Whether to include your final grade in an application is one of the most common questions for graduates. The answer depends less on a fixed rule than on the advert, your profile and the type of application. Checking these three points lets you decide calmly rather than on instinct.
Short answer: State your final grade if the advert asks for it or the role uses grades as a criterion. If nothing is requested and your grade is weak, you may leave it out without giving any false information. The Freie Universität Berlin describes the explanatory value of grades as limited (as of November 2026).
The most important points in brief
- Adverts and application forms take precedence over any general recommendation.
- The guidance from the Freie Universität Berlin lists grades as part of your qualifications, without rules on how to present them.
- The predictive value of school grades for later professional success is described there as rather low.
- Whether to state your final grade depends mainly on the advert and the form of application.
- Wrong or rounded figures are risky, so state your grade and scale exactly.
When should you state your final grade?
A grade makes sense when the role closely ties specialist knowledge to what you studied, when a graduate programme uses grades as a selection criterion, or when the application form asks for it. Where the degree itself is an entry requirement, a clear statement is also worthwhile.
According to the guidance from the Freie Universität Berlin, grades belong to the qualifications listed on a CV, alongside training, degrees and placements. The guidance does not, however, single out the final grade. The concrete advert therefore remains the decisive guide.
When can you leave the grade out?
If your grade is weak, if experience from placements or part-time jobs carries more weight and if the advert does not ask for a grade, you can leave it out. What matters is that you do not state anything false and that the CV does not create a gap. A role without a grade question usually relies on other evidence.
The grade may still come up in the interview, especially if you have not stated it. Be prepared to place it in one sentence and to point to the strengths of your training.
What explanatory value do grades have at all?
The Freie Universität Berlin guidance describes the predictive value of school grades for professional success as rather low, and it decreases further with growing distance. Grades are also only partly comparable because the reference systems differ and marking is subjective.
Even so, grades are treated as an assessment criterion where there is a clear link to the requirements. For you, that means a good grade in a subject central to the role can be useful. A grade without any link to the task says little. The question is therefore not only how good the grade is, but whether it fits the role.
How do you state the grade correctly?
A grade is only understandable if the scale is given with it. Grading scales differ between universities and countries. The table shows three variants with brief notes.
| Format | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Grade with scale | Overall grade 2.1 (scale 1.0 to 4.0) | Check and state the scale used by your university |
| Grade with degree | BSc Business Informatics, overall grade 2.1 | Name the degree and the subject clearly |
| No grade | Degree without a stated grade | Acceptable if the advert does not ask for one |
The examples show formats and are not an assessment. Foreign degrees often need an explanation of the scale so that the grade stays understandable.
What if the advert asks for the grade?
Then you state it, even if it is not perfect. A short sentence in the cover letter can help, for example if you gained practical experience after graduating or if a specialisation explains the result. The sentence should stay factual and contain no apology.
Make sure the figure matches your CV and your certificate. Differences stand out during checks and look unnecessarily open to challenge. If you no longer know the exact grade, request the transcript or certificate rather than estimating.
A simple test helps with the decision. Imagine a recruiter reads only your CV and the grade. Does it immediately show what you learned and why the grade fits the role? If so, state it. If the grade only raises questions, leave it out when nothing is requested and move attention to projects, placements and results. The decision is then one of presentation rather than concealment.
What applies to certificates in the attachments?
The Freie Universität Berlin guidance covers employment references and staff assessments, and school certificates are not explicitly named there. Attach certificates only where the role asks for them or where they document a specific requirement. A complete attachment with every document is not automatically better.
Anyone who has to present a degree without a certificate will find guidance in the article on applications without a final certificate (in German).
Your thesis can also matter. If your bachelor or master thesis was rated particularly well or produced a project, it can carry more weight than the overall grade. A short mention in the CV or the cover letter is then sensible, provided it stays factual and can be backed up. Theses belong on the CV when they relate to the role.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to state my final grade on my CV?
The answer depends on the advert and the form of the application. If no grade is requested, you may leave it out without writing anything false.
What should I do with a weak grade?
If nothing is requested, you can leave it out and show your experience more strongly. If the grade is requested, state it and place it factually, for example with a focus area or a project.
How do foreign grades work?
Foreign grades often use a different scale. Always state the scale and, where needed, have the conversion explained. Without a scale a grade cannot be compared, and recruiters notice that quickly.
What if I no longer know my exact grade?
Get the certificate or the transcript from your university. Vague figures stand out and look worse than an accurate, if weaker, grade.
Does the final grade come up in job interviews?
It can, particularly in graduate programmes. Prepare for the question and place the grade in one sentence. The overall shape of selection procedures is explained in the article on assessment centres for graduates (in German).
What to do now
- Read the advert and check whether a grade is requested or expected.
- Note the grade, the scale and the degree exactly and compare them with the certificate.
- Decide whether the grade fits the role and state it factually.
- Prepare one sentence to place the grade for the interview.
Related articles
- Applying for your first job: timeline from advert to contract
- Reading a job advert: what the requirements really mean
- Applications without work experience: which documents count
- CV for students: step-by-step guide (in German)
- Dropping out and your CV: how to present the break
- Starting Salaries After Graduation: What Really Counts
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
