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UK Grade to US GPA Converter
Convert UK degree percentages and classifications to US GPA equivalents.
StudentsUK marks are not US percentages: 70% in the UK is the top band. Always report the UK classification alongside any conversion.
British marks confuse Americans and the reverse: a 70 in the UK is the top band, a First, while a 70 in the US is a low C. This converter translates UK percentage marks and degree classifications into the approximate US GPA equivalents used in published conversion guidance, so a student applying across the Atlantic can present their record in the terms the reader expects.
How to use the UK Grade to US GPA Converter
- Enter your UK percentage mark, or select your degree classification.
- Read the US GPA equivalent for that band.
- Check where in the band your mark sits using the table below.
- Report the original UK class alongside the conversion on applications.
Formula
Within the 2:1 band, marks of 65-69 convert at about 3.7 and 60-64 at about 3.3. These are the approximations published by UK universities for US applications; US admissions offices make their own judgement.
Worked example
A UK mark of 67% is an upper second (2:1), near the top of its band, and converts to approximately a 3.7 US GPA. A mark of 55% is a lower second (2:2) and converts to about 3.0. A mark of 72% is a First and converts to 4.0, which startles students used to US percentages, where 72 would be a C-.
Good to know
UK marking is deliberately compressed: examiners rarely award above 80, and marks in the 70s represent the same excellence that US markers express in the 90s. Never convert a UK percentage with a US percentage table; that error turns a First into a C-. Degree classifications are awarded on the overall weighted average of the final years, so convert your classification, not a single module mark, when the form asks for your degree result.
US grading scale reference
The table below is the US plus/minus scale used across this site. Where this tool offers other scales, the Canadian scale sets an A from 85% with a pass at 50%, and the Australian scale uses the bands HD (85%+), D (75-84%), C (65-74%), P (50-64%) and F (below 50%) on a 7.0 GPA.
| Letter grade | Percentage | GPA points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 |
| A- | 90–92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 |
| B- | 80–82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 |
| C- | 70–72% | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 |
| D- | 60–62% | 0.7 |
| F | 0–59% | 0.0 |
Frequently asked questions
What is a UK 2:1 in US GPA terms?
An upper second (60-69%) converts to roughly 3.3-3.7, with the top of the band near 3.7 and the bottom near 3.3. Most guidance treats a 2:1 as equivalent to about a 3.5.
What is a UK First in US GPA?
A First-class degree, 70% and above, converts to approximately a 4.0 US GPA. British marks above 70 are the excellence band, equivalent to US marks in the 90s.
Why are UK marks so much lower than US marks?
UK examiners use the top of the scale sparingly; 85%+ is considered near-publishable quality at undergraduate level. The percentage scale means something different, which is why conversion must go through degree classes.
What is a 2:2 in US GPA?
A lower second (50-59%) converts to about 2.7-3.0. It is a respectable pass degree in the UK, roughly a US B- to B average.
Do US universities accept these conversions?
They use them as guidance alongside the transcript and often apply credential evaluation, for example through WES. Always submit the original UK classification as well.
Go deeper
Prefer the full walkthrough? Read our guide: US, Canada & Australia Grading Systems — it explains the method step by step with more worked examples.
Sources & further reading
- College Board BigFuture — How to Calculate Your GPA on a 4.0 Scale — The most widely cited US reference for letter-grade to 4.0-scale conversion.
- National Center for Education Statistics (US Department of Education) — Official US education data on grading, attainment and outcomes.
Related tools
Last reviewed: November 2026. Results from this calculator are estimates based on the published scales above; your school's recorded grade is the official one.