Academic grading in Germany
Encyclopedia
Germany
uses a 6-point grading scale (GPA)
to evaluate the performance of school children:
As schools are governed by the states, not by the federal government, there are slight differences. Often a more granular scale of "1-" (equal to 1.25), "1-2" (= 1.5), "2+" (= 1.75), etc. is used; sometimes even decimal grading (1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and so on) is applied.
In end-of-year report card
s, only unmodified integer grades may be used; in some regions they are written in text form. "In-between" grades such as 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 etc., which used to count as 1.5, 2.5 and so on, have largely been discontinued due to ambiguities when converting the averages back to integer values.
In the final classes of Gymnasiums
the grades are converted to numbers ("points") in order to calculate the average for the Abitur
. In this case a "1+" exists (and counts as 15 points. 1 is 14, 1- is 13, 2+ is 12, etc. up to 5- (1 point) and finally 6 (0 points). Although "1+" exists in this system, the final Abitur grade is rounded down to 1.0 even if one has received a "1+" in every subject. When the point system is used, a grade of 4 (5 points) is the lowest passing grade, and 4- (4 points) the highest failing grade.
. Thus this conversion is never accurate. For example, a grade of 3 is usually more difficult to obtain in Germany than a B+ in the United States. The average grade in Germany is normally supposed to be around or a bit above 3.
Sometimes, esp. with a Dr. Phil. (D.Phil. / Ph.D.) the Latin versions are used for the grading (in this case the grade (Note/Zensur) is called Prädikat):
There is no grade for failing; in that case the dissertation is formally rejected without a grade.
For law students at German universities, a similar system to the 1 to 5 scale is used that comprises one more grade that is inserted between 2 (gut) and 3 'befriedigend', named "vollbefriedigend." This is because the grades "gut" and "sehr gut" are extremely rare, so an additional grade was created below "gut" to increase differentiation. Every grade is converted into points very much like the Gymnasium system described above, starting at 18 points (excellent) down to 0 points (poor). 4 points is the lowest passing grade.
The textual form of the grades was:
With the polytechnic reform of the school system initiated by the Act on Socialistic Development of the School System in the German Democratic Republic the Ministry of People's Education wanted to adapt academic grading for all institutions in its jurisdiction, which were general educational schools, vocational schools and professional schools for the qualification of lower classes teachers, educators and kindergartners. Therefore, a reorganized grading scale was enacted in Directive on the introduction of a unified grading scale for secondary schools, extended secondary schools, special schools, vocational schools, institutes of vocational masters' education, institutes of vocational school teachers' education, institutes of vocational teachers' further education, institutes of teachers' education and pedagogic institutes. This directive was unchangedly effective from September 1, 1960 to August 25, 1993.
Teachers appreciated the relatively tight definitions of the grades, which were much more specific compared to West Germany or today's Germany. Experts spoke and speak in high terms of East Germany's grading scale because it obtained more transparency, comparability and uniformity, and reduced arbitrary grading without being very complicated.
For all of the different subjects there were further recommendations with even more specific descriptions in relation to the general grading scale. These particular comments should help the teacher to grade the achievements of the students as objectively as possible.
This scale is identical to the current Austrian grading scale.
Specifically, in the 2008 case of Sabine Czerny, a Bavarian primary school teacher, Czerny thought that 91 % of the class would be able to make a successful transition into a Realschule
or a Gymnasium (high schools for which normally only 50-80% of children qualify based on their educational achievements). While the parents liked this result, the educational authorities questioned Czerny's grading standards. Czerny claims that her student's results stood up in cross-classroom tests; nonetheless she was transferred to another school. Czerny received much public sympathy and later went on to write a book about her experiences.
A study revealed that a sample of Gymnasium high school seniors of average mathematical ability who chose to attend advanced college-preparatory math classes at their school ("Leistungskurs") found themselves in the very bottom of their class and had an average grade of 5 (i.e. failed the class). Comprehensive school students of equal mathematical ability found themselves in the upper half of the equivalent course in their school and obtained an average grade of 3+. It was found that students who graduated from a Gesamtschule tend to do worse in college than their grades in high school classes would predict - and vice versa for Gymnasium students.
) an IQ scale are then possible.
This transformation is problematic both for high school grades and for university grades:
At high school level, schooling in most of Germany is selective — thus for instance a Gymnasium student who is underperforming compared to his classmates is likely to still be close to or above average when compared to his entire age group.
At university level, the distribution is highly non-normal and idiosyncratic to the subject. Substantially more German students fail exams in university than in other countries (usually about 20-40%, often even more). Grades awarded vary widely between fields of study and between universities. (In law degrees, for instance, only 10-15% of candidates get a grade better than "befriedigend".)
This might be one reason for the low graduations rates at university in international comparisons, as well as for the small number of people who obtain an "Abitur" in the first place. However, several empirical psychological studies show that the grades awarded in Germany at school and university have a high reliability when taking up higher education and research jobs. The universities usually demand high grades in Diploma Thesis or a Master Thesis. Thesis grades are by far the most critical factor while applying for job or higher education e.g. PhDs. One study from 1995 found that GPAs from school are a mild (weak) predictor for success in university and to a slightly better degree for success in vocational trainings, and that GPAs from school or university have nearly no predictive value for job performance
. Nevertheless, due to rarity of psychometric testing (like Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the Medical College Admission Test
(MCAT) and the like in the US) the GPA is usually used as the most predictive criterion available within an application process. For job recruiting, school/university grades have a high impact on career opportunities, as independent scientifically based recruitment and assessment is used by less than 8% of the German employers (50-70% in other European countries ).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
uses a 6-point grading scale (GPA)
Grade (education)
Grades are standardized measurements of varying levels of comprehension within a subject area. Grades can be assigned in letters , as a range , as a number out of a possible total , as descriptors , in percentages, or, as is common in some post-secondary...
to evaluate the performance of school children:
- 1 (sehr gut, very good) is the best possible grade and is given for outstanding performance
- 2 (gut, good) is the next-highest and is given for performance that meets the standard completely and is above-average
- 3 (befriedigend, satisfactory) indicates "average" performance.
- 4 (ausreichend, sufficient) is the lowest passing grade and is given if the standard has been met but with a number of notable errors.
- 5 (mangelhaft, deficient) is the higher of two failing grades and is given if the standard has not been met but the basics have been understood.
- 6 (ungenügend, insufficient) is the lowest possible grade and is given if the standard has not been met and the basics have not been understood.
Details of the German system
"5" and "6" are both considered to be failing grades, although in earlier years students are not required to repeat classes with 5 grades if they perform well in other classes. Grades 1 to 5 can be suffixed with + and -. To calculate averages of suffixed grades, they are assigned fractional values, where 1 is 1.0, 1- is 1.3, 2+ is 1.7, 2 is 2.0, 2- is 2.3 and so on.As schools are governed by the states, not by the federal government, there are slight differences. Often a more granular scale of "1-" (equal to 1.25), "1-2" (= 1.5), "2+" (= 1.75), etc. is used; sometimes even decimal grading (1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and so on) is applied.
In end-of-year report card
Report card
A report card communicates a student's performance. In most places, the report card is issued by the school to the student or the student's parents twice or four times yearly. A typical report card uses a grading scale to determine the quality of a student's school work...
s, only unmodified integer grades may be used; in some regions they are written in text form. "In-between" grades such as 1-2, 2-3, 3-4 etc., which used to count as 1.5, 2.5 and so on, have largely been discontinued due to ambiguities when converting the averages back to integer values.
In the final classes of Gymnasiums
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
the grades are converted to numbers ("points") in order to calculate the average for the Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
. In this case a "1+" exists (and counts as 15 points. 1 is 14, 1- is 13, 2+ is 12, etc. up to 5- (1 point) and finally 6 (0 points). Although "1+" exists in this system, the final Abitur grade is rounded down to 1.0 even if one has received a "1+" in every subject. When the point system is used, a grade of 4 (5 points) is the lowest passing grade, and 4- (4 points) the highest failing grade.
Pedagogic Grading
Teachers who teach Grundschule (primary school) or Sonderschule (special education school) are allowed to use "pädagogische Noten" ("pedagogic grades"). Thus if a students tries very hard, but still does very poorly compared to the rest of the class the teachers are allowed to give them good grades because they tried so hard.Conversion to other systems
Official conversion tables for university exchange programs usually convert 2 to A-/B+, a 3 to B/B- and a 4 to C.See for instance the World Education Services The conversion was created so that the average GPA of students in the U.S. and in Germany coincided, however, there is difference in quality of university students in the U.S.and Germany, and the average GPA of university students in the U.S. has been rising due to grade inflationGrade inflation
Grade inflation is the tendency of academic grades for work of comparable quality to increase over time.It is frequently discussed in relation to U.S. education, and to GCSEs and A levels in England and Wales...
. Thus this conversion is never accurate. For example, a grade of 3 is usually more difficult to obtain in Germany than a B+ in the United States. The average grade in Germany is normally supposed to be around or a bit above 3.
| German Grade System | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage | Grades by education | Descriptor | Conversion | |||
| (varies with school/subject) | primary & lower secondary (1st-10th grade) | upper secondary (Gymnasium, 11th-13th grade) | tertiary (Hochschule Hochschule Hochschule is a German term with two meanings.The literal meaning of the word Hochschule is “high school” which is not appropriate as a translation.- Generic term :... & Universität University A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education... ) |
(approximately to US system*) | (approximately to UK system*) | |
| 90-100% | 1+ | 15 points | 1,0 | "sehr gut" (very good: an outstanding achievement) | A+ | A* |
| 1 | 14 points | |||||
| 1- | 13 points | 1,3 | A | A | ||
| 80-90% | 2+ | 12 points | 1,7 | "gut" (good: an achievement substantially above average requirements) | A- | |
| 2 | 11 points | 2,0 | A- | A/B | ||
| 2- | 10 points | 2,3 | A- | |||
| 65-80% | 3+ | 9 points | 2,7 | "befriedigend" (satisfactory: an achievement which corresponds to average requirements) | B+ | B |
| 3 | 8 points | 3,0 | B | B/C | ||
| 3- | 7 points | 3,3 | B- | C | ||
| 50-65% | 4+ | 6 points | 3,7 | "ausreichend" (sufficient: an achievement which barely meets the requirements) | C+ | |
| 4 | 5 points | 4,0 | C | D | ||
| 0-50% | 4- | 4 points | 5,0 | "mangelhaft" / "ungenügend" / "nicht bestanden" (not sufficient / failed: an achievement which does not meet the requirements) | F | E |
| 5+ | 3 points | |||||
| 5 | 2 points | F | ||||
| 5- | 1 point | |||||
| 6 | 0 points | G | ||||
- this conversion serves as an orientation, as conversions might differ.
Universities
In German universities (except for law schools) a 1 to 5 scale is used:- 1,0-1,3 sehr gut (very good: an outstanding achievement)
- 1,7-2,3 gut (good: an achievement, which lies substantially above average requirements)
- 2,7-3,3 befriedigend (satisfactory: an achievement, which corresponds to average requirements)
- 3,7-4,0 ausreichend (sufficient: an achievement, which still meets the requirements)
- 4,3-5,0 nicht ausreichend / nicht bestanden (not sufficient / failed: an achievement, which does not meet the requirements)
Sometimes, esp. with a Dr. Phil. (D.Phil. / Ph.D.) the Latin versions are used for the grading (in this case the grade (Note/Zensur) is called Prädikat):
- summa cum laude (<1.0 = mit Auszeichnung, "with honor")
- magna cum laude (1.0 = sehr gut, "very good")
- cum laude (2.0 = gut, "good")
- rite (3.0 = bestanden, "passed")
There is no grade for failing; in that case the dissertation is formally rejected without a grade.
For law students at German universities, a similar system to the 1 to 5 scale is used that comprises one more grade that is inserted between 2 (gut) and 3 'befriedigend', named "vollbefriedigend." This is because the grades "gut" and "sehr gut" are extremely rare, so an additional grade was created below "gut" to increase differentiation. Every grade is converted into points very much like the Gymnasium system described above, starting at 18 points (excellent) down to 0 points (poor). 4 points is the lowest passing grade.
Austria and East Germany (1950s-1980s)
In former East Germany, a 5-point grading scale was used until July 1991, where:- 1 (very good) was the best possible grade.
- 2 (good) was the next-highest.
- 3 (satisfactory) indicates average performance.
- 4 (sufficient) was the lowest passing grade.
- 5 (insufficient) was the lowest possible grade and the only failing grade.
The textual form of the grades was:
- 1 sehr gut
- 2 gut
- 3 befriedigend
- 4 genügend
- 5 ungenügend
With the polytechnic reform of the school system initiated by the Act on Socialistic Development of the School System in the German Democratic Republic the Ministry of People's Education wanted to adapt academic grading for all institutions in its jurisdiction, which were general educational schools, vocational schools and professional schools for the qualification of lower classes teachers, educators and kindergartners. Therefore, a reorganized grading scale was enacted in Directive on the introduction of a unified grading scale for secondary schools, extended secondary schools, special schools, vocational schools, institutes of vocational masters' education, institutes of vocational school teachers' education, institutes of vocational teachers' further education, institutes of teachers' education and pedagogic institutes. This directive was unchangedly effective from September 1, 1960 to August 25, 1993.
Teachers appreciated the relatively tight definitions of the grades, which were much more specific compared to West Germany or today's Germany. Experts spoke and speak in high terms of East Germany's grading scale because it obtained more transparency, comparability and uniformity, and reduced arbitrary grading without being very complicated.
For all of the different subjects there were further recommendations with even more specific descriptions in relation to the general grading scale. These particular comments should help the teacher to grade the achievements of the students as objectively as possible.
This scale is identical to the current Austrian grading scale.
The case of Sabine Czerny
At public schools in Germany, teachers are supposed to evaluate students against fixed course-specific criteria, but often feel implicit pressure to grade students on a curve where grades are awarded based on performance relative to all other individuals rather than performance relative to the difficulty of a specific course.Specifically, in the 2008 case of Sabine Czerny, a Bavarian primary school teacher, Czerny thought that 91 % of the class would be able to make a successful transition into a Realschule
Realschule
The Realschule is a type of secondary school in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It has also existed in Croatia , Denmark , Sweden , Hungary and in the Russian Empire .-History:The Realschule was an outgrowth of the rationalism and empiricism of the seventeenth and...
or a Gymnasium (high schools for which normally only 50-80% of children qualify based on their educational achievements). While the parents liked this result, the educational authorities questioned Czerny's grading standards. Czerny claims that her student's results stood up in cross-classroom tests; nonetheless she was transferred to another school. Czerny received much public sympathy and later went on to write a book about her experiences.
The case of Gymnasium and Gesamtschule (comprehensive school)
German Gymnasiums are schools which prepare students for college education. These schools are selective and tough grading is traditional. This culture works against students of average academic ability who barely qualify for a Gymnasium place, then find themselves on the bottom of their class, yet would have achieved better grades for the same effort if they would have attended a non-selective comprehensive school (Gesamtschule).A study revealed that a sample of Gymnasium high school seniors of average mathematical ability who chose to attend advanced college-preparatory math classes at their school ("Leistungskurs") found themselves in the very bottom of their class and had an average grade of 5 (i.e. failed the class). Comprehensive school students of equal mathematical ability found themselves in the upper half of the equivalent course in their school and obtained an average grade of 3+. It was found that students who graduated from a Gesamtschule tend to do worse in college than their grades in high school classes would predict - and vice versa for Gymnasium students.
Predictive ability
Often the German grades are treated like an interval scale to calculate means and deviations for comparisons. Despite the fact that it lacks any psychometric standardization, the grading system is often compared to normally distributed norm-referenced assessments . Using an expected value of 3 and a standard deviation of 1, transformations into other statistical measures like Percentiles, T, Stanine etc. or (like in the PISA studiesProgramme for International Student Assessment
The Programme for International Student Assessment is a worldwide evaluation in OECD member countries of 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance, performed first in 2000 and repeated every three years...
) an IQ scale are then possible.
This transformation is problematic both for high school grades and for university grades:
At high school level, schooling in most of Germany is selective — thus for instance a Gymnasium student who is underperforming compared to his classmates is likely to still be close to or above average when compared to his entire age group.
At university level, the distribution is highly non-normal and idiosyncratic to the subject. Substantially more German students fail exams in university than in other countries (usually about 20-40%, often even more). Grades awarded vary widely between fields of study and between universities. (In law degrees, for instance, only 10-15% of candidates get a grade better than "befriedigend".)
This might be one reason for the low graduations rates at university in international comparisons, as well as for the small number of people who obtain an "Abitur" in the first place. However, several empirical psychological studies show that the grades awarded in Germany at school and university have a high reliability when taking up higher education and research jobs. The universities usually demand high grades in Diploma Thesis or a Master Thesis. Thesis grades are by far the most critical factor while applying for job or higher education e.g. PhDs. One study from 1995 found that GPAs from school are a mild (weak) predictor for success in university and to a slightly better degree for success in vocational trainings, and that GPAs from school or university have nearly no predictive value for job performance
Job performance
Job performance is a commonly used, yet poorly defined concept in industrial and organizational psychology, the branch of psychology that deals with the workplace. It's also part of Human Resources Management. It most commonly refers to whether a person performs their job well...
. Nevertheless, due to rarity of psychometric testing (like Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the Medical College Admission Test
Medical College Admission Test
The Medical College Admission Test is a computer-based standardized examination for prospective medical students in the United States and Canada. It is designed to assess problem solving, critical thinking, written analysis, and writing skills in addition to knowledge of scientific concepts and...
(MCAT) and the like in the US) the GPA is usually used as the most predictive criterion available within an application process. For job recruiting, school/university grades have a high impact on career opportunities, as independent scientifically based recruitment and assessment is used by less than 8% of the German employers (50-70% in other European countries ).