UK to US Grade Converter

A UK Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1), which covers 60–69%, typically converts to a GPA of 3.3–3.6 on the US 4.0 scale. It is widely regarded as a strong academic result and is often the minimum requirement for admission to US graduate programmes.

A UK Lower Second-Class Honours (2:2), covering 50–59%, is generally equivalent to a 2.7–3.0 GPA in the US. While lower than a 2:1, it can still meet entry requirements for some US universities and professional programmes, particularly with strong supporting experience.

A UK First-Class Honours degree (70% and above) is broadly equivalent to a 3.7–4.0 GPA in the US. Admissions officers at American universities recognise how competitive a First is, since fewer than 25% of UK students typically achieve this classification.

No — the two systems are not directly comparable. In the UK, 70% is considered an excellent First-Class mark, whereas in the US, 70% typically corresponds to a C grade. UK universities deliberately set marking scales differently, so you should always use a conversion table rather than comparing raw percentages.

UK A-level grades (A*, A, B, C, D, E) map approximately to US letter grades A+, A, B, C, D, and F respectively. On the 4.0 GPA scale, an A* is 4.0, an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0, a C is 2.0, a D is 1.0, and an E is below 1.0. Many US universities use WES or ECCTIS evaluations for official conversions.

Most selective US universities are familiar with the UK classification system, especially for graduate admissions. However, for formal applications you may still need a credential evaluation from a recognised body such as WES (World Education Services) or ECCTIS (formerly UK NARIC) to produce an official GPA equivalent.

For informal research or course selection, a conversion tool like this one is sufficient. However, for official university applications, scholarship programmes, or employment background checks in the US, you will typically need an official evaluation from WES, ECCTIS, or a similar credential evaluation service.

A Third-Class Honours degree (40–49%) is roughly equivalent to a 1.7–2.0 GPA in the US, which is below the minimum threshold for most US graduate programmes. However, it may still be accepted for some professional courses or with sufficient work experience. Check individual university requirements carefully.