Which German grades from 1 to 6 count as a pass for me, and what does each one mean?
10 Nov 2026 · Answered by Chaithrakala P L · 1 min read
Quick Answer
verified
German grades run from 1 to 6. Grades 1 to 4 are passing: sehr gut, gut, befriedigend and ausreichend. Grades 5 (mangelhaft) and 6 (ungenügend) are fails. A lower number means stronger performance, so read your transcript with that scale in mind.
Grades 1 to 4 are passing grades in the German system, while 5 and 6 are fails. A lower number means stronger academic work, which often surprises students used to higher-is-better scales.
German Grades and Their Meaning
| Grade | Meaning | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Very good or outstanding work (sehr gut) | Pass |
| 2 | Good performance as expected (gut) | Pass |
| 3 | Satisfactory or average (befriedigend) | Pass |
| 4 | Sufficient, with some mistakes (ausreichend) | Pass |
| 5 | Deficient, only basic concepts understood (mangelhaft) | Fail |
| 6 | Inadequate, even basic concepts unclear (ungenügend) | Fail |
How to Read This Scale
- Remember that 1 is the best grade and 6 is the weakest.
- Treat 4 as the lowest passing grade.
- Check official university websites if you need to see how a grade is applied to a specific course.
My Advice
When you convert your own marks or read a German transcript, do not assume a higher number is better. Keep the official grade table handy and confirm with the university how it reports grades for your course before you apply for the 2027 or 2028 intake.
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