Why Chinese grades give several GPAs
Chinese universities grade most courses out of 100, with 60 as the pass mark. There is no national rule for turning those scores into a 4.0 GPA. Each university publishes its own table, and applicants have also settled on a few conventions. The same transcript can come out anywhere from about 3.4 to 3.8, depending mostly on how a scale treats scores between 80 and 89.
Every scale converts each course first and then averages by credits. Converting your overall average instead gives a different, usually wrong, number.
All scales side by side
| Score | WES | Peking University 4.0 | Fudan 4.0 | Standard 4.0 | Modified 4.0 (85/70/60) | Modified 4.0 (85/75/60) | US percent bands (93/90/87) | USTC 4.3 | SJTU 4.3 | Canadian 4.3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95–100 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| 93–94 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 |
| 90–92 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 |
| 87–89 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.67 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 4.0 |
| 85–86 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.67 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 4.0 |
| 83–84 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.33 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.7 |
| 82 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.33 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.7 |
| 80–81 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.7 |
| 78–79 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| 77 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.67 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| 75–76 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.67 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.3 |
| 73–74 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.33 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| 72 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.33 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| 70–71 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| 69 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| 68 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.67 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| 67 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.67 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| 66 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.67 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.7 |
| 65 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.33 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.7 |
| 64 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.33 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
| 63 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.33 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
| 62 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
| 61 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
| 60 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.3 |
| 59 and below | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
WES
World Education Services' China country profile (2016) maps undergraduate scores to US letters: 85–100 A, 75–84 B, 65–74 C, 60–64 D or pass, below 60 F. The calculator gives those letters 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0. Many Chinese guides call a three-band 85/75/60 table “WES”. That table is the modified 4.0 below, not what WES publishes. A WES evaluation is the final word if you order one.
| Score | 85–100 | 75–84 | 65–74 | 60–64 | 59 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
Peking University 4.0 (table)
From Peking University's student status rules of 2005, used until the 2007 intake. Most applicants who say “PKU 4.0” still mean this table.
| Score | 90–100 | 85–89 | 82–84 | 78–81 | 75–77 | 72–74 | 68–71 | 64–67 | 60–63 | 59 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
Peking University formula (since 2007)
Peking University's student status rules revised in May 2007 replaced the table with a formula for students entering from 2007, and the grading rules revised in September 2019 keep it. It applies to scores from 60 to 100:
grade points = 4 − 3 × (100 − X)² ÷ 1600
| Score | 100 | 95 | 90 | 85 | 80 | 75 | 70 | 65 | 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.00 | 3.95 | 3.81 | 3.58 | 3.25 | 2.83 | 2.31 | 1.70 | 1.00 |
Fudan 4.0
The table Fudan's international finance school publishes for converting other Chinese universities' scores in admissions.
| Score | 90–100 | 85–89 | 82–84 | 78–81 | 75–77 | 72–74 | 69–71 | 66–68 | 63–65 | 60–62 | 59 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.0 | 3.67 | 3.33 | 3.0 | 2.67 | 2.33 | 2.0 | 1.67 | 1.33 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
USTC 4.3
University of Science and Technology of China, from the student handbook (2024). A+ is 4.3.
| Score | 95–100 | 90–94 | 85–89 | 82–84 | 78–81 | 75–77 | 72–74 | 68–71 | 65–67 | 64 | 61–63 | 60 | 59 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
SJTU 4.3
Shanghai Jiao Tong University's course regulations (2017). A+ is 4.3 for 95–100.
| Score | 95–100 | 90–94 | 85–89 | 80–84 | 75–79 | 70–74 | 67–69 | 65–66 | 62–64 | 60–61 | 59 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
Standard 4.0, modified 4.0 and Canadian 4.3
These are conventions used by applicants and agencies. No university or evaluator issues them, so state the scale whenever you report one.
| Score | 90–100 | 80–89 | 70–79 | 60–69 | 59 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
Standard 4.0
| Score | 85–100 | 70–84 | 60–69 | 59 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
Modified 4.0 (85/70/60)
| Score | 85–100 | 75–84 | 60–74 | 59 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
Modified 4.0 (85/75/60)
| Score | 90–100 | 85–89 | 80–84 | 75–79 | 70–74 | 65–69 | 60–64 | 59 and below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.3 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 0.0 |
Canadian 4.3
US percent bands
The common US cut-offs: 93 and above A, 90–92 A−, 87–89 B+ and so on. Chinese scores aren't graded on this curve, so this line is only for comparison.
Which number to report
- If your university prints a GPA on the official transcript, report that one with its scale, for example 3.65/4.0.
- If not, follow the target school's instructions. When none are given, WES or the PKU table are the most widely recognised. Say which scale you used.
- UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australian universities usually ask for your weighted average (percentage), not a GPA.
Questions
What is a good GPA from a Chinese university?
There is no fixed cut-off. Admissions offices compare you with other applicants from Chinese universities and usually take the university into account. Many programs publish a minimum, often 3.0 on their own conversion, and admitted students are typically well above it.
Is 85 an A?
Under WES, the modified 4.0 scales and the Canadian 4.3 scale, 85 is the start of the top band. Under the PKU table, Fudan, USTC and SJTU, 85–89 is an A−, worth 3.7 (3.67 at Fudan).
Should I convert my average or each course?
Each course. GPA is the credit-weighted average of each course’s grade points. Converting an overall average of 86 gives one band for everything, which overstates or understates the GPA.
How are pass/fail and five-level grades handled?
“通过 / 合格” courses earn credits but are left out of the GPA. Five-level grades (优秀, 良好…) are turned into a score first: by default 95, 85, 75, 65 and 0. You can change those values in Settings.
Sources
- WES, World Education News & Reviews, Country Profile: China, undergraduate grading scale: wenr.wes.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/WENR-0316-Country-Profile-China-new.pdf (checked 2026-11-06)
- Peking University, student status rules (2005), article 13: www.ues.pku.edu.cn/old/docs/20180626174856941869.pdf (checked 2026-11-06)
- Peking University, student status rules (revised 31 May 2007, from the 2007 intake), article 13: www.ues.pku.edu.cn/old/jyjx/bksjxw/glgd/274098.htm (checked 2026-11-06)
- Peking University, undergraduate grading rules (revised September 2019), article 13: www.dean.pku.edu.cn/web/rules_info.php?id=173 (checked 2026-11-06)
- Fudan University, Fanhai International School of Finance, GPA conversion table: application.fisf.fudan.edu.cn/files/gpa.pdf (checked 2026-11-06)
- University of Science and Technology of China, Undergraduate Study Guide 2024, student status rules: www.teach.ustc.edu.cn/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024%E5%AD%A6%E4%B9%A0%E6%8C%87%E5%8D%97.pdf (checked 2026-11-06)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, credit-system course regulations (2017): www.jwc.sjtu.edu.cn/info/1482/12870.htm (checked 2026-11-06)