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Philippines Grade Conversion to US GPA

Convert Philippine university grades from the 1.0–5.0 reversed scale to the US 4.0 GPA. Remember: in the Philippines, 1.0 is the highest grade and 5.0 is a failing grade.

Scale: 1.0–5.0 reversed scale (1.0 = highest, 5.0 = fail)  |  Range: 1.0–5.0
US GPA Equivalent
4.00
Excellent
US Letter Grade
Philippines Grade
1.00 — Excellent
Score Range
1
Classification
Excellent — Summa Cum Laude range

How the Philippines Grading System Works

Philippine universities use a unique 1.0–5.0 scale where lower numbers represent higher achievement — the opposite of most Western grading systems. A grade of 1.0 is the highest possible score (equivalent to an A+ or 4.0 US GPA), while 5.0 indicates a failing grade. This reversed scale is used by the University of the Philippines system, De La Salle University, and many other institutions.

The scale progresses in increments of 0.25: 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0, 2.25, 2.5, 2.75, 3.0, and 5.0. Grades of 4.0 are conditional passes, meaning the student must retake or complete additional requirements. A 3.0 is the minimum passing grade at most Philippine universities, equivalent to roughly 75% and a US GPA of 1.7.

Some universities use a percentage-to-grade equivalency: 97–100% = 1.0, 93–96% = 1.25, 89–92% = 1.5, 85–88% = 1.75, 81–84% = 2.0, 77–80% = 2.25, 73–76% = 2.5, 69–72% = 2.75, 65–68% = 3.0, and below 65% = 5.0. The intermediate 4.0 grade (Incomplete/Conditional) is distinct from a full failure.

For Latin honors at Philippine universities: Summa Cum Laude requires a GWA (General Weighted Average) of 1.00–1.20, Magna Cum Laude 1.21–1.45, and Cum Laude 1.46–1.75. These distinctions help US admissions offices contextualize Philippine academic records.

Conversion Formula

Philippines 1.0–5.0 Scale → US 4.0 GPA:
1.00 (Excellent) → 4.0 GPA
1.25 → 3.8 GPA
1.50 → 3.5 GPA
1.75 → 3.3 GPA
2.00 → 3.0 GPA
2.25 → 2.7 GPA
2.50 → 2.3 GPA
2.75 → 2.0 GPA
3.00 (Pass) → 1.7 GPA
5.00 (Fail) → 0.0 GPA

Approximate formula: US GPA ≈ (3.0 - PH grade) × 4 / 2 + 2 (for passing grades)

Worked Example

Student: Maria, BS Nursing, University of Santo Tomas

Maria's GWA is 1.75, qualifying her for Cum Laude honors.

1.75 on the Philippine scale → US GPA: 3.3 (B+), which is competitive for US nursing graduate programs and NCLEX preparation courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Philippines inherited this reversed numerical scale from its academic traditions. In this system, 1.0 represents "Excellent" or perfect performance (equivalent to an A+ in the US), while 5.0 represents failure. This can cause confusion for US institutions, so always clarify the scale direction when submitting Philippine transcripts abroad.
A GWA of 1.75 or better (Cum Laude) converts to approximately 3.3 US GPA and is competitive for many US graduate programs. A GWA of 1.5 (Magna Cum Laude) is roughly a 3.5 US GPA and qualifies for most top-tier master's programs. Include your Latin honors designation on applications — US admissions offices recognize Summa, Magna, and Cum Laude.
Use the conversion table on this page and note that the Philippine scale is reversed (1.0 = best). Many US institutions use a credential evaluator like WES or IERF for official conversions. Make sure to note that your institution's scale goes from 1.0 (highest) to 5.0 (failing) in any personal statement or application notes.
A 4.0 in the Philippine system is a conditional pass — it means the student has met minimum requirements conditionally and may need to complete additional work. It is NOT the equivalent of a US 4.0 GPA. Instead, a Philippine 4.0 corresponds to a low D in US terms. The highest Philippine grade is 1.0.
Both UP Diliman (University of the Philippines) and De La Salle University use the 1.0–5.0 reversed scale, though there are minor differences in how they define intervals and passing thresholds. UP uses 3.0 as the minimum passing grade, while some programs at DLSU may use slightly different percentage-to-grade mappings. Always check your institution's specific grading rubric when converting grades.

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