Chinese university grades to US GPA
Most Chinese transcripts use a 100-point scale with 60 as the pass, but universities draw the A− line in different places. Choose the scale that matches your transcript key.
Convert a grade
Standards vary by school; follow your target school’s rules.
How the estimate works
The estimate draws straight lines between these points on the “100-point scale where A− = 90” scale: 60 → 1.0, 80 → 3.0, 85 → 3.3, 90 → 3.7, 100 → 4.0. The points in the middle come from the published tables below; mapping the lowest pass to 1.0 and the top of the scale to 4.0 is a GradeKite assumption. Values outside the points get no estimate.
The estimate draws straight lines between these points on the “100-point scale where A− = 85” scale: 60 → 1.0, 78 → 3.0, 82 → 3.3, 85 → 3.7, 100 → 4.0. The points in the middle come from the published tables below; mapping the lowest pass to 1.0 and the top of the scale to 4.0 is a GradeKite assumption. Values outside the points get no estimate.
Grade bands
| Letter | Mark | Fudan GPA |
|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 90–100 | 4.0 |
| A− | 85–89 | 3.67 |
| B+ | 82–84 | 3.33 |
| B | 78–81 | 3.0 |
| B− | 75–77 | 2.67 |
| C+ | 72–74 | 2.33 |
| C | 69–71 | 2.0 |
| C− | 66–68 | 1.67 |
| D+ | 63–65 | 1.33 |
| D | 60–62 | 1.0 |
| F | 0–59 | 0.0 |
Percentages, then letters
For decades Chinese universities recorded course results as marks out of 100, with 60 as the pass. Peking University’s current rules still allow either a 100-point mark or a letter grade (A+ to F) per course, with 60 or D as the pass. Tsinghua went further: from the class entering in 2015, its official transcripts show letter grades instead of percentage marks, and A+ is capped at 5% of a class. So two transcripts from top Chinese universities can look completely different.
The Fudan table
The table above is the GPA conversion table published by Fudan University’s international school (FISF), which maps 100-point marks to letters and to a 4.0 scale in steps of a third (3.67, 3.33). The converter highlights the row and shows Fudan’s value next to the estimate. It is one university’s table, not a national standard.
Toronto’s two scales
Toronto recognizes that Chinese universities set A− at either 90 or 85. On an “A− = 90” scale, mid-B is 80 and B+ 85; on an “A− = 85” scale, mid-B is 78 and B+ 82. Look for the grading key on the back of your transcript before choosing. Oregon State simply asks for an 80% cumulative average or a 3.0.
Worked example
Wei’s average is 84. On an A− = 90 scale that is 80% of the way from mid-B (80) to B+ (85): 3.0 + 0.3 × 0.8 = 3.24, shown as 3.2. On an A− = 85 scale the same 84 is two-thirds of the way from B+ (82) to A− (85): 3.3 + 0.4 × 2/3 = 3.57, about 3.6. Fudan’s table gives 84 a B+ (3.33). Three defensible answers from 3.2 to 3.6 is the honest result; the school you apply to decides which applies.
What universities publish
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto, School of Graduate Studies | A− = 90 scale: mid-B 80%, B+ 85%, A− 90%. A− = 85 scale: mid-B 78%, B+ 82%, A− 85%. |
| Oregon State University Graduate Admissions | B average: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 80% cumulative average. |
| Fudan University (FISF) | 90–100 = 4.0, 85–89 = 3.67, 82–84 = 3.33, 78–81 = 3.0 … 60–62 = 1.0, below 60 = 0. |
| Peking University Office of Educational Administration | 60 or above, D or above, or P is a pass. |
| Tsinghua University news (from China Youth Daily, 2015) | From the 2015 intake, transcripts record A+ to F letters; A+ limited to 5% of a course. |
Estimated conversion table
| 100-point scale where A− = 90 | Estimated US GPA (4.0) |
|---|---|
| 60 | 1.0 |
| 65 | 1.5 |
| 70 | 2.0 |
| 75 | 2.5 |
| 78 | 2.8 |
| 80 | 3.0 |
| 82 | 3.1 |
| 85 | 3.3 |
| 88 | 3.5 |
| 90 | 3.7 |
| 95 | 3.9 |
Sources
- University of Toronto, School of Graduate Studies: International Credentials Equivalencies
- Oregon State University Graduate Admissions: China requirements
- Fudan University (FISF): GPA Conversion Table (PDF)
- Peking University Office of Educational Administration: undergraduate grading regulations (2025 revision)
- Tsinghua University news (from China Youth Daily, 2015): from percentage marks to letter grades
Once you have course grades on a 4.0 scale, the GPA calculator turns them into a credit-weighted GPA.