A UK student who averages 72% has achieved the highest classification available to them. Read as a literal percentage on a US scale, 72% looks like a C, which drastically understates how strong that result actually is within the system that produced it. This tool converts between the two scales using the standard approximate ranges applied by credential evaluation services.
How to Use This Converter
- Convert UK percentage to US GPA, or the reverse, using the tabs above.
- Treat the result as an approximate range, not an exact one-to-one figure, since no official universal conversion formula exists.
Why UK and US Grading Scales Are So Different
US grading is typically criterion-referenced against a percentage-correct model where 90%+ is common for strong students. UK grading is criterion-referenced against an expert standard, where 100% is reserved for something close to publishable, faultless work, making marks above 85% rare even for outstanding students. A 70% First and a 90% US A are both signalling the top of their respective scales; they are just built on entirely different number lines. For a full explanation of how UK grading actually works, see our complete UK grading system guide.
Full Conversion Table
| UK Classification | UK Percentage | Approximate US GPA |
|---|---|---|
| First-Class Honours | 70% and above | 3.7 to 4.0 |
| Upper Second (2:1) | 60% to 69% | 3.3 to 3.7 |
| Lower Second (2:2) | 50% to 59% | 2.7 to 3.3 |
| Third-Class | 40% to 49% | 2.0 to 2.3 |
When You Need a Formal Credential Evaluation
For an actual application, most competitive US graduate programmes explicitly ask for a GPA equivalent and often require a formal credential evaluation from a recognised service (such as WES) rather than a self-reported conversion. Use this tool to understand roughly where you stand, but check each specific programme's requirements before submitting an application, since evaluation standards can differ slightly between services and institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official, universally agreed UK-to-GPA conversion?
No single official formula exists. The ranges here reflect the standard commonly applied by credential evaluation services and referenced by many university international admissions offices, but individual institutions may use slightly different equivalency tables.
Should I write my raw UK percentage on a US application?
Generally no, not without context. Most competitive US programmes expect a GPA equivalent or a formal credential evaluation rather than a raw percentage, since without conversion a US reader may misread a strong UK result as mediocre.
Does this work for Scottish or postgraduate UK grades too?
The same percentage bands apply across the UK regardless of a three or four-year degree structure. For postgraduate taught degrees, Distinction (70%+), Merit (60–69%) and Pass (50–59%) map onto roughly the same GPA ranges as First, 2:1 and 2:2 respectively.