Converting Grades for University Applications

Step 1: find out what the university asks for

Look at the admissions requirements for your country or qualification. They usually say one of three things:

1. “Provide your transcript in the original scale.” Do not convert. Enter your grades as printed and mention the scale.
2. “Submit an evaluation from an approved service.” Convert nothing yourself; order the evaluation and use its GPA.
3. “Convert your grades using our table or formula.” Use exactly that table. Germany’s universities, for example, use the modified Bavarian formula.

Credential evaluations

For US and Canadian admissions, many schools accept or require an evaluation by a service such as WES or ECE. A WES course-by-course evaluation lists the courses you completed, a U.S. semester-credit and grade equivalent for each, and a GPA on a 4.0 scale. WES also offers a free iGPA calculator whose conversions are based on the most common grading scales for your country of education. A calculator like ours gives you a range to plan with — the evaluation gives the number the university will use.

Different destinations, different habits

How to convert responsibly

• Keep the original grades visible. Never replace them with a converted figure unless you are told to.
• Convert course by course when you need a GPA. Converting an overall percentage in one step can give a different answer from a course-by-course evaluation.
• Use the rule you can source. A published university formula beats a forum table. Note the source.
• Round honestly. Reviewers can verify a conversion; an inflated figure damages credibility more than a slightly lower one.
• Keep the paperwork. If your university issued a conversion letter or certificate, upload it.

A checklist before you submit

1. Read the admissions page for your qualification and note whether it wants original grades, a conversion or an evaluation.
2. Order official transcripts early — some institutions take weeks.
3. If an evaluation is required, check which services the university accepts before you pay for one.
4. Calculate your estimates with the formulas the university names, and keep the working.
5. Write your grades exactly as they appear on your transcript, with the scale (“8.4 / 10”).
6. Upload supporting letters, such as your university’s conversion statement, together with the application.

If the requirement is unclear

Ask the admissions office. A short, specific email works best: say which qualification you have, your overall result and its scale, and ask which conversion or evaluation they expect. For example: “My CGPA is 8.4 on a 10-point scale. Do you need an official evaluation, or should I enter the original CGPA?” Keep the answer — it is your proof if questions come up later.

Common mistakes

• Using a percentage-to-GPA table from a forum when the university supplies its own.
• Confusing the scales — for example reporting an Indian CGPA of 8.4 as a 4.0 GPA, or the other way round.
• Mixing percentages from different grading systems. A 70% in the UK is not a 70% in India.
• Starting too late. Evaluations and official transcripts can take weeks.

Whatever you calculate here is an estimate for planning. The university’s decision is the one that counts.

Frequently asked questions