German grades run 1.0 (best) to 4.0 (pass) and 5.0 (fail) 鈥?the opposite direction of a US GPA. This converter gives you three estimates: the modified Bavarian formula, a WES-style band mapping, and the raw scale, so you can see the range instead of trusting one number.
A German 2.0 is roughly a 3.3鈥?.7 US GPA 鈥?solid, competitive standing.
That is 'gut' (good) on the German scale. Most US master's programmes want a 3.0 or better; selective ones look for 3.5+. The exact figure depends on the evaluator's course-by-course read, so treat it as a band, not a verdict.
On a US transcript a 2.0 reads as a C. On a German transcript a 2.0 reads as 'gut' 鈥?good 鈥?and is a competitive result for most programmes. The two scales run in opposite directions, and the confusion this causes is exactly why German grade conversion trips up more applicants than any other step.
1.0鈥?.5 sehr gut (very good), 1.6鈥?.5 gut (good), 2.6鈥?.5 befriedigend (satisfactory), 3.6鈥?.0 ausreichend (sufficient, minimum pass), 5.0 nicht bestanden (fail). Lower is better.
4.0 A, 3.0 B, 2.0 C, 1.0 D, 0 F. Higher is better, and most graduate floors are set at 3.0 with selective programmes at 3.5.
The German system also grades more harshly at the top. A German 1.0 is genuinely exceptional 鈥?it is not the same achievement density as an American A every semester. Credential evaluators account for this when they read a transcript, which is one more reason a simple arithmetic flip (5 鈭?grade) is only a rough guide.
And if your transcript carries ECTS as well, grades aren't the only thing that needs translating 鈥?convert your European credits to US credits in the same pass.
The official German approach, adopted by the KMK in 2013 and used by uni-assist and most public universities. It converts foreign grades to the German scale; run in reverse it gives a defensible US estimate.
A threshold mapping in the style of credential evaluators. Band values here are typical, reconstructed from practice 鈥?WES does not publish one table.
GPA 鈮?5 鈭?grade. Fast and memorable, but it ignores grading culture on both sides and flattens the top of the scale. Use it only to get a sense of magnitude.
The one your target programme requires. If the US programme accepts the transcript as-is, report the German grade and let them read it. If it requires a professional evaluation (WES, ECE or a NACES member), their course-by-course result is the number that counts. These estimates are for planning and for understanding what your transcript says to a US reader.
| German grade | Descriptor | Typical US GPA | Letter | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 鈥?1.5 | Sehr gut | 4.0 | A | Exceptional, top of cohort |
| 1.6 鈥?2.0 | Gut | 3.7 | A鈭?/td> | Strong, common 'good' band |
| 2.1 鈥?2.5 | Gut | 3.3 | B+ | Good 鈥?competitive for most programmes |
| 2.6 鈥?3.0 | Befriedigend | 3.0 | B | Satisfactory, still respectable |
| 3.1 鈥?3.5 | Befriedigend | 2.7 | B鈭?/td> | Below 3.0, above the pass line |
| 3.6 鈥?4.0 | Ausreichend | 2.3 | C+ | Sufficient 鈥?minimum pass territory |
| 5.0 | Nicht bestanden | 0.0 | F | Fail |
'Typical' is doing real work here: evaluators vary by institution, subject mix and grading culture. Treat these as planning ranges, not guaranteed outputs.
Figures last verified August 2026 路 Band tables are reconstructions of common practice, not official WES output; WES results are course-by-course and institution-specific