What is a "1" in a German Gymnasium?

A "1" in Germany is VERY RARE--in my experience as a parent and as a teacher in Germany, zero to two students out of 30 end up getting 1's in a class. So for me, a "1" is the equivalent of an American A+.

How to Translate 1-6 into A-F

Because the German system has six number grades and the American system has only five, if you line up the grades beginning with 1=A+, 2=A, 3=B, 4=C, 5=D, 6=F, the translation of the achievement is more accurate than the way American high schools tend to translate the German 1=A, 2=B, and so forth. An "A+" and "1" denote exceptional performance. An "A" and "2" demonstrate work very well done, and so forth.

German students are discriminated against in terms of GPA translations because the schools do not take SIX number grades into account, nor the qualitative difference between a "1" and an "A." In effect, they assign German students the five lowest letter grades to the six number grades used in Germany.

But aren't both "5" and "6" failing grades in Germany?

Although one might argue that because a "5" is a failing grade in Germany it cannot be the equivalent of a "D," I would argue that qualitatively, a "5" is a "D."

"5's" are common even among studious students at the Gymnasium. German teachers give "5's" out freely, especially on tests, in a way that American teachers do not give "F's" out to hard-working students on the academic track. A "5" indicates serious deficiencies the way a "D" does.

"5" and "6" cannot be lumped together at the bottom when American counselors "translate" German grades. Only a "6" equals an "F" in terms of missing the boat.