Vol. I · International Tools · Free · No Signup · Issue 01 · 2026
The reverse 1.0-5.0 scale to 4.0

Convert German grades to US GPA.

Germany uses a reverse grading scale: 1.0 is the best and 5.0 is failing. This is the opposite of the US system, which often confuses people at first glance. A German 1.3 (Sehr gut) is equivalent to a US 4.0. This converter handles the mapping using standard credential evaluation tables.

Germany to US GPA Converter
US GPA Equivalent
--
German GradeLabelUS GPA
1.0 - 1.3Sehr gut4.0
1.4 - 1.7Gut (high)3.7
1.8 - 2.3Gut / Befriedigend3.3
2.4 - 3.0Befriedigend3.0
3.1 - 3.6Ausreichend (high)2.3
3.7 - 4.0Ausreichend (low)2.0
5.0Nicht ausreichend0.0

About this grading system

The German grading system runs from 1.0 (excellent) to 5.0 (fail), with 4.0 being the minimum passing grade. The Bavarian Formula is a commonly used mathematical conversion for translating German grades to other systems. German grading tends to be strict — a 1.0 is rare and highly prestigious. Grades are typically given to one decimal place. The system applies across universities (Universitäten) and applied sciences institutions (Fachhochschulen).

How to use this calculator.

Step by step
I.

Enter your grade.

Use the format from your country.

II.

See the US equivalent.

Instantly converted to the 4.0 scale.

Why the easy version.

Four reasons
I.

Accurate conversion

Based on standard credential evaluation mappings.

II.

Reference table

Full conversion table included.

III.

Context provided

Explains how the grading system works.

IV.

Free, no signup

Immediate access.

Frequently asked questions.

Yes. A 1.7 falls in the Gut (good) range and is equivalent to roughly a US 3.7 GPA. It is a strong academic result.
It is a historical convention. Lower numbers indicate higher quality, similar to ranking systems. 1 = best, 5 = worst.
It is a mathematical formula used to convert grades between different grading scales. The formula accounts for the passing grade and maximum grade of both systems.
Major research universities do. For smaller schools, a WES evaluation provides clear documentation.
Generally 1.0-1.7 (Sehr gut to Gut) for top-tier programs. A 2.0-2.3 is acceptable for most graduate programs.

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