For international applications
Norwegian grades to GPA
Norway grades university courses A–F, where A–E pass and F fails. There is no official conversion to the US 4.0 scale — so here are the two defensible methods, side by side, with the honest caveats.
Conversion table
| Norwegian grade | Points (Norway) | Linear (× 4/5) | Letter-to-letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| A (Excellent) | 5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| B (Very good) | 4 | 3.2 | 3.0 |
| C (Good) | 3 | 2.4 | 2.0 |
| D (Satisfactory) | 2 | 1.6 | 1.0 |
| E (Sufficient) | 1 | 0.8 | 0 * |
| F (Fail) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* The US scale has no E, so the strictest letter-to-letter reading treats E as failing. That is exactly why you should name your method.
The two methods, explained
Linear (average × 4/5): compute your Norwegian average on the 5-point scale (credit-weighted, F excluded), then multiply by 4/5. An average of 4.2 becomes a GPA of 3.36. This preserves your position on the scale and is the common rule of thumb.
Letter-to-letter: map each grade directly (A→4.0, B→3.0, C→2.0 …), then average. Simpler to explain, but harsher — the Norwegian C, an explicitly good grade at an absolute standard, lands on 2.0, which reads differently in the US.
Whichever you use: label it ("converted using the linear method, no official conversion exists") and expect US institutions to run their own evaluation anyway.
Calculate yours automatically
Upload your Norwegian transcript (vitnemål/karakterutskrift) and get your credit-weighted average converted with both methods — free, no sign-up, and the file never leaves your browser.
Open the calculatorFAQ
Is there an official conversion from Norwegian grades to GPA?
No. Norway has no official grade conversion to the US 4.0 scale, and published tables disagree. US institutions normally do their own evaluation, often through services like WES. The two methods here are the common defensible approaches.
What is a Norwegian B in US GPA?
Letter-to-letter: B = 3.0. Linear method: a B (4 of 5 points) converts to 3.2. State which method you used when you report a converted GPA.
Is a Norwegian C a bad grade?
No. C is defined as "a good performance, satisfactory in most areas" and is the most common grade in many courses. The Norwegian scale is used absolutely, not on a curve.
How do I calculate my Norwegian grade average?
Each grade gets points (A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1), weighted by course credits (studiepoeng). Failed courses (F) are excluded — they give no credits and never enter the transcript average.
Resources: NOKUT (recognition of Norwegian education) · WES (credential evaluation used by many US institutions). The conversions above are indicative, not official.