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APG GRADING STANDARD

Grading Standard

A focused explanation of APG scoring rules, sub-scores, condition dimensions, centering references, and rejection boundaries.

Classic grading scale

APG
Black 10
P10Pristine
APG
Silver 10
10Gem Mint
Scoring rules and high-grade requirements

The final grade uses surface×0.3, corners×0.25, edges×0.25, and centering×0.2, then rounds up to the next 0.5 step. A 10 requires surface at 10, with at most one of corners, edges, and centering at 9.5 and the rest at 10; P10 requires all four sub-scores at 10 and must enter review.

P10 · Pristine All four sub-scores must be 10. Every P10 card enters review before the result is confirmed.

10 · Gem Mint Surface must be 10; corners, edges, and centering may include at most one 9.5, with the rest at 10.

CONDITION STANDARD

How APG reads a card

The final grade combines centering, corners, edges, surface and print condition.

CENTERING

Centering

Measures front/back border balance. Higher grades require tighter centering, with P10 within 52/48.

CORNERS

Corners

Checks visible wear, dents, rounding, whitening, and magnified corner defects.

EDGES

Edges

Checks edge roughness, chipping, cutting marks, whitening, and factory-cut consistency.

SURFACE

Surface And Print

Checks original color, gloss, scratches, stains, registration, focus, print spots, creases, and alterations.

Centering reference by grade

Centering is evaluated together with condition defects.

P10 Pristine52/48 or better
10 Gem MintFront 55/45, back 75/25 or better
9 Mint+Front 60/40, back 90/10 or better
8 NM/Mint65/35 or better
7 Near Mint70/30 or better
6 Ex/NM75/25 or better

Passing a centering threshold alone does not guarantee the grade.

Condition grade reference

APG GRADING SCALE
GradeLevelCondition reference
9Mint+

Intact corners with only extremely minor wear; tiny edge flaws, small stains, a single dot, or one slight surface issue may be allowed. Front centering should reach 60/40 or better.

8NM/Mint

Clean edges with light wear only; minor print defects, slight focus shift, light handling traces, or very slight cutting marks may be present. Centering should reach 65/35 or better.

7Near Mint

Three to four corners may show light wear, or edges may have minor roughness; slight registration shift, light cutting marks, or very light back staining may appear. Centering should reach 70/30 or better.

6Ex/NM

Up to one damaged corner, or no more than two moderate issues such as worn corners, edge roughness, print flaws, cutting marks, or visible stains. Centering should reach 75/25 or better.

5Excellent

Visible corner and edge wear, slight rounding, damaged corners, fading, print defects, color distortion, focus issues, or coating-level scratches.

4VG/Ex

Rounded corners, surface wear, scratches, one or more light creases, partial color retention, border whitening, stains, or obvious cutting flaws.

3Very Good

Rounded and worn corners, one moderate crease or multiple light creases, scratches, fading, moderate edge wear, and heavier stains on both sides.

2Good

Severe card-length creases, writing marks, notable damage, serious cutting defects, or obvious miscut problems.

1Poor

Severe overall damage, deep broken creases, missing surface areas, missing corners, or multiple major defects.

APG VS

A transparent grading experience

ServiceAPGCommon Grading
Evidence

Public certificate archives front/back, holder photos, sub-scores, and detail crops.

Often relies on a single grade label and limited public evidence.

Traceability

Submission, intake, grading, encapsulation, certification, and return logistics share one order timeline.

Operational status and certificate display are often separated.

Review

Premium routes and high-value cards can enter review before encapsulation.

Review rules may be opaque to the collector.

Collection

10-grade cards can connect to APP Digital Grading Certificate display and Black Gold 10 PSA10 route access.

Usually stops at holder and certificate lookup.

RULES HANDBOOK

Supported scope and rejection rules

Confirm the service scope before submission.

CategoryGradingSignatureInsuranceExpress
TCG CardsSupportedOptionalOptionalSupported
Sports CardsSupportedOptionalOptionalSupported
Idol CardsSupportedReviewOptionalSupported
Custom LabelsReviewReviewOptionalReview

Common rejection reasons

  1. Counterfeit risk cannot be resolved
  2. Unsupported card type
  3. Severe trimming or alteration
  4. Severe contamination or unsafe encapsulation
  5. Card information cannot be verified