Gradebook
Mexican University Grading — 0-10 Scale, 6.0 Pass Mark, EGEL Exit Exam
Mexico's higher education system uses a 0-10 nota scale across all SEP-supervised institutions, with 6.0 as the national pass threshold. Students scoring 6.0-6.9 are in the Regularización band; those below 6.0 must sit an Extraordinario exam. Many universities also require the EGEL exit exam (CENEVAL) as part of the graduation pathway. This page explains the full grade scale, EGEL requirements, and how OpenEduCat automates Mexican university grading in compliance with SEP and ANUIES standards.
Mexican University 0-10 Nota Scale
Grade bands, descriptors, and special thresholds used across SEP-accredited Mexican universities.
| Nota Range | Label | Descriptor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0–10 | Excelente / MB (Muy Bien) | Excellent | Cuadro de Honor eligibility (promedio ≥9.0). Required for national scholarships (Beca Benito Juárez). |
| 8.0–8.9 | Bien / B | Good | Above average. Solid university performance. Common UNAM/IPN "acceptable" threshold for some postgraduate programmes. |
| 7.0–7.9 | Regular / S (Satisfactorio) | Satisfactory | Target minimum for most degree programmes. University entrance to public graduate schools (UNAM, IPN) often requires promedio ≥7.0. |
| 6.0–6.9 | Aprobado mínimo | Minimum Pass | Passed but in the Regularización-eligible band. Student may voluntarily take a Regularización exam to improve the nota. |
| < 6.0 | Reprobado / NP (No Pasó) | Fail | Mandatory Extraordinario exam required. If Extraordinario also fails, subject must be repeated. |
Source: Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) — Dirección General de Acreditación, Incorporación y Revalidación (DGAIR). Nota boundaries apply uniformly across SEP-supervised higher education institutions.
EGEL Exit Exam — CENEVAL Requirements
The Examen General de Egreso de Licenciatura (EGEL) is used by many Mexican universities as a graduation pathway or complement to the thesis defence.
What is EGEL?
The Examen General de Egreso de Licenciatura (EGEL) is a national exit exam produced by CENEVAL (Centro Nacional de Evaluación para la Educación Superior). It assesses graduates' knowledge and skills at the end of their bachelor's degree programme.
Who must take it?
Requirements vary by institution and programme. Some SEP-accredited universities require a minimum EGEL score for degree certification (titulación). Others use EGEL as one of several graduation pathway options. UNAM, IPN, and Tecnológico Nacional de México institutions often include EGEL results in their graduation requirements.
EGEL Score Levels
EGEL results are categorised as: Sin Suficiencia (below minimum competency — no certification of exceptional performance), Suficiencia (meets competency standards), Desempeño Satisfactorio (satisfactory performance — above the national average), and Desempeño Sobresaliente (outstanding performance — nationally recognised distinction).
How does it affect the academic record?
A Desempeño Satisfactorio or Sobresaliente EGEL result may substitute for or complement the thesis defence requirement for titulación at many institutions. OpenEduCat stores the EGEL result as a graduation requirement field on the student record, alongside the promedio and other titulación conditions.
Promedio Calculation — How Mexican GPA Works
Unlike the US 4.0 GPA scale, Mexican universities express the overall academic average as a promedio on the same 0-10 scale as individual notas. The promedio is the credit-weighted arithmetic mean of all subject notas from across the programme. It appears on the Kardex (internal academic history) and on the official Certificado de Estudios issued at graduation. A promedio ≥9.0 qualifies a student for the Cuadro de Honor (Dean's List equivalent); a promedio ≥9.5 at graduation is the threshold for Mención Honorífica distinction at many institutions.
How OpenEduCat Supports Mexican University Grading
0-10 Nota Scale with 6.0 Pass Threshold
The 0-10 scale is pre-configured with 6.0 as the pass mark. Regularización (6.0-6.9) and Extraordinario (below 6.0) bands are flagged automatically when final notas are entered.
CURP Integration
The CURP (18-character national ID) is stored on each student record and printed automatically on all official documents: Kardex, Boleta de Calificaciones, and Certificado de Estudios.
EGEL Result Recording
EGEL results (Suficiencia / Satisfactorio / Sobresaliente) are stored as a graduation requirement field. The system checks whether EGEL conditions are met as part of titulación eligibility evaluation.
Bimestral and Semester Period Support
Both the 5-bimestre structure (preparatory/bachillerato) and the semester structure (licenciatura) are supported. Promedio is computed credit-weighted across all periods automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Mexican university grading and the 0-10 nota scale.
Automate grading for your Mexican institution
0-10 scale, 6.0 pass threshold, Regularización/Extraordinario flags, CURP integration, and SEP-format Kardex — pre-configured in OpenEduCat.