Brazilian CR / GPA Calculator
Weighted average of all disciplinas, weighted by Carga Horaria (CH). Used at UFRJ, USP, UFMG, UNICAMP, UFSC, and most Brazilian federal universities.
| Disciplina | Nota (0-10) | CH (Credits) |
|---|
Enter a single nota (0-10) to see its US 4.0 equivalent using the WES proportional formula: US GPA = (nota / 10) x 4.
Brazilian university grade scale reference (0-10 nota, conceito, US GPA)
| Score Range | Conceito | English | US GPA (WES proportional) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 to 10.0 | Excelente | Excellent | 3.60 to 4.00 |
| 7.5 to 8.9 | Otimo | Very Good | 3.00 to 3.56 |
| 6.0 to 7.4 | Bom | Good | 2.40 to 2.96 |
| 5.0 to 5.9 | Regular | Satisfactory | 2.00 to 2.36 |
| Below 5.0 | Reprovado | Fail | Below 2.00 |
Conceito bands follow the most common federal university classification. Passing threshold is 5.0 at most institutions; some faculties (medicine, engineering, law) require 6.0. WES proportional formula: US GPA = (nota / 10) x 4. Last verified: 2026-05-26.
How Brazilian Universities Calculate CR (Coeficiente de Rendimento)
The Brazilian university grade calculator works on the 0-10 nota system. Every course (disciplina) receives a numeric grade at the end of the semester, and the CR is the credit-weighted average across all disciplinas completed. The weighting unit is the Carga Horaria (CH), the contact hours assigned to each disciplina. A course with 90 CH contributes more to the CR than an elective with 30 CH, in exactly the same way that a 4-credit course carries more GPA weight in the US system than a 2-credit seminar.
- Nota = grade on the 0-10 scale for each disciplina
- Carga Horaria (CH) = contact hours assigned to the disciplina on the historico escolar
- Sum = total across all disciplinas included in the CR calculation (pass/fail disciplinas may be excluded)
Converting a Brazilian Nota to a US 4.0 GPA
Most US graduate programs and credential evaluators convert Brazilian notas to the US 4.0 scale using a proportional method. The WES (World Education Services) approach divides the nota by 10 and multiplies by 4, which gives a linear equivalence across the full range.
- Nota = Brazilian grade on the 0-10 scale
- Result is the US 4.0 GPA equivalent for self-planning purposes
The proportional method gives a clean starting estimate, but WES and other NACES evaluators may adjust individual course grades by 0.1 to 0.3 GPA units based on the issuing institution, the degree level, and the academic year. Use the converter in the calculator above for a quick self-assessment. For binding graduate school applications, a formal WES course-by-course evaluation is typically required.
Brazilian 0-10 Nota Scale with International Equivalents
The table below shows the full 0-10 nota scale with the most common conceito labels used at Brazilian federal universities, along with the US 4.0 GPA equivalent and the UK degree classification. These equivalencies follow the piecewise mapping published by Scholaro and the proportional WES method. Individual universities may use slightly different conceito band cutoffs, particularly at the Bom and Regular boundary.
| Nota Range | Conceito (Federal) | English | US GPA (WES) | UK Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 to 10.0 | Excelente | Excellent | 3.60 to 4.00 | First Class (1st) |
| 7.5 to 8.9 | Otimo | Very Good | 3.00 to 3.56 | Upper Second (2:1) |
| 6.0 to 7.4 | Bom | Good | 2.40 to 2.96 | Lower Second (2:2) |
| 5.0 to 5.9 | Regular | Satisfactory | 2.00 to 2.36 | Third Class (3rd) |
| 3.0 to 4.9 | Insuficiente | Insufficient | 1.20 to 1.96 | Fail |
| Below 3.0 | Reprovado | Fail (no exam right) | Below 1.20 | Fail |
The 3.0 to 4.9 Insuficiente band is significant because many Brazilian universities give students in this range the right to sit a supplementary exam (prova final or exame de segunda chamada). A passing result in the prova final, typically a nota of 5.0 or above, may bring the student's semester nota to the minimum required for approval. A nota below 3.0 usually means automatic Reprovado with no supplementary exam option. Transcript notations for failed disciplines appear on the historico escolar and are included in the official CR calculation unless the student successfully retakes and passes the disciplina.
Grading Policies at Major Brazilian Universities
Brazil's federal and state university system is among the largest in Latin America. While the base 0-10 nota scale is standard, the passing threshold, CR variant, and credit weighting unit can differ across institutions. The table below covers the key details for institutions most commonly evaluated by WES and foreign graduate admissions offices.
| University | Type | Nota Scale | Passing Grade | GPA Metric | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP) | State (SP) | 0-10 | 5.0 | CR (credito-weighted) | Conceito A = 9-10; Pass/Fail disciplinas excluded from CR |
| Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) | State (SP) | 0-10 | 5.0 | CR | Some faculties use exame for 3.0-4.9 range |
| Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) | Federal | 0-10 | 5.0 (6.0 in some programs) | CR | Engineering and medicine programs often require 6.0 minimum |
| Universidade de Brasilia (UnB) | Federal | 0-10 (converted to 0-5 IRA) | 5.0 | IRA (penalises retakes) | IRA = CR x 5/10 adjusted for failed repetitions; different from standard CR |
| Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) | Federal | 0-10 | 6.0 | CR | One of the stricter passing thresholds among federal universities |
| Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) | Federal | 0-10 | 6.0 | CR | Grade report uses letters (A to F) derived from numeric notas |
| PUC-Rio | Private (Catholic) | 0-10 | 5.0 | CR | Strong international recognition; WES-evaluated routinely |
| FGV (all campuses) | Private | 0-10 | 5.0 or 6.0 by program | CR | AACSB-accredited business schools; transcripts in English available |
UnB IRA: A Special Case
The Universidade de Brasilia uses the IRA (Indice de Rendimento Academico) rather than the standard CR. The IRA is calculated on a 0-5 scale and penalises students who fail or withdraw from a disciplina and then retake it. Where the standard CR treats each enrollment independently, the IRA carries a penalty factor for multiple attempts at the same disciplina. Students submitting UnB transcripts to US graduate programs should explain this scale difference in their application statement and confirm whether their evaluator uses the IRA figure directly or recalculates from the underlying nota records.
Preparing a Brazilian CR for US Graduate School Applications
US graduate programs that receive Brazilian applicants almost always ask for a credential evaluation from a NACES member. WES is the most widely accepted evaluator, followed by ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators) and SpanTran. The formal evaluation converts each course nota to a US letter grade and produces a cumulative US GPA. Most programs request the course-by-course report rather than the document-by-document report, because admissions committees want to see individual course grades, not just the overall CR figure.
Brazil's CAPES graduate scholarship program and CNPq research fellowships both require applicants to document a CR above 7.0 out of 10 for master-level programs and above 7.5 for doctoral applications in most calls (editais). Students applying to the FAPESP graduate fellowship in Sao Paulo face similar thresholds. These internal Brazilian benchmarks give a useful frame of reference for understanding how strong a CR of 7.5 or 8.0 is within the Brazilian academic context before converting to the US scale.
What Counts as a Good CR at Brazilian Universities?
Brazilian academic standing on the 0-10 nota scale follows a consistent pattern across federal universities:
- 9.0 to 10.0 (Excelente): exceptional; competitive for CAPES doctoral scholarships, CNPq PIBIC research grants, and international exchange programs such as Ciencia sem Fronteiras successor schemes. Corresponds to approximately US 3.60 to 4.00.
- 7.5 to 8.9 (Otimo): strong; competitive for most CAPES master-level scholarships (minimum CR 7.0 for many editais), top-tier private graduate programs within Brazil, and a good foundation for US graduate applications. Corresponds to approximately US 3.00 to 3.56.
- 6.0 to 7.4 (Bom): solid; meets the minimum threshold for most Brazilian graduate programs and for standard internal academic progression. Corresponds to approximately US 2.40 to 2.96. Students in this range applying to US graduate programs may need to compensate with strong GRE scores, publications, or research experience.
- 5.0 to 5.9 (Regular): passing; meets the minimum for graduation at most institutions but below the threshold for competitive graduate scholarships or selective postgraduate programs. Corresponds to approximately US 2.00 to 2.36.
- Below 5.0 (Reprovado): failing; the disciplina must be retaken. Federal universities allow retakes in the following semester. The original failing nota typically remains on the historico escolar alongside the retake result, and both grades factor into the CR calculation.
Data Sources and Last Verified
Grade scale data on this page is drawn from the Scholaro Brazil country grading profile, institutional regulations published by USP, UFRJ, UnB, UFMG, and UFSC, and WES credential evaluation methodology for Brazilian academic credentials. CAPES and CNPq scholarship threshold data follows the most recent published editais (calls for applications) as of early 2026. Individual university regulations change; always verify against your institution's current regimento academico or the programa de pos-graduacao regulations. Last verified: 2026-05-26.
This Brazil grade calculator estimates your CR using the credit-weighted average formula documented on this page. Brazilian universities apply institution-specific rules for failed retakes, supplementary exam weighting, and progression decisions. For binding US graduate applications, use a formal credential evaluation from WES or another NACES member. To convert other international GPA scales, see the international GPA converter. For the US 4.0 GPA system, see the GPA calculator.