Chinese Transcript Translation: 成绩单 Field Guide for WES & University Admissions

A Chinese academic transcript — formally called 成绩单 (chéngjì dān, literally "achievement record") — is issued by the university registrar's office (教务处, jiàowù chù) and lists every course a student completed during their program. Unlike many Western transcripts that use a single standardized format, Chinese transcripts vary significantly between universities.

Chinese higher education operates on a tiered system. The top categories that translators encounter are: 本科 (běnkē) for bachelor's programs (typically 4 years), 硕士 (shuòshì) for master's programs (2–3 years), and 博士 (bóshì) for doctoral programs (3–4 years). There is also 专科 (zhuānkē), a 2–3 year associate-level diploma program. Each degree type may follow different transcript formatting conventions.

The institutional hierarchy on Chinese transcripts matters for credential evaluation. A transcript from 北京大学 (Peking University) will show the university name (大学), the school or college within the university (学院, xuéyuàn), and the department (系, xì) or major (专业, zhuānyè). This three-level structure — university → school → department/major — must be preserved in the translation because evaluators use it to validate the credential.

Some Chinese universities issue transcripts in Chinese only, while others issue bilingual Chinese-English transcripts. Even when a bilingual version exists, credential evaluators like WES may still require a certified professional translation because university-issued English versions sometimes abbreviate course titles, omit credit details, or use non-standard terminology.

Every Chinese transcript uses a structured layout with specific fields that must be translated completely. Missing any of these fields is the primary reason WES and other evaluators reject Chinese transcript translations.

The header section (抬头) contains the university name in Chinese characters (e.g., 清华大学), the school or college (e.g., 经济管理学院), the student's name (姓名), student ID number (学号), major (专业), enrollment year (入学年份), and expected or actual graduation date (毕业日期). Every one of these fields must appear in the English translation.

The course table (课程表) is the main body of the transcript. Each row typically includes: semester or academic year (学年/学期), course code (课程编号) if present, course name (课程名称), course type classification (课程类型 — required/选修/elective), credit hours (学分), total class hours (学时), and the grade received (成绩). Some universities add a column for retake grades (补考成绩) or grade points (绩点).

The footer section includes the cumulative GPA or weighted average (加权平均分), total credits earned (总学分), the official seal (公章) of the university or registrar's office, the name and signature of the registrar (教务处长签名), and the date of issue (开具日期). Stamps and seals should be described in brackets in the translation — for example "[Official seal of Tsinghua University Registrar's Office, in red ink]".

Reverse sides of Chinese transcripts sometimes include a grading scale legend, notes about the GPA calculation formula, or institutional policies. These must be translated. We have seen WES reject translations that included perfect front-side translations but omitted the grading scale printed on the back.

There is no single Chinese grading system. Different universities — and sometimes different departments within the same university — use different grading scales. Your translator must reproduce the exact grading system used on your transcript without converting it. The credential evaluator performs the conversion.

Percentage-based grading (百分制, 0-100): The most common system. Pass is typically 60. Some universities use: 90-100 = 优秀 (Excellent), 80-89 = 良好 (Good), 70-79 = 中等 (Average), 60-69 = 及格 (Pass), below 60 = 不及格 (Fail). The translation should show both the numerical score and the categorical equivalent if both appear on the transcript.

GPA scale (绩点制): Some universities (especially those with international programs) use a 4.0 or 5.0 GPA scale. The conversion formula varies: some use a linear formula, others use a curve. If the conversion formula appears on the transcript, it must be translated exactly. Do not recalculate the GPA — translate the formula and let the evaluator apply it.

Categorical grading (等级制): Some courses, especially physical education (体育), military training (军训), and some electives, use pass/fail (合格/不合格) or categorical grades (优/良/中/及格/不及格). These are linguistically simpler but must still be translated consistently.

The critical rule: never convert grades between systems during translation. If the transcript shows 87 (百分制) and your translator converts it to 3.7 (GPA), that is an interpretation, not a translation. WES will flag it. Translate what the document says. If the transcript itself shows both a numerical score and a categorical equivalent, translate both.

WES requires Chinese degree verification through CDGDC (中国学位与研究生教育信息网, China Academic Degrees & Graduate Education Development Center). This is a government-run verification service that confirms the authenticity of Chinese degrees. CDGDC sends verification results directly to WES — applicants cannot submit these themselves.

CDGDC covers degree verification (学位认证). For enrollment and graduation verification (学历认证), WES uses CHESICC (全国高等学校学生信息咨询与就业指导中心), accessible through 学信网 (Xuexin.com). These are two separate systems managed by different branches of the Chinese Ministry of Education.

The CDGDC/CHESICC verification is separate from the translation. You need both: (1) a certified English translation of your transcript and diploma, and (2) CDGDC/CHESICC verification sent directly from the agency to WES. The translation accompanies your physical documents; the verification is an electronic confirmation of authenticity.

Processing times for CDGDC verification vary. Standard processing takes 20–30 business days; express processing may be available for an additional fee. Plan accordingly — many applicants start the CDGDC process before ordering their translation to run both processes in parallel.

If you graduated from a university in Hong Kong, Macau, or Taiwan, different verification procedures apply. WES has separate document requirements for these regions. Contact WES directly for region-specific instructions.

WES has specific requirements for Chinese applicants that go beyond their general translation guidelines. Understanding these requirements before ordering your translation prevents delays and resubmissions.

For bachelor's degrees (本科): WES requires a certified English translation of the transcript (成绩单) and diploma (学位证书 and 毕业证书). Note that Chinese universities issue two separate documents — a degree certificate (学位证书) and a graduation certificate (毕业证书). Both need translation. WES also requires CDGDC verification of the degree.

For master's and doctoral degrees (硕士/博士): The same documents apply — transcript, degree certificate, and graduation certificate with translations, plus CDGDC verification. If your program included a thesis, WES does not typically require the thesis to be translated, but the thesis title as listed on the transcript should be translated.

For associate diplomas (专科): WES evaluates these differently from bachelor's degrees. The transcript, graduation certificate, and translation requirements are the same, but the evaluated equivalency will reflect the shorter program duration. CHESICC verification (through Xuexin.com) may be used instead of CDGDC for non-degree programs.

Translation format: WES expects the translation to follow the source document's layout closely enough that a reviewer can match fields between the Chinese original and the English translation. Course numbering, semester organization, and grade display should mirror the original structure. Do not reorganize the content — translate it as it appears.

Mistake 1: Translating university names inconsistently. Chinese universities have official English names (e.g., Peking University, not Beijing University; Tsinghua University, not Qinghua University). Using the wrong English name can cause confusion during evaluation. Always use the university's official English name as shown on their English-language website or official letterhead.

Mistake 2: Abbreviating or paraphrasing course names. A course listed as "马克思主义基本原理概论" should be translated as "Introduction to the Basic Principles of Marxism" — not "Marxism" or "Political Theory." Chinese universities include full course titles, and WES expects them translated in full. Shortened titles interfere with course-to-course equivalency mapping.

Mistake 3: Omitting course type classifications. Chinese transcripts categorize courses as 必修 (required), 选修 (elective), 限选 (restricted elective), 任选 (free elective), or 通识 (general education). These classifications affect how WES counts credits toward the degree. Dropping them loses information the evaluator needs.

Mistake 4: Converting grades instead of translating them. If the transcript says 85 (percentage), translate it as 85. If it says 优秀, translate it as "Excellent." Do not convert 85 to a 3.7 GPA or "Excellent" to an "A." Grade conversion is the evaluator's job, not the translator's.

Mistake 5: Ignoring the back of the transcript. Many Chinese transcripts have a grading scale legend, GPA calculation formula, or institutional notes printed on the reverse side. If you don't scan the back, it won't be translated. If it's not translated, WES may request a complete retranslation.

Mistake 6: Not translating both certificates. Chinese universities issue both a 学位证书 (degree certificate) and a 毕业证书 (graduation certificate). They are legally separate documents. Translating only one and submitting it as "the diploma" will result in WES requesting the second document, adding weeks to the process.