International Grade Conversion Guide: Convert 17/20, 27/30, and Other Grades to US GPA

If you're an international student applying to US graduate programs, you've likely faced this frustrating question: "What's my GPA?" The problem is that most countries don't use the American 4.0 scale. A French 17/20 or an Italian 27/30 might be exceptional in your home country, but US admissions committees need context.

The Hard Truth About Grade Conversion

Let me be direct: there is no universal, officially recognized conversion formula. Different universities, credential evaluation services, and even individual admissions officers may interpret your grades differently. Here's why:

1. Grading cultures differ: A 16/20 in France is genuinely excellent and rare; professors almost never give 19 or 20. In the US, A's are more common.
2. Grade inflation varies: Some countries grade strictly; others don't. Direct mathematical conversion ignores this context.
3. Evaluation methods vary: WES, ECE, and university-specific evaluations can produce different GPA results from the same transcript.

What this guide provides: Approximate conversions based on common practices and credential evaluation norms. Use these as general guidance, not absolute truth.

Browse related guides on the Blog or explore topics like Grad School, Admissions, and Masters.

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Quick Conversion Table: International Grades to US GPA

Country/System	Local Grade	US GPA Equivalent	US Letter Grade	Classification
France (20-point)	16-20	3.7-4.0	A/A+	Très Bien (16+ is top tier; 18+ is rare)
	14-15.9	3.3-3.6	B+/A-	Bien
	12-13.9	2.7-3.2	B/B+	Assez Bien
	10-11.9	2.0-2.6	C/C+	Passable
Italy (30-point)	30 e lode	4.0	A+	Summa cum laude
	28-30	3.7-4.0	A/A-	Excellent
	25-27	3.3-3.6	B+/A-	Very Good
	22-24	2.7-3.2	B/B+	Good
	18-21	2.0-2.6	C/C+	Sufficient
Germany (1-5 scale)	1.0-1.5	3.7-4.0	A/A-	Sehr Gut
	1.6-2.5	3.0-3.6	B/B+	Gut
	2.6-3.5	2.3-2.9	C+/B-	Befriedigend
	3.6-4.0	2.0-2.2	C	Ausreichend
UK (Classification)	First Class (70%+)	3.7-4.0	A	First
	Upper Second (60-69%)	3.3-3.6	B+	2:1
	Lower Second (50-59%)	2.7-3.2	B/B-	2:2
	Third (40-49%)	2.0-2.6	C	Third
Australia	HD (85-100%)	3.9-4.0	A/A+	High Distinction
	D (75-84%)	3.5-3.8	A-/B+	Distinction
	C (65-74%)	3.0-3.4	B	Credit
	P (50-64%)	2.0-2.9	C	Pass

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The American Grading System Explained

Before diving into conversions, you need to understand how US grades work.

The 4.0 GPA Scale

The American grading system assigns letter grades that convert to grade points:

Letter Grade	Grade Points	Percentage (typical)	Meaning
A+	4.0	97-100%	Exceptional
A	4.0	93-96%	Excellent
A-	3.7	90-92%	Very Good
B+	3.3	87-89%	Good
B	3.0	83-86%	Above Average
B-	2.7	80-82%	Satisfactory
C+	2.3	77-79%	Average
C	2.0	73-76%	Below Average
C-	1.7	70-72%	Poor
D	1.0	60-69%	Barely Passing
F	0.0	Below 60%	Failing

How GPA Is Calculated

Your GPA is the weighted average of grade points across all courses:

GPA = (Σ Grade Points × Credit Hours) ÷ Total Credit Hours

Example: If you took a 3-credit course with an A (4.0) and a 4-credit course with a B+ (3.3):

• (4.0 × 3) + (3.3 × 4) = 12 + 13.2 = 25.2
• 25.2 ÷ 7 total credits = 3.6 GPA

What GPA Do Graduate Schools Expect?

GPA Range	Competitiveness	Reality Check
3.8-4.0	Highly competitive	Top-tier programs
3.5-3.79	Competitive	Most good programs
3.2-3.49	Moderate	Many programs, explain context
3.0-3.19	Minimum threshold	Many programs' cutoff
Below 3.0	Challenging	Need strong other factors

Important: These are general patterns. Research-focused programs care more about research experience and fit than GPA decimals.

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French Grading System: Converting 17/20, 14/20, and Other Scores

The French system is notoriously strict. Understanding this context is crucial for accurate conversion.

The 20-Point French Scale

French Grade	Mention	US Equivalent	Reality
16-20	Très Bien	3.7-4.0 (A/A+)	Top students; 18+ is extremely rare
14-15.9	Bien	3.3-3.6 (B+/A-)	Very good performance
12-13.9	Assez Bien	2.7-3.2 (B)	Solid, respectable
10-11.9	Passable	2.0-2.6 (C)	Passing, minimum acceptable
Below 10	Insuffisant	Below 2.0	Failing

What Does 17/20 Really Mean?

A 17/20 in the French system is genuinely exceptional. Here's the context US admissions often miss:

• French professors routinely consider 14-16 as the realistic "top" range
• Scores above 18 are almost mythical in many disciplines
• A student averaging 17/20 would likely be top 1-5% of their class

Conversion: 17/20 ≈ 3.9 GPA or A/A+

What About 14/20?

A 14/20 means "Bien" (Good/Well) and represents solid academic performance:

• This is a respectable score that indicates competence
• In strict grading environments (law, medicine, grandes écoles), this can be very competitive
• Context matters: 14/20 at Sciences Po or École Normale differs from 14/20 elsewhere

Conversion: 14/20 ≈ 3.3-3.5 GPA or B+/A-

WES Conversion for French Grades

World Education Services (WES) typically converts French grades as follows:

French Grade	WES US Grade
16-20	A
14-15.9	A-
13-13.9	B+
12-12.9	B
11-11.9	B-
10-10.9	C+

Note: WES evaluations are institution-specific. Your actual WES GPA may vary based on your complete transcript.

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Italian Grading System: Converting 27/30, 30 e Lode, and More

Italy uses a 30-point scale with 18 as the minimum passing grade. The "e lode" (with honors) designation adds distinction to a perfect 30.

The 30-Point Italian Scale

Italian Grade	Classification	US Equivalent	Meaning
30 e lode	Summa cum laude	4.0 (A+)	Perfect with distinction
29-30	Ottimo	3.9-4.0 (A)	Excellent
27-28	Buono	3.5-3.7 (A-/B+)	Very Good
24-26	Discreto	3.0-3.4 (B)	Good
21-23	Sufficiente	2.5-2.9 (C+/B-)	Sufficient
18-20	Appena Sufficiente	2.0-2.4 (C)	Barely Sufficient

What Does 27/30 Really Mean?

A 27/30 is a solid "Very Good" (Buono) score:

• Represents competent, above-average performance
• Common among good students; not exceptional but respectable
• Roughly equivalent to a strong B+ or A- in US terms

Conversion: 27/30 ≈ 3.5 GPA

Italian Laurea Degree Classifications

For final degree classifications:

Final Grade	Classification	US Equivalent
110 e lode	Summa cum laude	4.0, Highest Honors
105-110	Magna cum laude	3.8-4.0, High Honors
100-104	Cum laude	3.5-3.7, Honors
91-99	—	3.0-3.4, Good
66-90	—	2.0-2.9, Passing

Note: The Latin honors (cum laude, magna, summa) are not automatic—they're awarded by examination committees based on thesis defense and overall performance, not solely on numerical grades.

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German Grading System: The Inverted 1-5 Scale

Germany uses a counterintuitive system where 1.0 is the best and 5.0 is failing.

The German 1-5 Scale

German Grade	Descriptor	US Equivalent	ECTS Grade
1.0-1.5	Sehr Gut (Very Good)	3.8-4.0 (A)	A
1.6-2.0	Gut (Good)	3.5-3.7 (A-/B+)	B
2.1-2.5	Gut (Good)	3.2-3.4 (B+)	B
2.6-3.0	Befriedigend (Satisfactory)	2.8-3.1 (B)	C
3.1-3.5	Befriedigend (Satisfactory)	2.5-2.7 (B-/C+)	C
3.6-4.0	Ausreichend (Sufficient)	2.0-2.4 (C)	D
4.1-5.0	Nicht Ausreichend (Fail)	0.0 (F)	F

Modified Bavarian Formula

Many credential evaluators use the "Modified Bavarian Formula" for German grades:

US GPA = 1 + 3 × [(Best Possible Grade - Actual Grade) ÷ (Best Possible - Worst Passing)]

For the 1-4 German scale: US GPA = 1 + 3 × [(4 - German Grade) ÷ (4 - 1)]

Example: German 1.7 → US GPA = 1 + 3 × [(4 - 1.7) ÷ 3] = 1 + 2.3 = 3.3 GPA

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UK Grading System: Converting Degree Classifications

The UK uses a classification system rather than a numerical GPA. Understanding the percentages behind classifications helps with conversion.

UK Degree Classifications

Classification	Percentage	US Equivalent	Meaning
First Class Honours	70%+	3.7-4.0 (A)	Historically top 10-15%, though grade inflation has increased this at many institutions
Upper Second (2:1)	60-69%	3.3-3.6 (B+)	Good; most common for strong students
Lower Second (2:2)	50-59%	2.7-3.2 (B-/B)	Satisfactory
Third Class	40-49%	2.0-2.6 (C)	Minimum passing
Ordinary/Pass	35-39%	1.0-1.9 (D)	No honours

Why 70% = 4.0?

This confuses many US observers. The difference is grade distribution:

• UK: 70% is genuinely hard to achieve; exams are designed so that 70%+ represents mastery
• US: 70% is typically a C; exams are designed for higher scores
• A UK First (70%+) represents similar achievement to a US A (90%+)

WES Conversion for UK Grades

UK Classification	WES US Grade
First Class	A
Upper Second (2:1)	A-/B+
Lower Second (2:2)	B/B-
Third Class	C

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Australian Grading System: HD, D, C, P Explained

Australia uses a combination of letter descriptors and percentages, varying slightly by institution.

Standard Australian Grades

Australian Grade	Abbreviation	Percentage	US Equivalent
High Distinction	HD	85-100%	3.9-4.0 (A+/A)
Distinction	D	75-84%	3.5-3.8 (A-/B+)
Credit	C or CR	65-74%	3.0-3.4 (B)
Pass	P	50-64%	2.0-2.9 (C)
Fail	F or N	Below 50%	0.0 (F)

Australian to US Conversion Notes

• Australian "Credit" (C) is NOT equivalent to a US "C"—it's closer to a B
• High Distinction is relatively rare and represents genuine excellence
• Some Australian universities use 7-point scales (7 = HD, 6 = D, etc.)

7-Point Scale Conversion

Australian 7-Point	Descriptor	US Equivalent
7	High Distinction	4.0 (A+)
6	Distinction	3.7 (A)
5	Credit	3.3 (B+)
4	Pass	2.5 (C+)
3	Marginal Fail	1.5 (D)
1-2	Fail	0.0 (F)

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Other Common Grading Systems

Indian Grading (10-Point CGPA and Percentage)

Indian CGPA	Approximate Percentage	US Equivalent
9.0-10.0	~85-100%	3.7-4.0 (A)
8.0-8.9	~75-84%	3.3-3.6 (B+/A-)
7.0-7.9	~65-74%	3.0-3.2 (B)
6.0-6.9	~55-64%	2.5-2.9 (C+/B-)
5.0-5.9	~45-54%	2.0-2.4 (C)

Important caveats:

• Indian grading varies significantly by institution—a 75% from IIT is evaluated differently than 75% from other universities
• CGPA-to-percentage conversion formulas differ by institution (some use ×9.5, others ×10, others have custom formulas)
• WES evaluates Indian transcripts institution-by-institution, not using a universal formula

Chinese Grading (100-Point and 5-Point)

Chinese Percentage	5-Point	US Equivalent
90-100%	A/优	4.0 (A)
80-89%	B/良	3.0-3.6 (B/B+)
70-79%	C/中	2.3-2.9 (C+/B-)
60-69%	D/及格	2.0-2.2 (C)
Below 60%	F/不及格	0.0 (F)

Brazilian Grading (0-10 Scale)

Brazilian Grade	Descriptor	US Equivalent
9.0-10.0	Excelente	4.0 (A)
7.0-8.9	Bom	3.0-3.6 (B/B+)
5.0-6.9	Regular	2.0-2.9 (C)
Below 5.0	Insuficiente	0.0 (F)

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Specific GPA Letter Grade Conversions

Many students search for specific GPA-to-letter conversions. Here's a comprehensive reference:

Common GPA to Letter Grade Lookups

GPA	Letter Grade	Meaning
3.8	A/A-	Excellent; competitive for top programs
3.7	A-	Very good; solid for most programs
3.6	A-/B+	Very good; above most minimums
3.5	B+/A-	Good; competitive for many programs
3.4	B+	Good; meets most requirements
3.3	B+	Above average; acceptable
3.2	B/B+	Above average
3.0	B	Average; minimum for many grad programs
2.5	B-/C+	Below average for grad school

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How US Universities Actually Evaluate International Transcripts

Here's what really happens behind the scenes:

Method 1: Credential Evaluation Services

Many universities require evaluation from:

• WES (World Education Services): Most common; US and Canada
• ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators): Popular alternative
• NACES members: Various accredited services

These services provide:

• Course-by-course evaluation with US grade equivalents
• Calculated US-equivalent GPA
• Degree equivalency statement

Cost: $100-285 depending on service and evaluation type

For a complete guide to the WES evaluation process, costs, and timelines, see our WES Credential Evaluation Guide.

Method 2: Internal Evaluation

Some universities evaluate transcripts internally using:

• Their own conversion tables
• Holistic review (considering institution reputation, class rank, trends)
• Percentile estimates based on historical applicants from your country

Method 3: Holistic Review

Competitive programs often look beyond GPA conversion:

• Class rank (if available): More meaningful than converted grades
• Grade trends: Improving grades weighted positively
• Institution reputation: Known universities evaluated in context
• Recommendation letters: Professors can contextualize your performance
• Standardized tests: GRE/GMAT provide comparable benchmarks

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What to Do If Your Converted GPA Seems "Low"

If your excellent international grades convert to a mediocre-looking GPA, take these steps:

1. Provide Context in Your Application

In your Statement of Purpose or additional information section, explain:

• Your class rank or percentile (if favorable)
• The grading culture (e.g., "French grades above 16 are rare")
• Any academic honors or distinctions

2. Get Strong Recommendation Letters

Ask recommenders to:

• Explicitly state your class standing
• Contextualize your grades within the cohort
• Compare you to previous students they've sent to US programs

3. Excel on Standardized Tests

Strong GRE/GMAT scores provide a universal benchmark that can offset converted GPA concerns.

4. Highlight Research and Experience

For research programs, your research experience, publications, and potential often matter more than GPA decimals.

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Credential Evaluation: WES vs. ECE vs. Others

Service	Pros	Cons	Best For
WES	Most widely recognized; fast	Can be strict on some countries	US/Canada applications
ECE	Good for complex credentials	Less universally known	Specific university requirements
SpanTran	Often more favorable conversions	Less recognized	When WES conversion is unfavorable
NACES members	Various options	Quality varies	Check university preference

Pro tip: Check your target university's requirements first—some accept only specific evaluation services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an official international grade conversion standard?

No. There is no universal, officially recognized conversion. WES, ECE, and universities each use their own methods. Conversions are approximations, not exact equivalencies.

Should I convert my grades myself on my resume?

Be careful. You can provide approximate conversions with context (e.g., "17/20 ≈ 3.9 GPA in US terms"), but don't misrepresent. Better to state your actual grades and let evaluators convert officially.

My WES GPA is lower than I expected. What happened?

WES uses standardized conversion tables that don't always capture nuance. A French 14/20 might convert lower than you feel it deserves. This is common—focus on other application strengths and provide context.

Do US universities understand international grading systems?

It depends. Admissions officers at universities with large international populations are often savvy. Smaller programs may rely entirely on credential evaluation services. Don't assume familiarity—provide context.

What's the minimum GPA for US graduate school?

Most programs require 3.0 equivalent as a minimum. Competitive programs effectively require 3.3-3.5+. However, these are converted GPAs—your actual international grades may convert differently than expected.

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Key Takeaways

1. No conversion is perfect: All international-to-US grade conversions are approximations based on conventions, not universal standards.

2. Context matters enormously: A French 16/20 represents different achievement than a US 80%. Provide context in your applications.

3. Get official evaluations: For formal applications, use WES, ECE, or university-specified evaluation services.

4. GPA isn't everything: Research experience, recommendations, standardized tests, and fit matter—often more than GPA decimals.

5. Class rank helps: If your rank is strong (top 10%, top 20%), highlight it—this provides universal context.

6. Different services, different results: WES and ECE may produce different GPAs from the same transcript. Check university requirements.

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Official Credential Evaluation Resources

For official transcript evaluation, these are the most widely recognized services:

• World Education Services (WES) — The most commonly required evaluation service for US and Canadian applications
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) — A popular alternative accepted by many universities
• NACES Member Organizations — Directory of all accredited credential evaluation services

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Ready to Apply to US Graduate Programs?

Understanding grade conversion is just one piece of the puzzle. For comprehensive guidance on US graduate admissions, explore our related resources:

• How to Apply to Master's Programs in the USA
• 25 Most Prestigious Universities in the US
• How Long Does It Take to Get a PhD After a Master's?

Have questions about your specific situation? Grade conversion can be confusing—focus on presenting your full academic profile, not just a converted number.