A German grade of 2.0 returns 3.3 in our German-to-US calculator. That is the result of this site's sample lookup. It is not evidence that a US university will record your grade as 3.3.
This guide documents the calculator so you can understand its output and decide whether it suits your task. For an application, start with the receiving institution's instructions and preserve the original grade on your transcript.
The table this calculator uses
The columns below describe a product convention. They are not a nationally approved conversion standard or a measurement of equivalent student achievement.
| Entered German grade | Illustrative US letter | Illustrative GPA |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | A+ | 4.0 |
| 1.3 | A | 4.0 |
| 1.7 | A− | 3.7 |
| 2.0 | B+ | 3.3 |
| 2.3 | B | 3.0 |
| 2.7 | B− | 2.7 |
| 3.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
| 3.3 | C | 2.0 |
| 3.7 | C− | 1.7 |
| 4.0 | D | 1.0 |
| 5.0 | F | 0.0 |
The result also displays a sample percentage band. That band does not tell you what percentage you originally earned. A letter grade or final average cannot recover the underlying assessment marks.
Try one grade first
Enter 1.7. The calculator returns A− and 3.7. Enter 2 and it recognizes the same supported value as 2.0, returning B+ and 3.3.
Now enter 2.04. There is no row for it, so the calculator asks you to choose a supported value instead of inventing an interpolated result. Do not change a recorded grade just to make it fit the tool. Keep the original value and use a method accepted by the organization evaluating it.
The modified Bavarian formula guide explains a different task: estimating a German grade from another grading scale. It is not a universal formula for turning German exam marks into a US GPA.
A credit-weighted example, with its assumption visible
Suppose you want to explore the following three courses under this sample mapping. The credit values use one consistent unit throughout.
| Course | Credits | Original grade | Sample points | Credits × points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microeconomics | 6 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 18.0 |
| Statistics | 5 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 20.0 |
| Academic writing | 3 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 6.9 |
Total credits are 14. Total quality points are 44.9. The hypothetical average is 44.9 ÷ 14 = 3.21, rounded to two decimal places.
The arithmetic is reproducible. The assumption is that all three courses use this illustrative mapping and that all listed credits count in the average. A different grade key or course-inclusion rule can produce a different result.
You can explore weighted averages in the GPA calculator. If your transcript uses ECTS, keep those credit weights consistent; read the ECTS guide before treating workload credits as transferable credits or converted grades.
What to check before reporting a number
Start with the application instructions, then resolve these questions:
- Does the form ask for the original grade or a converted GPA?
- Does it name an evaluation service, grade table, or calculation method?
- Which courses and attempts must be included?
- What credit weights and rounding rule should be used?
- Where can you provide the original grading scale and transcript?
If the instructions do not answer a question, ask the admissions office. Reporting a precise-looking number from an unrelated table can create more confusion than supplying the original result with its scale.
Keep an understandable calculation record
For a personal comparison, record the original grade, the mapping you used, the credit weights, and the rounded result together. A number copied without those assumptions is difficult to check later.
Use a separate workspace for a hypothetical comparison so it stays distinct from your original record. Export a backup if you want to retain your inputs beyond this browser. See the workspace guide for the current save and backup controls.
