Mexican GPA Calculator (10-Point Scale)

Calculate Your GPA Using the Mexican Grading System (0-10)

Mexican GPA Calculator

Add Your Courses/Subjects

Quick Reference: Mexican Grading Scale

Grade (0-10)	Spanish Term	English	Status
10	Excelente	Excellent	Pass
9	Muy Bien	Very Good	Pass
8	Bien	Good	Pass
7	Regular	Average	Pass
6	Suficiente	Sufficient	Pass
0-5.9	Deficiente/Reprobado	Insufficient/Failed	Fail

Understanding the Mexican Grading System

Mexico uses a decimal grading system ranging from 0 to 10, where 10 represents excellent performance and 6 is the minimum passing grade. This system is used across all educational levels in Mexico, from primary school through university, making it one of the most consistent grading systems in Latin America.

The grading scale is straightforward and numerical, with decimal points commonly used to provide finer gradations (e.g., 7.5, 8.3, 9.2). Unlike letter-based systems, Mexican grades are expressed as numbers, making calculations simple and transparent. The system emphasizes that a grade of 6.0 is the bare minimum to pass, while anything below 6.0 is considered failing.

In official transcripts (Certificado de Estudios), failed courses are often marked as NA (No Acreditada) or N/A (No Aprobada) rather than showing the actual failing grade. Some institutions use a 0-100 scale instead (effectively multiplying by 10), where 100 is the highest and 60 is the minimum passing grade, but this converts directly to the 0-10 scale.

Comprehensive Mexican Grade Scale

Mexican Grade	Spanish Term	English	% Range	Description
10	Excelente	Excellent	90-100%	Outstanding mastery
9	Muy Bien	Very Good	80-89%	Strong comprehension
8	Bien	Good	70-79%	Proficient performance
7	Regular	Average/Regular	60-69%	Adequate understanding
6	Suficiente	Sufficient	50-59%	Minimum acceptable
0-5.9	Deficiente/Reprobado	Insufficient/Failed	0-49%	Below minimum standard

Important Note: Mexican students often refer to a "straight-10 student" (estudiante de puro 10) similar to how Americans say "straight-A student." Achieving a 10 consistently demonstrates exceptional academic excellence.

Converting Mexican Grades to US GPA

Standard Conversion Table

Mexican students applying to US universities need to convert their 0-10 grades to the American 4.0 GPA scale. While conversions vary slightly by institution, this table represents the most commonly accepted equivalencies:

Mexican Grade	% Range	US Letter	US GPA
10	90-100%	A	4.0
9	80-89%	A-/B+	3.7
8	70-79%	B	3.0
7	60-69%	C	2.0
6	50-59%	D	1.0
0-5.9	0-49%	F	0.0

Alternative Conversion Formula

Some institutions use a mathematical formula for conversion:

US GPA = (Mexican Grade - 6) ÷ 1

Example: Mexican grade of 8.5

US GPA = (8.5 - 6) ÷ 1 = 2.5 ≈ B-/C+ (approximately 3.0 on 4.0 scale)

Important Facts About Mexican Grading

Decimal Precision is Common

Mexican grades frequently use decimal points for precision (e.g., 7.8, 8.5, 9.2). This allows for finer differentiation of student performance beyond whole numbers. When calculating your GPA, include all decimal places in your average calculation, as these fractional differences can affect your overall standing, especially for competitive programs or scholarships.

6.0 is Passing, Not Good

While 6.0 is technically a passing grade in the Mexican system, it represents the bare minimum and is generally not considered competitive performance. For university admissions, most programs expect averages of 7.0 or higher. Top universities in Mexico and abroad typically require 8.0-9.0+ averages. Don't confuse passing with competitive—aim for grades above 7.0 for good academic standing.

0-100 Scale Variation

Some Mexican institutions, particularly private schools, use a 0-100 scale instead of 0-10. This is simply the 0-10 scale multiplied by 10 (e.g., 85/100 = 8.5/10). When converting, divide by 10 to get the standard Mexican grade, then proceed with GPA calculations. Both scales use 60 (or 6.0) as the minimum passing threshold.

Failed Courses Shown as NA

On official transcripts (Certificado de Estudios), failed courses appear as NA (No Acreditada) or N/A (No Aprobada) rather than showing the actual failing numerical grade. This standardized notation indicates the course was not credited/approved. When calculating GPA for applications, treat NA/N/A as 0.0 in your calculations, or exclude it if calculating only passed courses (check specific university requirements).

Weighted vs Unweighted GPA

Mexican institutions may calculate GPA using credit hours (horas crédito) to weight courses differently. A 6-credit course impacts your GPA more than a 3-credit course. For accurate GPA calculation, multiply each grade by its credit hours, sum all products, then divide by total credit hours. This weighted GPA more accurately reflects your academic performance than a simple average.

Examen de Admisión Impact

For Mexican university admissions, your Certificado de Estudios GPA is important, but many institutions place equal or greater weight on entrance exam scores (examen de admisión). Programs like UNAM and IPN heavily factor in these standardized tests. Your transcript GPA demonstrates consistent academic performance, while entrance exams measure preparedness—both matter for competitive programs.

Tips for Mexican Students

Aim for 8.0+ average: To be competitive for good Mexican universities or international programs, target a minimum of 8.0. Top programs expect 9.0+.
Track your cumulative average: Calculate your overall GPA across all semesters, not just individual semester averages. This cumulative GPA is what appears on official transcripts.
Include decimal precision: When reporting your GPA, include decimal points (e.g., 8.7, not just 8 or 9). Precision matters for competitive applications.
Weight by credit hours: If your courses have different credit hours, calculate weighted GPA by multiplying each grade by its credits and dividing by total credits.
Request official transcripts early: Get your Certificado de Estudios or Certificado de Calificaciones from your institution well before application deadlines.
Don't self-convert for US applications: Submit your original Mexican transcript. US universities have official conversion processes and understand the Mexican system.
Include grading scale explanation: When applying internationally, attach documentation explaining that Mexican grades use 0-10 scale with 6.0 as passing.
Retake failed courses: If you have NA/N/A on your transcript, retaking those courses replaces the failure and improves your GPA significantly.
Consider credential evaluation: For international applications, services like WES (World Education Services) provide official GPA conversions recognized by foreign universities.
Maintain consistent performance: Mexican universities and employers value consistent high performance across all semesters more than sporadic excellence with failures.