secondary grades
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The Ukraine grading system uses a national Level-based assessment scale from H to I, with H the highest grade and I the lowest.
No single pass mark or percentage conversion is stated for this scale; grading rules are set nationally by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU).
This page explains what the grades mean, how assessment works, and what teachers supporting students from Ukraine may encounter, including the state final attestation (SFA). It also provides related grading systems and sources for verification.
What each Ukrainian grade means
The Level-based assessment uses grades from H to I, with H the best and I the worst. In secondary schools, grades from 1 to 12 are passing: 1 is the lowest pass and 12 the highest.
| Grade | Meaning | Passing |
|---|---|---|
| H | high | Yes |
| S | sufficient | Yes |
| A | average | Yes |
| I | initial | Yes |
The sources state no pass mark for this scale; the grades report levels of achievement.
The grades are grouped into four achievement levels, from Beginner to High. Formative and thematic assessments most often use a 12-point or 5-10-point scale; semester and annual assessments use a 12-point scale.
Compared with related systems
Ukraine
No pass mark
Albania
2 of 3 grades pass
Austria
No pass mark
Australia
No pass mark
How grading works in Ukraine
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) sets national grading rules and regulates assessment through methodological recommendations.
General secondary education institutions may use the legal 12-point scale or their own system, but those with their own system must set rules for converting grades to the official scale (Eurydice).
The Свідоцтво досягнень documents assessment results and includes characteristics of learning activities based on cross-cutting skills in the State Standard of Basic Secondary Education (Освітня платформа Вектор).
For learners in grades 10–11/12, semester results are recorded in the progress report, and the achievement certificate records one annual grade per subject (Eurydice).
The SFA is the state final attestation; it assesses whether learners have reached the required education level and applies to learners completing general secondary education in grade 11/12 and to learners in vocational and technical education (Eurydice).
Teaching students from Ukraine
Students from Ukraine may bring a Свідоцтво досягнень (achievement certificate). Check the document’s grade key and ask the student or family to clarify any marks you cannot interpret. Record the grades in your gradebook using a consistent key.
Set the scale up once in a gradebook so every report card and transcript you produce uses the same key.
Related grading systems
- Albania3-step numeric scale, 10 is best; passing grade 5
- Austria5-step numeric scale, 7 is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Australia4-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Bahamas7-step letter-grade scale, A is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Botswana10-step grading scale, A* is best; passing grade No pass mark
- Germany6-step numeric scale, 1 is best; passing grade 4 (Ausreichend)
Sources and verification
- [1]vector.uied.gov.ua. ОЦІНЮВАННЯ НАВЧАЛЬНИХ ДОСЯГНЕНЬ УЧНІВ У НОВІЙ УКРАЇНСЬКІЙ ШКОЛІ | Освітня платформа Вектор. Accessed Oct 22, 2026. Official source
- [2]nuffic.nl. Grades and study results | Nuffic. Accessed Oct 22, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [3]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in single-structure education. Accessed Oct 22, 2026. Credential evaluator
- [4]eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu. Assessment in specialised secondary education. Accessed Oct 22, 2026. Credential evaluator
The facts on this page were last verified on Oct 22, 2026. Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
What is a passing grade in Ukraine?
In Ukrainian secondary schools, grades from 1 to 12 are passing, with 1 the lowest pass. A dash (“-”) means insufficient and indicates failure. Primary-school level labels do not have a stated pass mark.
How do Ukrainian grades convert to US grades?
There is no stated conversion between Ukrainian and US grades. Secondary-school grades use a 12-point scale, and schools with their own grading system must set rules for converting grades to Ukraine’s official 12-point scale.
Do schools in Ukraine use percentages for grades?
No percentage key is stated for the Ukrainian level-based or 12-point grading scales. EIE results use a 100–200 point scale, but that is a separate exam scale, not a percentage conversion.
Is a A a good grade in Ukraine?
In primary-school level-based assessment, A means average. H is the highest level, while I is the lowest; A is not a letter grade on the secondary-school 12-point scale.
