Grading Systems by Country 2025
- In countries that use a letter-based scale, the letter E is often skipped. For example, most US schools use the grades A, B, C, D, and F. The symbols + or - may be used to indicate scores at the high or low end of that letter’s respective range.
- In countries that use a numerical scale, the lowest possible grade may be 1 or 0 (although 0 is often reserved for incompletes).
- Scoring systems shown pertain primarily to government-funded primary and secondary schools. Preschools, private schools, and tertiary schools (colleges, trade schools) may use entirely different grading systems.
- The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) average reflects all grades earned for all semesters. It is determined by dividing the sum total of all grade points by the sum total of all credit hours attempted.
- A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by dividing the total amount of grade points earned by the total amount of GPA credits attempted.
Each country follows its own grading system for measuring academic performance in school. Since the grading systems are not completely in alignment with each other, determining what qualifies as a good grade between countries can be a challenge. Each university that accepts international students must be familiar with the grading system for the various countries where their prospective students come from.
Highlighted Countries
China
China’s grading system uses marks and grades that correspond to a number grade on a scale of 0 to 100. The passing mark is usually at 60. When being graded, students may be given a combination of marks, or a pass/fail grade.
South Korea
Grading in South Korea varies depending on the type of school that is administering the grade. Middle schools use a five point grading scale with grades that are based on Korean characters. High schools use a 10-point grading scale based on the position of the student in the class. Universities use a letter grade system that corresponds to a number grade, similar to the grading system in the United States.
Finland
The grading scale in Finland uses a 4 to 10 grading scale in comprehensive and upper secondary schools. In vocational and higher education institutions, a 0 to 5 grading scale is used.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s university system uses a grade point average (GPA) system. The GPA corresponds to a number that itself corresponds to a letter. Some universities (A, B, C, D, F). Some universities include A+, others do not.
What Are the Types of Grading Systems In Effect?
Different schools around the world use different types of grading systems. Some use letter grading from A to F, others use grading percentage from 0 to 100. Standard-referenced grading compares students to each other with letter grades, while the common scale grading uses pass/fail only.
Grading of absolute standards compares student success to a pre-established expectation of quality. Narrative grading involves writing a narrative feedback to the student.
Some countries use a different grading system for various types of schools, depending on the students’ grade level.
