Germany

German school and university grades run 1–6, where 1 (sehr gut / very good) is the best and 6 (ungenügend / insufficient) is failing. University grades are 1.0–5.0. A 1.0 Abitur or degree is exceptional; 1.7–2.3 is good; 4.0 is passing.

Germany and the EU use APRC (Annual Percentage Rate of Charge) for credit products under the Mortgage Credit Directive. For savings, German banks typically compound annually. Germany's savings rates have historically been very competitive within the eurozone.

German personal loan rates are among the lowest in Europe, typically 5–8% APR for good credit. German consumer protection law (§502 BGB) prohibits prepayment fees on most consumer loans under €75,000.

Germany uses WHO BMI thresholds (overweight ≥25, obese ≥30). Germany has a lower obesity rate than the US (~16% vs ~40%) despite using the same BMI standard, reflecting dietary and lifestyle differences.

Germany uses the metric system strictly. Imperial units are not used in daily life. Temperatures are always in Celsius, distances in kilometres, and weight in kilograms. Unlike the UK, there's no cultural legacy use of imperial measurements.

Tipping in Germany is appreciated but less obligatory than in the US. Germans typically round up to a convenient number or add 5–10%. 'Stimmt so' (keep the change) is common. Service staff earn proper wages — tips supplement rather than sustain.