The following grades are awarded in the German higher education system:
1 = very good = an outstanding performance
2 = good = a performance that significantly exceeds average requirements
3 = satisfactory = a performance that meets average requirements
4 = adequate = a performance that, despite its shortcomings, still meets the requirements
5 = unsatisfactory = performance that no longer meets the requirements due to significant shortcomings
To further differentiate the assessment, grades reduced or increased by 0.3 can be awarded; grades 0.7, 4.3, 4.7, and 5.3 are not applicable.
When calculating grades from intermediate values, a calculated value
up to 1.5 results in the grade “very good”
above 1.5 to 2.5 results in the grade “good”
above 2.5 to 3.5 results in the grade “satisfactory”
above 3.5 to 4.0 results in the grade “sufficient”
above 4.0 results in a grade of “unsatisfactory.”
In this case, intermediate values are only taken into account with the first decimal place; all further places after the decimal point are deleted without rounding.
A graded exam is passed if the exam performance has been graded at least as “sufficient” (4.0).
An ungraded exam is assessed as “pass” or “fail.”
The exam is “passed” if the performance meets the requirements or still meets them despite its shortcomings.
The exam is “failed” if the performance no longer meets the requirements due to significant shortcomings.
