Grade System Converter - US GPA, ECTS, UK and Polish Scale

Same student, four different grades - why conversion matters

A Polish 4.5 becomes a 3.7 GPA in the US, an A- on a transcript to Harvard, a B in the ECTS system used across Europe, and an Upper Second (2:1) at a British university. All four numbers describe the same level of performance - but writing the wrong one on an application can cost you an offer. This converter translates between all four systems in one click.

Before and after - what changes when you convert

BEFORE (wrong format)

You write "4.5" on your Erasmus application. The German coordinator reads it as barely passing (German 4.0 = D). Your application lands in the rejection pile.

AFTER (converted correctly)

You write "ECTS B - Very Good" on the same application. The coordinator sees a strong student. Same grade, completely different outcome.

Complete conversion reference table

Polish	US GPA	ECTS	UK Class
5.0-5.5	4.0 (A)	A Excellent	First Class
4.5	3.7 (A-)	B Very Good	Upper Second (2:1)
4.0	3.3 (B+)	C Good	Lower Second (2:2)
3.5	3.0 (B)	D Satisfactory	Third Class
3.0	2.7 (B-)	E Sufficient	Ordinary Pass
2.0	2.0 (C)	F Fail	Fail

These mappings follow the European Commission ECTS Users' Guide and the most common US-to-European grade equivalency tables used by credential evaluation services (WES, ECE).

Practical examples

Example 1: Polish 5.0 for a US graduate school application
Result: GPA 4.0 (A) - top of the scale, meets most PhD program minimums

Example 2: US GPA 3.5 for an Erasmus semester in Spain
Result: ECTS B (Very Good) - well above average for most European programs

Example 3: UK 2:1 (Upper Second) for a job application in Poland
Result: Polish 5.0 (Very Good) - recognized as a strong academic record

Example 4: ECTS C (Good) listed on a German transcript
Result: GPA 3.3 (B+) and UK 2:2 (Lower Second)

Example 5: Polish 3.0 (Satisfactory) for a scholarship application
Result: GPA 2.7 (B-), ECTS E (Sufficient) - below most scholarship minimums

FAQ - frequently asked questions

Is the conversion exact or approximate?

Approximate. There is no universal 1:1 mapping between grading systems because they measure performance differently. The table follows the most widely accepted equivalencies used by WES, ECE and the ECTS Users' Guide. For official purposes, always check with the specific institution.

Why does Polish 4.5 map to ECTS B and not A?

ECTS A corresponds to the top 10% of students. In the Polish system, 5.0 and 5.5 represent that top tier. A 4.5 is above average but not in the top bracket, which maps to ECTS B (Very Good).

Which system should I use on my international CV?

Use the system recognized in the target country. For US employers: GPA. For European companies: ECTS. For UK firms: UK classification. When in doubt, list both your original grade and the converted equivalent.

What GPA do I need for a US graduate school?

Most programs require a minimum GPA 3.0 (B). Top programs (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT) typically expect 3.5+. A Polish 4.5 (= GPA 3.7) is competitive for most schools. A Polish 5.0 (= GPA 4.0) is the maximum.

Is a UK 2:1 the same as a Polish 5.0?

Approximately yes. A UK 2:1 (Upper Second, 60-69%) and a Polish 5.0 (Very Good) both represent strong academic performance. Both are commonly required for competitive graduate programs and professional roles.

Do credential evaluation services use the same conversion?

WES (World Education Services) and ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) use similar but not identical scales. This calculator follows the most common mappings. For official evaluations required by universities or employers, request a formal credential report from WES or ECE.

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