GPA to ECTS Calculator: Official Grade Descriptors
Enter your GPA and scale, and the calculator shows your ECTS letter grade (A, B, C, D, E, FX, or F) and the official descriptor published by the European Commission for that grade.
Two things worth knowing before you calculate: the tool uses the fixed percentage thresholds from the pre-2009 ECTS framework, which most conversion tables still reference. The post-2009 ECTS system moved to relative grade distribution tables that vary by institution and programme; these require your university’s own data, not a calculator. And ECTS grades are separate from ECTS credits: this tool covers grade letters only, not the workload credit points.
ECTS Grading Scale: Complete Reference with Official Descriptors
The full ECTS letter grade scale with the official descriptors published by the European Commission:
| ECTS Grade | Official Descriptor | Default Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| A | Excellent — outstanding performance with only minor errors | ≥ 90% |
| B | Very good — above average standard but with some errors | ≥ 80% |
| C | Good — generally sound work with a number of notable errors | ≥ 70% |
| D | Satisfactory — fair but with significant shortcomings | ≥ 60% |
| E | Sufficient — performance meets the minimum criteria | ≥ 50% |
| FX | Fail — some more work required before the credit can be awarded | ≥ 40% |
| F | Fail — considerable further work is required | Fail — some more work is required before the credit can be awarded |
E is the minimum passing grade. FX and F are both failing grades, but they are not the same thing. See the FAQ below for the important distinction between them.
GPA to ECTS: Quick Reference Table
Common GPA values on a 4.0 scale and their ECTS equivalents using the default fixed thresholds:
| GPA (4.0 scale) | Normalised % | ECTS Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 100% | A |
| 3.7 | 92.5% | A |
| 3.6 | 90% | A — threshold |
| 3.5 | 87.5% | B |
| 3.3 | 82.5% | B |
| 3.2 | 80% | B — threshold |
| 3.0 | 75% | C |
| 2.8 | 70% | C — threshold |
| 2.7 | 67.5% | D |
| 2.4 | 60% | D — threshold |
| 2.0 | 50% | E — threshold |
| 1.6 | 40% | FX — threshold |
| Below 1.6 | Below 40% | F |
On a 4.0 GPA scale, an E (the minimum passing ECTS grade) corresponds to a 2.0 GPA, which is the widely recognised minimum passing threshold in the US system.
Fixed Thresholds vs the Post-2009 Relative System: What the Calculator Uses
Before 2009, the ECTS grading system used fixed percentage thresholds: A for 90% and above, B for 80–89%, and so on down through E, FX, and F. This made conversion straightforward; any percentage could be mapped directly to a letter.
In 2009, the European Commission updated the framework. The unified fixed scale was replaced by a relative system in which each institution constructs its own grade distribution table based on the statistical spread of actual student results in each programme, typically over the previous two academic years. Under this method, an A goes to the top 10% of successful students, B to the next 25%, C to the next 30%, D to the next 25%, and E to the bottom 10% of passers.
The calculator uses the pre-2009 fixed thresholds, and there is a straightforward reason for that: the post-2009 relative method requires access to your specific institution’s internal grade distribution data, which changes every year and differs between programmes. No public calculator can replicate it. The fixed threshold table remains the most practical reference for GPA-to-ECTS conversion, and it is still the framework most international converter guides and university admissions offices use when making approximate equivalencies.
If your home institution or the receiving university has published a specific ECTS conversion table for your programme, use that instead. The threshold editor in the calculator lets you enter any custom values you have.
FX and F: The Two ECTS Fail Grades and Why They Are Different
Most grading systems have one failing grade. ECTS has two, and the distinction matters practically.
FX — Fail, some more work required. An FX means a student came close to the passing threshold but did not quite clear it. In ECTS terminology, the credit has not yet been awarded; it will be once the student completes additional work specified by the institution. In practice, FX typically means eligibility for a resit examination or a supplementary assessment without having to repeat the full course.
F — Fail, considerable further work required. An F is a more substantial failure. The gap between the student’s performance and the passing standard is significant enough that a resit alone is unlikely to be sufficient. Retaking the course or completing extensive further study is generally implied.
The European Commission’s official ECTS Key Features document explicitly draws this distinction. Whether FX allows a specific resit opportunity, and on what terms, depends on the individual institution’s policy, not the ECTS framework itself.
ECTS Credits vs ECTS Grades: Not the Same Thing
A common point of confusion: ECTS credits and ECTS grades are two separate parts of the ECTS framework that measure different things.
ECTS credits are a measure of workload, the amount of study time a course represents. One academic year equals 60 ECTS credits, a Bachelor’s degree typically requires 180 credits, and a Master’s degree requires 120. Credits are awarded for completing a course, regardless of the grade received.
ECTS grades (A through F, with FX) measure the quality of performance in that course. A student who passes a course with a D still earns the full ECTS credits for it.
This calculator converts your GPA to an ECTS grade letter. It does not calculate or convert ECTS credit points.
The ECTS System: 48 Countries, One Framework
ECTS operates across 48 member countries of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), which extends well beyond the European Union to include Turkey, the United Kingdom, and several countries in Central Asia and the CIS region. It was introduced in 1989 as a tool for Erasmus exchange students and expanded through the Bologna Process, the series of ministerial agreements that began in 1999 to harmonise European higher education qualifications.
For students on Erasmus exchanges, joint-degree programmes, or any mobility period within the EHEA, ECTS grades appear on the Transcript of Records alongside the home institution’s local grade. This is the situation where a GPA-to-ECTS conversion is most often needed: a US student studying a semester in Europe wants to know how their 3.5 GPA will read on a European transcript.
FAQ: GPA to ECTS Calculator
What ECTS grade is a 3.5 GPA?
A 3.5 on a 4.0 scale normalises to 87.5%, which falls in the B band (80–89%). ECTS B is described as “very good, above average standard, but with some errors.” On a 4.0 scale, you need a 3.6 GPA (exactly 90%) to reach the A threshold.
What ECTS grade is a 3.7 GPA?
A 3.7 on a 4.0 scale = 92.5% → ECTS A (Excellent). A is awarded for 90% or above under the fixed threshold framework.
What ECTS grade is a 3.0 GPA?
A 3.0 / 4.0 = 75% → ECTS C (Good, generally sound work with several notable errors). C covers the 70–79% band.
What does ECTS grade E mean?
ECTS E is the minimum passing grade, defined officially as “Sufficient, performance meets the minimum criteria.” On a 4.0 GPA scale, E corresponds to 2.0 GPA (exactly 50%). A student with an E has passed and earns the full ECTS credits for the course.
What is FX in ECTS?
FX is an ECTS failing grade, one step below the passing threshold. The European Commission’s official descriptor is “Fail some more work required before the credit can be awarded.” FX typically indicates the student came close to passing and may be eligible for a resit or supplementary work. It is distinct from F (“considerable further work required”), which reflects a more substantial shortfall.
What is the difference between ECTS FX and F?
Both are failing grades, but FX indicates borderline failure, where additional work may allow the credit to be awarded. In contrast, F indicates a failure significant enough to require further study. The European Commission draws this distinction explicitly in its ECTS Key Features documentation. The specific remedies available for each, resit opportunities, supplementary assessments, are set by each institution individually.
Does a higher GPA always give a higher ECTS grade?
In the fixed-threshold method, a higher GPA percentage corresponds to a higher ECTS letter grade. With the post-2009 relative distribution method, the ECTS grade depends on how your GPA compares to other students in the same cohort, not on an absolute percentage. The calculator uses fixed thresholds, so within this tool, yes.
Can I adjust the thresholds to match my university’s system?
Yes, the threshold editor lets you set custom minimum percentages for each ECTS letter. If your university has published a specific ECTS conversion table for your programme, enter those values to get an accurate result. The defaults follow the pre-2009 fixed framework: A=90%, B=80%, C=70%, D=60%, E=50%, FX=40%.
Enter your GPA above to see the corresponding ECTS grade and its official descriptor. For Erasmus exchanges and credit transfers within the European Higher Education Area, your receiving institution will also provide their own conversion table; the threshold editor lets you enter those values if they differ from the defaults.