Convert Japanese university grades β S, A, B, C, F with percentage equivalents β to the US 4.0 GPA scale used by American graduate schools and employers.
Scale: Percentage with S/A/B/C/F letter grades Β |Β Range: 0β100%
US GPA Equivalent
4.00
Excellent
US Letter Grade
Japan Grade
S β Shuu (90β100%)
Score Range
90β100
Classification
Exceptional β Highest Grade
How Japan's Grading System Works
Japanese universities use a percentage-based system with letter grades S, A, B, C, and F. The S grade (Shuutoku/η§) represents exceptional achievement at 90β100%, introduced in recent decades to distinguish the highest performers. Prior to S grade adoption, A was the top grade. Today, the full scale is: S (90β100%), A (80β89%), B (70β79%), C (60β69%), and F (below 60%).
All major Japanese universities including The University of Tokyo (Todai), Kyoto University, Osaka University, and Waseda use this or a similar scale. Some older institutions may still use a 4-level system without the S grade, where A = 80β100%, B = 70β79%, C = 60β69%, and D/F = below 60%.
Japan uses a credit-based system (εδ½εΆ) where each course is worth a certain number of credits, and the Grade Point Average (GPA) is the weighted average. Most Japanese universities calculate GPA on a 4.0 scale internally, mapping S=4.0, A=3.0-3.5, B=2.0-3.0, C=1.0-2.0, F=0.0. However, the exact mapping varies by institution.
Japanese university transcripts sent to US institutions typically include both the letter grade and percentage or a GPA calculated by the university. The S grade is increasingly recognized by US graduate programs as equivalent to an A+ (4.0 GPA).
Conversion Formula
Japanese Grade Scale β US 4.0 GPA:
S (90β100%) β 4.0 GPA
A (80β89%) β 3.5 GPA
B (70β79%) β 3.0 GPA
C (60β69%) β 2.0 GPA
F (<60%) β 0.0 GPA
Worked Example
Student: Yuki, B.Eng. Information Engineering, University of Tokyo
Yuki's transcript shows: 4 S grades, 6 A grades, 2 B grades. GPA calculated by Todai: 3.4/4.0.
Majority of grades in A range β US GPA equivalent: 3.5. Todai's 3.4/4.0 is directly competitive for US top-tier graduate programs in engineering and computer science.
Frequently Asked Questions
The S grade (sometimes written as η§ or Shuu) is the highest grade in the Japanese university system, awarded for 90β100% performance. It was introduced to recognize exceptional achievement above the traditional A grade. In US GPA terms, S = 4.0 (A+/A). Not all Japanese universities use S β some still use A as the top grade.
A Japanese A (80β89%) is broadly equivalent to a US A- (3.5β3.7 GPA). The US A grade typically starts at 90% at most universities, while Japan's A starts at 80%. This difference in threshold means Japanese letter grades can appear lower when compared to US grades on paper, so US admissions offices should consider the scale context.
If your Japanese university has calculated a 4.0 GPA on your transcript, that is directly comparable to the US 4.0 scale. If you have only percentage scores or S/A/B/C grades, use the conversion table above. For applications to US programs, request an official English transcript from your Japanese university β most major institutions provide these, and they may include a pre-calculated GPA.
Absolutely. Graduates from Todai (University of Tokyo), Kyoto University, and other top Japanese universities are regularly admitted to US Ivy League and top-20 graduate programs. A GPA of 3.0+ (mostly A and S grades) combined with strong English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) and research experience is competitive for most US master's and PhD programs.
The minimum passing grade at most Japanese universities is C, which corresponds to 60β69%. A grade of F (below 60%) means the student fails the course and typically must retake it. Some universities use D as a conditional pass requiring additional work. Credit (εδ½) is only awarded for passing grades (C and above).