Grading guide
Pokémon Card Grading Scales Compared: PSA, BGS, CGC, and PREGRAiDED
A technical comparison of traditional 1–10 grading scales against PREGRAiDED's objective 5,000-point AI scale — so you can interpret your AI score in the context of professional grading standards.
Why grading scales matter
A Pokémon card's value is dominated by its condition. The difference between a PSA 9 and a PSA 10 on a desirable card is often 3× to 10× in market price. Every major grading company uses a slightly different scale, so comparing offers, auction comps, or your own raw cards requires a shared frame of reference.
The three major human grading services
PSA
Professional Sports Authenticator
Whole-number scale 1–10. The dominant grader for Pokémon by population and resale liquidity.
BGS
Beckett Grading Services
Half-point scale 1–10 with four sub-grades (centering, corners, edges, surface). BGS 9.5 is the common "Gem Mint" tier; 10 (Pristine) is exceedingly rare.
CGC
Certified Guaranty Company
Half-point scale 1–10. CGC 10 (Pristine) requires perfect sub-grades; the more commonly achieved top tier is CGC 9.5.
PREGRAiDED's 5,000-point AI scale
Traditional 1–10 scales compress huge condition ranges into a single integer. A PSA 9 and a "barely missed" PSA 10 carry the same number despite a large market gap. PREGRAiDED scores every scan on a continuous 5,000-point scale derived from four objective sub-signals — centering, corners, edges, and surface — measured from your photos.
The higher resolution lets you see exactly where in a grade tier your card sits. A 4,910 is a confident PSA 10 candidate; a 4,760 is a borderline 9/10 where submission risk matters. Both would read simply as "9" or "10" on a traditional scale.
Side-by-side comparison table
| PREGRAiDED score | PSA | BGS | CGC | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,750 – 5,000 | 10 (Gem Mint) | 9.5 – 10 (Gem / Pristine) | 10 (Pristine / Gem) | Virtually flawless. Sharp corners, full gloss, perfect centering. |
| 4,400 – 4,749 | 9 (Mint) | 9 (Mint) | 9 (Mint) | One minor flaw — slight whitening, tiny print speck, or off-center by a hair. |
| 3,900 – 4,399 | 8 (NM-Mint) | 8 – 8.5 | 8 – 8.5 | Light wear visible on close inspection. Corners still sharp, surface clean. |
| 3,300 – 3,899 | 7 (Near Mint) | 7 – 7.5 | 7 – 7.5 | Minor edge wear or surface scratches. Centering may be noticeably off. |
| 2,600 – 3,299 | 6 (EX-Mint) | 6 – 6.5 | 6 – 6.5 | Light handling wear across multiple areas. |
| 1,900 – 2,599 | 5 (Excellent) | 5 – 5.5 | 5 – 5.5 | Moderate wear. Still visually attractive but clearly played-with. |
| 1,200 – 1,899 | 3 – 4 | 3 – 4.5 | 3 – 4.5 | Heavy wear: creases, dings, scuffs. |
| Below 1,200 | 1 – 2 | 1 – 2.5 | 1 – 2.5 | Severe damage. Collector-grade only for rare or vintage cards. |
Mapping is approximate. Final human grades also weigh authentication, eye-appeal, and grader discretion that no photo-only scan can fully replicate.
BGS vs PSA: which is stricter?
At the top tier, BGS is stricter: a BGS 10 (Pristine) requires all four sub-grades to be 10, which is dramatically harder than a PSA 10. In the middle (7–9), the services align closely. BGS sub-grades make it easier to spot why a card missed Gem Mint — useful when deciding whether to crack-and-resubmit.
How to use your PREGRAiDED score
- 4,800+: Strong submission candidate for PSA 10 / BGS 9.5.
- 4,500–4,799: Likely PSA 9. Compare submission cost against the 9 ↔ 10 price gap.
- 4,000–4,499: Likely PSA 8. Usually only worth grading for high-value cards.
- Below 4,000: Keep raw or sell as ungraded unless it's vintage or rare.
Limitations of any photo-based grade
AI grading from photos cannot detect every defect a human grader sees under a loupe — for example, light surface scratches that only catch direct light, or print bubbles hidden by a glossy holo pattern. Treat your PREGRAiDED score as a high-quality pre-grade estimate, not a guarantee of the slab number.
Example grading reports
Three real-style reports showing how PREGRAiDED breaks a card down into sub-scores and maps to professional grades.
Example 1
Charizard V (Brilliant Stars)
4,910 / 5,000
PSA 10 / BGS 9.5+ candidate
Near-perfect centering, razor-sharp corners, and clean holo surface. Strong submission candidate.
Example 2
Pikachu (Celebrations)
4,620 / 5,000
PSA 9 / BGS 9 range
Slight surface micro-scratching visible at angle. Solid PSA 9, but the 9→10 price gap makes submission a coin flip.
Example 3
Blastoise (Base Set)
3,780 / 5,000
PSA 7–8 / BGS 7.5 range
Vintage card with minor corner whitening and soft edges. Worth grading only because of the card's rarity.
Related guides
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