Argentina Grading System Explained
1–10 Scale (4 to pass at most universities)
How do grades from Argentina convert to US GPA?
A Bachelor's / first-degree grade — for graduate (Master's) admission or employment
Got a school-leaving qualification instead — A-levels, Class 12, WASSCE, the Abitur? Here's what actually happens to those.
Hover or tap a band to see what it means.
⚠️ Pass mark varies: most Argentine universities require 4/10, some require 6/10.
Hover or tap a band to see what it means.
Enter a grade above to see what it means in the United States
You'll get the classification it corresponds to, the range it falls in rather than a single false-precise number, and how firm that answer is.
How does the Argentina grading system work?
Argentine universities use a 1–10 scale. Most require 4 minimum to pass, some require 6.
Argentine universities mark on a 0–10 scale, with the pass mark usually 4 at undergraduate level — lower than in most of Latin America — and 6 or 7 required at postgraduate level.
Marks are typically whole numbers rather than decimals, so an Argentine transcript is coarser than a Brazilian or Mexican one.
Public universities are free and highly regarded, and the University of Buenos Aires in particular is well known to admissions offices abroad.
⚠️ Pass mark varies: most Argentine universities require 4/10, some require 6/10.
What does each grade mean in Argentina?
| Range | Classification | ≈ US GPA |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0 | Sobresaliente | 4.0 |
| 8.5 – 9.9 | Distinguido | 3.5 |
| 7.0 – 8.4 | Muy Bueno (Very Good) | 3.0 |
| 6.0 – 6.9 | Bueno (Good) | 2.5 |
| 4.0 – 5.9 | Aprobado (Pass) | 2.0 |
| 1.0 – 3.9 | Reprobado (Fail) | — |
What does a good grade actually look like in Argentina?
The low pass mark of 4 widens the passing range considerably, so the middle of the Argentine scale sits lower than in ten-point systems passing at 6 or 7 — a 7 is a genuinely good grade rather than the borderline result the same number would be in Brazil. Marks of 9 and 10 are awarded sparingly. Because the scale's meaning depends so heavily on where its pass mark sits, the grading key on your transcript is doing more work than usual.
How do WES and other evaluators read grades from Argentina?
Sobresaliente (10) → 4.0 GPA. Distinguido (8.5–9.9) → approximately 3.5 GPA.
Credential-evaluator source: Scholaro — Argentina grading system (credential-evaluation database) · cross-checked against Ministerio de Educación, Argentina · grading data verified 2026-07-24 · how we convert · report an error
Is a degree from Argentina accepted abroad?
Argentine licenciatura degrees typically run five years, and some professional degrees longer, which comfortably meets the 16-year expectation of US graduate schools and often exceeds it.
What do people get wrong about grades from Argentina?
- Comparing an Argentine 7 with a Brazilian or Mexican 7. The pass marks differ, so the same number sits at a different point in the distribution.
- Multiplying by ten to get a percentage. A 7/10 in Argentina is a good result, not the mediocre 70% it becomes in US terms.
- Assuming degrees complete on schedule. Argentine degrees are long and completion times vary, which is normal rather than a warning sign.
What grade do you need to study abroad from Argentina?
Each destination below publishes its own typical entry requirement for a taught master's — a one-to-two-year postgraduate degree made mostly of classes. The last column restates that bar in Argentina's own grading terms, so you can hold it against your actual transcript instead of converting in your head.
The last column is a double conversion — the destination's bar onto the US 4.0 scale and then onto Argentina's, so its uncertainty is wider than a single conversion and it is shown as a range for that reason. Treat it as orientation, and check the course page for the bar that actually binds. How this is worked out.
Only destinations whose entry requirement we have read and cited appear here. Several countries publish no numeric bar at all — France admits on the dossier, Japan by entrance examination — and others we simply have not researched yet. An absent row never means “no requirement”.
The last column links the organisations that maintain each country's programme data — we hold none of it ourselves, and none of them can tell you whether you will be admitted. Several countries have no single national directory for postgraduate study at all: master's applications go straight to the university, so the course page is the authoritative source.
How do grades from Argentina compare, side by side?
Each of these sets Argentina against one destination in detail — the two grading cultures, the traps specific to that direction, and the converter preset for the route:
- Argentina vs United States grading system
- Argentina vs United Kingdom grading system
- Argentina vs Canada grading system
- Argentina vs Germany grading system
- Argentina vs Australia grading system
Applying to the US or Canada? Read the WES credential evaluation guide before you order — choosing the wrong report type is the most common (and costly) mistake.
What do these grading terms mean?
- Percentage scale
- A 0–100 marking scale — but the numbers are not comparable across countries: 70% is an outstanding result in the UK and a modest one in India.
- GPA (Grade Point Average)
- The US way of expressing an overall grade, on a 0–4.0 scale where 4.0 is the top — so a 4.0 is roughly what a 90–100% or a First Class would be elsewhere.
- Transcript
- The official document from your university listing every subject you took and the grade you got — not the same as your degree certificate, and universities abroad want both.
- Credential evaluation
- A paid report from an approved company that restates your foreign qualification in local terms, which many US and Canadian universities require before they will assess you.
Frequently asked questions
Is a good grade in Argentina still good abroad?
The low pass mark of 4 widens the passing range considerably, so the middle of the Argentine scale sits lower than in ten-point systems passing at 6 or 7 — a 7 is a genuinely good grade rather than the borderline result the same number would be in Brazil. Marks of 9 and 10 are awarded sparingly. Because the scale's meaning depends so heavily on where its pass mark sits, the grading key on your transcript is doing more work than usual.
Is a degree from Argentina accepted for a master's abroad?
Argentine licenciatura degrees typically run five years, and some professional degrees longer, which comfortably meets the 16-year expectation of US graduate schools and often exceeds it.
What grade do you need to study abroad from Argentina?
It depends on the destination, and the spread is wide. Stated on Argentina's own scale, the typical taught-master's bar works out at roughly: Australia 6.0–6.7 / 10, Netherlands 6.2–6.5 / 10, New Zealand 6.2–6.5 / 10. Across the 12 destinations whose entry requirements we have read and cited, the lowest bar is Australia at about 6.0–6.7 / 10. These are typical requirements, not guarantees — selective programmes ask for more, and each figure is a conversion, so treat it as orientation and check the course page.
Can you study abroad with a low grade from Argentina?
Often yes, but be specific rather than hopeful about it. The lowest published bar among the destinations we hold data for is Australia at roughly 6.0–6.7 / 10 on Argentina's scale, so a result below that clears no destination on our list on grades alone. Below the bar the route is not closed — conversion, qualifying and pre-master's programmes exist in most countries and are designed for exactly this — but expect to need one, and expect grades to matter more where the programme is competitive. Convert your own grade above to see which bars it actually clears.