Merit value year 9 (Meritvärde)

The sum of a student's 16 best grades in year 9, max 320 points (340 with modern languages). The national average is around 225–230.

The merit value (Swedish: meritvärde) is the most widely used measure of school results in Sweden. It is calculated as the sum of a student's 16 best final grades in year 9. The grading scale has six levels: each grade awards points according to A = 20, B = 17.5, C = 15, D = 12.5, E = 10 and F = 0. The maximum merit value is therefore 320 points (16 × 20). Students who study a modern language as an elective can receive a 17th grade, bringing the maximum to 340 points.

How is the merit value used?

The merit value determines which upper secondary (gymnasium) programmes the student can apply to. Popular programmes and schools have high admission thresholds, making the merit value a key factor for a student's options after compulsory school. Upper secondary schools publish their admission scores annually, and the competition varies considerably between regions and programmes.

Merit value at school level

When Skolkoll displays the merit value for a school, it refers to the average of all students' merit values at that school. The national average is around 225–230 points. A school where every student has a C in all subjects would score 240 points.

Interpret the merit value with caution

The merit value is strongly influenced by students' socioeconomic background — above all their parents' education level. A school with a high merit value is not necessarily a better school, and vice versa. To compare schools fairly, the merit value should be viewed alongside the SALSA model, which adjusts for student composition.

Skolverket (the Swedish National Agency for Education) publishes merit values annually based on final grades. Data refer to the 2025/26 school year and are sourced from Skolverket's open statistics database.

How merit values are spread across schools

These figures are school averages, not individual pupils' results.

Median
227.5
Mean
227.6
Middle half (25th–75th percentile)
209.9–246.9
Lowest–highest school average
59.6–320.7

The 70th percentile is the value roughly 70 % of schools fall below.

Merit value by percentile across compulsory schools with year 9
PercentileMerit value
10th percentile195.4
20th percentile205.5
30th percentile213.6
40th percentile220.1
50th percentile227.5
60th percentile233.8
70th percentile241.4
80th percentile252.3
90th percentile265.3

Averaging compresses the spread: individual pupils' merit values range far wider than these school averages, so do not read a pupil's result off this curve.

Based on 1,582 school units with a reported year 9 merit value, school year 2025/26. Source: Skolverket.

Frequently asked questions

Is 250 a good merit value?

Yes — 250 is clearly above the national average of 225–230 points. But for a pupil applying to upper-secondary school the answer is set by the admission cut-off for the programme they want: popular programmes in the big cities often require more than 280 points, while many programmes admit well below 200. Compare your value with the admission scores for your own choices rather than with the national average. The distribution on this page instead shows how schools' averages compare with one another.

How is the merit value calculated in year 9?

Convert the student's 16 best final grades to points: A=20, B=17.5, C=15, D=12.5, E=10 and F=0, then add them up. A modern language taken as an elective can count as a 17th grade and raise the maximum from 320 to 340.

What is the maximum merit value in year 9?

The maximum is 320 points for 16 grades. Students who take a modern language as an elective may count a 17th grade and reach 340 points. 'Meritpoäng' (merit points) is a separate concept used mainly for admission to higher education.

Does a high merit value mean a good school?

No. A high school average can reflect teaching, but also the student composition. Compare the merit value with SALSA, national tests, teacher certification and the school's development over time.

Do the national tests affect the merit value directly?

No. National tests are one input to grading, but the final grade is set by the teacher. Large gaps between test results and final grades should, however, be weighed in when interpreting a school's merit value.

Explore on Skolkoll

Merit value year 9 — see averages in all municipalitiesWhich municipalities have the highest merit value?The story of income and school results

Related terms

Teacher qualifications (Lärarbehörighet)The share of teachers (in full-time equivalents) who hold a Swedish teaching licence (lärarlegitimation) and are qualified to teach, where qualification covers the school type, subject and, in compulsory school, the grade band of the teaching they do.Eligibility for vocational programmes (Behörighet YR)The proportion of year 9 students who qualify for upper secondary vocational programmes. The national average is around 85–87%.Upper secondary eligibility (Gymnasiebehörighet)The requirements a year 9 student must meet to apply to national upper secondary programmes in Sweden.National test results (Nationella prov)The proportion of students with test grades A–B on national tests in year 9. An external checkpoint beyond teacher-awarded grades.SALSA — Skolverket's tool for local correlation analysisA statistical model that compares schools' results with what is expected given the student composition.Model-predicted merit value (Modellberäknat meritvärde)The merit value that the SALSA model predicts a school should achieve, given the students' backgrounds.Residual (Avvikelse)The difference between a school's actual merit value and the model-predicted value — positive = better than expected.DeSO area (Demografiska statistikområden)Statistics Sweden's division of Sweden into approx. 6,000 small areas. Used for socioeconomic analysis on Skolkoll.Grading scale A–F (Betygsskalan)The six-level grading scale used in compulsory and upper secondary school. A is the highest grade, F means not passed.Grade points (Betygspoäng)The numerical value that each grade level corresponds to when calculating merit value.Grade inflation (Betygsinflation)The phenomenon of grades rising over time without a corresponding increase in knowledge. Particularly noted in the Swedish school system.PISAInternational assessment of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science, organised by the OECD.Eligibility for academic programmes (Behörighet HF)The proportion of year 9 students with passing grades in at least 12 subjects, including Swedish, English and Mathematics.SIRISSkolverket's information system for school results. Publishes merit values, national test results, and other statistics.Grades from year 6 (Betyg från årskurs 6)Since 2012, grades are given from year 6 in compulsory school. Previously, grades were first given in year 8.School rankings (Skolranking)Lists that rank schools by performance measures such as merit score. Can be misleading without considering pupil composition.Language choice (Språkval)The choice of a third language (French, Spanish, German, etc.) from year 6. Gives a 17th grade in the merit score.Grade statistics (Betygsstatistik)Compilation of grade results per school, municipality, and nationwide. Published annually by the National Agency for Education.Admission score (Antagningspoäng)The lowest merit score required for admission to an upper secondary programme the previous year.GIA — Upper secondary admissionsRegional collaboration on upper secondary admissions. Municipalities cooperate on a shared admissions system.Skolkoll scoreA composite index (0–100) of results, staff, value-added, safety and resources. The index is not a percentile rank.

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