Convert a percentage, CGPA or GPA into the German 1.0–5.0 scale with the modified Bavarian formula used by uni-assist and most German universities.
| Grade | Grade points | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 – 1.5 | sehr gut | Very good — the best band |
| 1.6 – 2.5 | gut | Good |
| 2.6 – 3.5 | befriedigend | Satisfactory |
| 3.6 – 4.0 | ausreichend | Sufficient — the lowest pass, 4.0 |
| above 4.0 | nicht bestanden | Fail; the formula does not convert a failing result |
| Input | Result |
|---|---|
| CGPA 8.2 on a 10-point scale, pass mark 4 | raw 1.9 → German grade 2.0 (gut) |
| 75% where the pass mark is 40% | raw 2.25 → German grade 2.3 (gut) |
| GPA 3.4 on a 4.0 scale, pass mark 2.0 | raw 1.9 → German grade 2.0 (gut) |
| CGPA 8.2 with a pass mark of 5 instead of 4 | raw 2.08 → German grade 2.0 (gut) |
In Germany 1.0 is the best grade and 4.0 is the lowest pass. Anything above 4.0 is a fail. So a German applicant quoting a 1.7 is reporting an excellent result, not a poor one — the exact opposite of a percentage or a GPA.
Because the top of the German scale is compressed, the difference between a 1.3 and a 1.7 is narrow in absolute terms but decisive for competitive master's programmes, which frequently cut off somewhere between 1.5 and 2.5.
| Term | Meaning | Typical value |
|---|---|---|
| Nmax | The best grade achievable in your system | 100 for a percentage, 10 for a CGPA, 4.0 for a US GPA |
| Nmin | The minimum grade that counts as a pass in your system | 40 for a percentage, 4 for a CGPA, 2.0 for a US GPA |
| Nd | The grade you actually achieved | your own result |
The structure is elegant: if you scored the maximum the fraction becomes zero and the answer is exactly 1.0; if you scored precisely the pass mark the fraction becomes 1 and the answer is exactly 4.0. Everything else sits proportionally in between.
Nmin is the input students get wrong most often, and it moves the answer substantially. Take a CGPA of 8.2 on a 10-point scale:
| Assumed pass mark | German grade |
|---|---|
| 4 | 1.9 |
| 5 | 2.08 |
| 6 | 2.35 |
The same transcript produces anything from a 1.9 to a 2.35 depending purely on the pass mark you assume. Your university's grading key — normally printed on the back of your transcript or in the examination regulations — states the real figure. Do not assume 40% or a grade point of 4 without checking.
| Raw formula value | German grade |
|---|---|
| 1.15 | 1.0 — a tie rounds to the better grade |
| 1.6 | 1.7 |
| 2.4 | 2.3 — rounds to the better grade |
| 3.05 | 3.0 |
Only the recognised German grades — 1.0, 1.3, 1.7, 2.0, 2.3, 2.7, 3.0, 3.3, 3.7 and 4.0 — exist. Anything in between rounds to the nearest of those, and an exact tie goes to the better grade.
The modified Bavarian formula is the method recognised by the German Kultusministerkonferenz and used by uni-assist when it pre-evaluates international applications. It is a reference method rather than a binding national rule: individual universities may apply their own conversion, rounding or grade table, and the rules are revised from time to time. Treat this as sound orientation and confirm with your target university.
It converts a foreign grade to the German scale using German grade = 1 + 3 × (Nmax − Nd) ÷ (Nmax − Nmin), where Nmax is the best achievable grade in your system, Nmin is the minimum pass and Nd is your own grade. It is the method recognised by the Kultusministerkonferenz and used by uni-assist.
Use 100 as the best grade and your institution's actual pass mark — commonly 40% or 50%, but check. For example, 75% with a 40% pass mark gives 1 + 3 × 25 ÷ 60 = 2.25, which is a gut (good).
Enormously. A CGPA of 8.2 on a 10-point scale converts to 1.9 if the pass mark is 4, but 2.08 if it is 5. Over a competitive admission threshold that difference can decide the outcome, so find the real figure in your transcript key or examination regulations.
Many competitive master's programmes favour applicants between 1.0 and 2.5, with the most selective cutting off closer to 1.5–2.0. Eligibility and competitiveness vary a great deal by university, subject and intake, so check the specific programme's requirements.
You can estimate it, but it is better to convert from raw marks or a percentage wherever possible. CGPA conversions vary enormously by country and institution, and a university that recalculates from your raw marks will land on a different figure from one that converts the CGPA directly.
No. The modified Bavarian formula is a recognised reference method, not a national rule. Individual universities may apply their own conversion, their own rounding or their own grade table, and the rules are revised periodically. Use this result to orient yourself, then confirm with your target university or with uni-assist.