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Quick Conversion Reference

Mexican Grading System (0-10 Scale)

Mexico uses a decimal grading system from 0 to 10, where 10 represents excellent performance and 6.0 is the minimum passing grade. This numerical system is used consistently across all educational levels in Mexico, from primary school through university. Grades are commonly expressed with decimal precision (e.g., 7.5, 8.3, 9.2) to provide finer differentiation of student performance.

The system emphasizes absolute performance standards rather than competitive ranking. A grade of 10 is rare and represents outstanding mastery, while 8.0-9.0 indicates strong performance. Anything below 6.0 is failing. Some institutions use a parallel 0-100 scale (effectively multiplying by 10), where 100 is highest and 60 is minimum passing, but this converts directly to the 0-10 scale.

US GPA System (4.0 Scale)

The United States uses a 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) scale where A = 4.0 (highest), B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0 (barely passing), and F = 0.0 (failing). The GPA is calculated by converting letter grades to numerical values and averaging them, often weighted by credit hours. This standardized system allows US universities to evaluate students consistently across different high schools and educational backgrounds.

Unlike the Mexican system's 0-10 scale, the US 4.0 scale is more compressed. A Mexican 8.0 (Good/Bien) converts to US 3.0 (B average), which is respectable but not exceptional in the American context. Understanding this relationship is crucial for Mexican students applying to US universities, as a Mexican 7.0 (Regular/Average) translates to US 2.0 (C average), which may not meet competitive admissions standards.

Important Note: This conversion represents standard guidelines. Individual US universities may use slightly different conversion methods. Always check with your target institution for their specific evaluation policy.

Simple Conversion Formula

For a quick approximation, you can use this formula:

Examples:

Alternative Formula (Passing-Based)

Some institutions use this formula that accounts for the minimum passing grade:

Example: Mexican grade of 8.5

Note: This formula provides an approximation. The conversion table above is more accurate for official purposes.

No Official Universal Conversion

There is no single official conversion standard recognized by all US universities. Different institutions may use slightly different conversion tables or formulas. The conversions provided here represent the most commonly accepted equivalencies, but some universities may evaluate a Mexican 9.0 as anywhere from 3.5 to 4.0 US GPA depending on their specific policies.

Mexican 8.0 is Not US 8.0

A critical point of confusion: Mexican 8.0 does NOT equal US 8.0 (which doesn't exist on the 4.0 scale). Mexican 8.0 (Bien/Good) converts to approximately US 3.0 GPA (B average). The numerical similarity is misleading—always convert grades rather than assuming direct equivalence. A "straight-10 student" in Mexico (estudiante de puro 10) equals a "straight-A student" in the US (4.0 GPA).

Weighted GPA Considerations

When calculating your overall GPA for US applications, use a weighted average based on credit hours. Multiply each converted course GPA by its credit hours (horas crédito), sum all products, then divide by total credit hours. This provides a more accurate representation than simply averaging all course grades. Mexican students should ensure their Certificado de Estudios includes credit hour information.

Competitive Standards Differ

What's considered competitive differs significantly between systems. In Mexico, a 7.0 (Regular/Average) is a passing grade, but it converts to US 2.0 (C average), which is below the minimum for many US graduate programs (typically requiring 3.0+). For competitive US university admissions, Mexican students should aim for 8.5-9.0+ (which converts to 3.0-3.7 US GPA) to be seriously considered.

Failed Courses (NA) Impact GPA

Mexican transcripts show failed courses as NA (No Acreditada) or N/A (No Aprobada) rather than numerical grades below 6.0. When calculating GPA for US applications, these should be treated as 0.0 GPA (F grade). Some US universities may allow you to exclude retaken courses or calculate GPA only on passed courses—check specific institutional policies.

Use WES for Official Evaluation

For graduate school admissions or credential evaluation, many US universities require or recommend World Education Services (WES) or similar NACES-approved evaluation services. WES provides official course-by-course evaluations and GPA conversions that US institutions recognize. Their conversion may differ slightly from self-calculations, but carries official weight in the admissions process.