China's University Grading System: Two Scales in Parallel
Mainland Chinese universities operate with an unusual duality: the 100-point percentage scale (百分制) is the primary method for recording and reporting individual course grades, but the Grade Point Average (GPA) or its Chinese equivalent, the 绩点 (jī diǎn, "grade point"), has increasingly become the standard for graduate school applications, scholarship eligibility, and international study.
The Ministry of Education does not mandate a single national GPA scale, which means that Chinese universities have adopted slightly different conversion conventions. Understanding which convention applies at which institution is essential for anyone evaluating Chinese transcripts.
The 100-Point Scale: Standard Grade Ranges
Across virtually all mainland Chinese universities, the 100-point scale uses these standard divisions:
| Score Range | Letter Grade | GPA (4.0 scale) | GPA (5.0 scale) | |---|---|---|---| | 90–100 | A | 4.0 | 5.0 | | 80–89 | B | 3.0 | 4.0 | | 70–79 | C | 2.0 | 3.0 | | 60–69 | D | 1.0 | 2.0 | | Below 60 | F | 0.0 | 0.0 |
60 is the minimum passing score at almost all Chinese universities. A score below 60 is a failing grade and requires the student to retake the course.
Some universities, including several 985 and 211 institutions, use a finer 5.0 scale rather than a 4.0 scale. When evaluating a Chinese transcript, the first step is to identify which scale the institution uses and what the institutional conversion table specifies.
绩点 (Jī Diǎn): Weighted Grade Points
The Chinese term 绩点 (jī diǎn) translates literally as "performance point" and functions identically to a weighted GPA: each course's grade point is multiplied by the number of credit hours (学分, xuéfèn), the products are summed, and the sum is divided by the total credit hours. The result is the student's weighted GPA.
GPA (加权平均分, weighted average score) is used for: - China Scholarship Council (CSC) scholarship eligibility (typically requires GPA ≥ 3.2/4.0 or equivalent) - Graduate school applications (domestic and international) - Prestigious employer recruitment (top firms in finance, consulting, and technology often screen by GPA at elite universities) - Postgraduate recommendation letters, where faculty typically cite a student's rank in cohort alongside GPA
Institutional Variations at Top Universities
Peking University (北京大学): Uses a 4.0 GPA scale with the standard 90/80/70/60 boundaries. Peking University transcripts include both the 100-point score and the 4.0 GPA equivalent.
Tsinghua University (清华大学): Uses a modified scale where the GPA conversion is non-linear above 90 points. Tsinghua's scale awards 4.0 for scores of 90+, but also awards bonus points (4.3 equivalent or higher) for exceptional performance in some departments.
Fudan University (复旦大学): Uses a 4.0 scale aligned with the standard national conversion, published in the student academic affairs regulations.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU): Uses a 4.3 scale in some schools within the university, which can cause confusion when comparing transcripts across departments.
When assessing transcripts from Chinese universities for graduate admissions, credential evaluators and admissions offices should always request the university's official grade conversion table alongside the transcript.
Gaokao: China's National College Entrance Examination
The Gaokao (高考, Gāo Kǎo), formally the National College Entrance Examination, is arguably the most consequential examination in the world by number of participants. Taken at the end of secondary education (Grade 12), the Gaokao is the primary (and in most cases, sole) criterion for university placement in mainland China.
Total Gaokao scores range from 300 to 750 (the exact maximum depends on provincial rules and whether the student sits the national or provincial paper). Top universities, Peking University, Tsinghua, and the C9 League institutions, require provincial top-percentile scores that typically translate to 650+ out of 750.
The Gaokao score determines which universities and which departments a student can apply to. Once enrolled, the Gaokao score is no longer referenced; it is the in-university GPA that matters for subsequent academic and career decisions.
Hong Kong: HKDSE and University Grading
Hong Kong operates a distinct education system under the "one country, two systems" framework, and its grading conventions differ substantially from mainland China.
HKDSE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education): The secondary school leaving qualification used for university admission. HKDSE subjects are graded on a 7-level scale:
| Level | Descriptor | |---|---| | 5** | Exceptional Performance (approx. top 1%) | | 5* | Outstanding Performance | | 5 | Excellent Performance | | 4 | Proficient Performance | | 3 | Adequate Performance | | 2 | Basic Performance | | 1 | Elementary Performance | | U | Unclassified (failed) |
The minimum requirement for most Hong Kong university programmes is Level 2 in Chinese and English language plus Level 3 in four elective subjects ("33222" requirement).
Hong Kong university grades: The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and others use a GPA scale on 4.0 or a percentage system similar to the UK model, reporting degree classifications (First Class Honours, Second Class Upper, etc.) at graduation.
Chinese Student Visa GPA Requirements
For international students (non-Chinese nationals) studying in China on an X1 or X2 student visa, Chinese universities typically require a minimum GPA (on the home country's scale) of approximately 2.5–3.0/4.0 for undergraduate admission and 3.0–3.5/4.0 for graduate admission, depending on the institution. CSC scholarship recipients must meet higher standards (typically 3.2/4.0 or equivalent).
Converting Chinese Grades for International Graduate Applications
For US graduate programmes: Most US schools use the standard 90/80/70/60 conversion table, treating a Chinese GPA ≥ 3.5/4.0 (or weighted average ≥ 87/100) as competitive for admission to research programmes. A WES or similar evaluation converts the 100-point scores to GPA.
For UK graduate programmes: A Chinese 100-point score of 85+ is generally treated as equivalent to a UK First Class (70%+). Scores of 75–84 map approximately to a 2:1 (Upper Second).
For Australian graduate programmes: AQF guidelines and university-specific conversion tables map Chinese 85+ to Distinction or High Distinction, and 75–84 to Credit.
How OpenEduCat Supports Chinese and Hong Kong Institutions
OpenEduCat's Gradebook module supports dual-scale recording: courses can be graded on the 100-point scale while the system simultaneously calculates the 4.0 or 5.0 GPA equivalent using the institution's configured conversion table. Weighted 绩点 (jī diǎn) is computed automatically across all completed credits, and scholarship eligibility reports can be generated based on GPA thresholds configured by the registrar.
