German Grade Converter: Convert Foreign Grades with the Bavarian Formula
This German grade converter turns grades from another system into German grades with the Bavarian formula: enter the best grade and the lowest passing grade of the foreign system, add your grades, done. The reverse direction works too.
Source: Wikipedia – Academic grading in Germany (modified Bavarian formula). Updated: .
How it is calculated
The Bavarian formula converts a foreign grade linearly into the German range of 1.0 to 4.0, based on the best and the lowest passing grade. Example France: 16 out of 20 with a pass mark of 10 gives 2.2.
How it is calculated
The formula is N = 1 + 3 · (Nmax − Nd) ÷ (Nmax − Nmin). Nmax is the best grade in the foreign system, Nmin the lowest passing one, Nd your grade. If your grade is better than Nmax, 1.0 is used. The method underlies many university admission and recognition procedures (KMK, Wikipedia “Bavarian formula”). The reverse direction simply rearranges the formula.
What it is useful for
- Estimating certificate or degree grades for an application to a German university.
- Comparing the grade average from a semester abroad.
- Translating German grades into a foreign scale for institutions abroad.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bavarian formula?
A formula for converting foreign grades into German ones: N = 1 + 3 · (best − achieved) ÷ (best − lowest passing). Many universities use a modified form of it.
How do I convert 16 out of 20 into a German grade?
With a pass mark of 10: 1 + 3 · (20 − 16) ÷ (20 − 10) = 2.2.
What if my grade is below the pass mark?
Then the result is a fail, and the formula gives values above 4.0 that are not German grades.
Is the grade rounded?
That is up to the university. Some truncate after the first decimal place, so the calculator shows both the exact and the truncated value.
Sources and legal basis
- Wikipedia – Academic grading in Germany (modified Bavarian formula)
- KMK, Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen – university admission: grade conversion (PDF)
As of: · Editorial policy
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