German Grade Converter
Enter your grade, the best possible grade and the lowest passing grade of your system. The calculator applies the modified Bavarian formula and returns the equivalent German grade (1.0 is best, 4.0 is the lowest pass).
🔒 Runs in your browser — the numbers you enter are not uploaded or stored. Results are estimates; your school’s own rules decide. Last reviewed: October 2026.
How to use the German Grade Converter
- Pick your grading system — the best (Nmax) and lowest passing (Nmin) grades are filled in — or enter your own scale.
- Type your overall grade (Nd).
- Read the German grade. Use “German grade → my scale” to go the other way.
The modified Bavarian formula
German universities use the formula to compare foreign grades with the German scale, where 1.0 is the best grade and 4.0 the lowest pass:
X = 1 + 3 × (Nmax − Nd) ÷ (Nmax − Nmin)
X is the German grade, Nmax the best possible grade in your system, Nmin the lowest passing grade and Nd your grade. The method is based on a resolution of the German Conference of Ministers of Education (Kultusministerkonferenz) and is described, for instance, on the pages of TUM and the Leibniz University Hannover (conversion table).
Examples
| System | Grade | Nmax / Nmin | Calculation | German grade | Cut / rounded to 1 decimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India, percentage | 75% | 100 / 40 | 1 + 3 × (100 − 75) ÷ (100 − 40) | 2.25 | 2.2 / 2.3 |
| USA, GPA | 3.5 | 4 / 1 | 1 + 3 × (4 − 3.5) ÷ (4 − 1) | 1.5 | 1.5 / 1.5 |
| China, percentage | 85 | 100 / 60 | 1 + 3 × (100 − 85) ÷ (100 − 60) | 2.125 | 2.1 / 2.1 |
| UK, percentage | 65% | 100 / 40 | 1 + 3 × (100 − 65) ÷ (100 − 40) | 2.75 | 2.7 / 2.8 |
| India, 10-point CGPA | 8.0 | 10 / 4 | 1 + 3 × (10 − 8.0) ÷ (10 − 4) | 2.0 | 2.0 / 2.0 |
Whether the result is cut off or rounded to one decimal varies between universities (2.25 becomes 2.2 or 2.3), so the calculator shows both.
The German grading scale
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1.0 – 1.5 | sehr gut (very good) |
| 1.6 – 2.5 | gut (good) |
| 2.6 – 3.5 | befriedigend (satisfactory) |
| 3.6 – 4.0 | ausreichend (sufficient, lowest pass) |
| worse than 4.0 | nicht ausreichend (fail) |
A result worse than 4.0 means your grade is below the lowest passing grade you entered; a result better than 1.0 means it is above the best grade you entered, which usually points to a typo in Nmax or Nmin.
Letter grades and other special cases
If your system uses letters, give each letter a number in ascending order from the best grade, as TUM suggests: A+ = 1, A = 2, B = 3, C = 4, D = 5, E = 6. Then enter 1 as the best grade (Nmax), 5 as the lowest passing grade (Nmin) and the number of your overall letter grade as Nd. The formula works in either direction, so a scale where the best grade has the smaller number is fine.
Remember that the result is non-binding. The university’s own regulations or its application service decide how your grade is converted for admission, and some programs use country-specific tables instead of the formula.
Frequently asked questions
What is the modified Bavarian formula?
A formula based on a Kultusministerkonferenz resolution that maps a foreign grade onto the German scale: X = 1 + 3 × (Nmax − Nd) ÷ (Nmax − Nmin).
Is 1.0 or 4.0 the best German grade?
1.0 is the best grade and 4.0 the lowest passing grade. Anything worse than 4.0 is a fail.
Is the result official?
No. Universities such as TUM state that their converters give a non-binding first estimate; the university’s examination regulations decide.
What are Nmax and Nmin for the US GPA?
Usually 4.0 for the best grade and 1.0 for the lowest passing grade, but your school’s scale may differ (some use 4.3 or 0.7). Edit the numbers if so.
Can I convert a German grade to my system?
Yes. Choose “German grade → my scale”; the calculator reverses the formula to Nd = Nmax − (X − 1) × (Nmax − Nmin) ÷ 3.