German Grading System 2023/2024
German Grading System
The German grading system for schools and universities typically uses a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the highest grade and 5 being the lowest passing grade. The grading system can vary slightly between different states (Bundesländer) in Germany, but the following is a general overview:
1.0 – Sehr gut (Very good) 1.3 – Sehr gut 1.7 – Gut (Good) 2.0 – Gut 2.3 – Gut 2.7 – Befriedigend (Satisfactory) 3.0 – Befriedigend 3.3 – Befriedigend 3.7 – Ausreichend (Sufficient) 4.0 – Ausreichend 4.3 – Ausreichend 4.7 – Mangelhaft (Deficient) 5.0 – Ungenügend (Fail)
In some universities, a different grading scale may be used, which is based on a system of points (ECTS). In this system, grades are assigned points as follows:
- A (1.0 – 1.5) – 15 points
- B (1.6 – 2.5) – 12 points
- C (2.6 – 3.5) – 10 points
- D (3.6 – 4.0) – 7 points
- F (5.0) – 0 points (fail)
Grades in Germany are commonly given in written form using the numerical grade followed by the corresponding description. For example, “2.0 Gut” means “2.0 Good.”
It’s important to note that grading systems may vary for different types of educational institutions, and there can be slight variations within different states of Germany. Additionally, universities and schools may have specific grading criteria for individual courses and programs.
According to the www.uni-passau.de
The grades awarded in the German school system range from 1 to 6. The lower the grade, the better it is: a 1 is an excellent grade, whereas 5 and 6 are fail grades. Universities use a slightly modified version, which only goes from 1 to 5. It should also be noted that, in the German notation, the decimal separator is not the period but the comma: the grades are written 1,0; 1,3; 2,5 etc.
Grades awarded in the German education system
| Grade/mark | Description | Pass/fail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ‘sehr gut’ – very good; an outstanding piece of work | pass |
| 2 | ‘gut’ – good; all expectations have been met in full | pass |
| 3 | ‘befriedigend’ – satisfactory; an average work | pass |
| 4 | ‘ausreichend’ – sufficient; an average work with some minor deficiencies | pass |
| 5 | ‘mangelhaft’ – deficient; minimum expectations have not been met, although the candidate has demonstrated a basic grasp of the main concepts | fail |
| 6 | ‘ungenügend’ – inadequate; the candidate has failed to demonstrate coherent knowledge of even the basic main points | fail |
The grading scale used at the University of Passau (for all subjects except Law)
| Grade/mark | Description | Pass/fail |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0–1.3 | ‘sehr gut’ – very good | pass |
| 1.7–2.3 | ‘gut’ – good | pass |
| 2.7–3.3 | ‘befriedigend’ – satisfactory | pass |
| 3.7–4.0 | ‘ausreichend’ – sufficient | pass |
| 4.3–5.0 | ‘mangelhaft’ – deficient | fail |
Grading scale for Law Programmes
| Mark | Description |
|---|---|
| 16–18 points | ‘sehr gut‘ – very good (particularly outstanding) |
| 13–15 points | ‘gut‘ – good (well above average) |
| 10–12 points | ‘vollbefriedigend‘ – fully satisfactory (above average, but with some minor errors) |
| 7–9 points | ‘befriedigend‘ – satisfactory (meets requirements) |
| 4–6 points | ‘ausreichend‘ – sufficient (meets requirements, but with notable weaknesses) |
| 1–3 points | ‘mangelhaft‘ – deficient (considerable weaknesses, some additional work required for a pass) |
| 0 points | ‘ungenügend‘ – inadequate (a poor performance overall) |
Doctoral Grades ( thesis, and viva voce )
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| up to 1.5 | summa cum laude |
| 1.5–2.5 | magna cum laude |
| 2.5–3.5 | cum laude |
| 3.5–4.0 | rite |
