Measures front/back border balance. Higher grades require tighter centering, with P10 within 52/48.
Grading Standard
Grading Standard
A focused explanation of APG scoring rules, sub-scores, condition dimensions, centering references, and rejection boundaries.
Score System
1-10 scoring system
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.
P10Pristine
All four sub-scores must be 10. Every P10 card enters review before the result is confirmed.
10Gem Mint
Surface must be 10; corners, edges, and centering may include at most one 9.5, with the rest at 10.
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.
Condition Standard
How APG reads a card
The final grade is not a single visual impression. It is formed by centering, corners, edges, surface, print quality, preservation, and special defects.
Checks visible wear, dents, rounding, whitening, and magnified corner defects.
Checks edge roughness, chipping, cutting marks, whitening, and factory-cut consistency.
Checks original color, gloss, scratches, stains, registration, focus, print spots, creases, and alterations.
Centering reference by grade
Centering is evaluated together with condition defects. Passing a centering threshold alone does not guarantee the grade.
P10 52/48 or better10 Front 55/45, back 75/25 or better9 Front 60/40, back 90/10 or better8 65/35 or better7 70/30 or better6 75/25 or better
APG VS
APG compared with common grading experiences
This comparison explains the public certificate, review, and collection-extension differences users see after submission.
APG
Public certificate archives front/back, holder photos, sub-scores, and detail crops.
Common Grading
Often relies on a single grade label and limited public evidence.
APG
Submission, intake, grading, encapsulation, certification, and return logistics share one order timeline.
Common Grading
Operational status and certificate display are often separated.
APG
Premium routes and high-value cards can enter review before encapsulation.
Common Grading
Review rules may be opaque to the collector.
APG
10-grade cards can connect to APP digital collectible display and Black Gold 10 PSA10 route access.
Common Grading
Usually stops at holder and certificate lookup.
Rules Handbook
Supported scope and rejection rules
Make the grading boundary visible before users submit cards.
CategoryGradingSignatureInsuranceExpress
TCG CardsSupportedOptionalOptionalSupported
Sports CardsSupportedOptionalOptionalSupported
Idol CardsSupportedReviewOptionalSupported
Custom LabelsReviewReviewOptionalReview
Common rejection reasons
Counterfeit risk cannot be resolvedUnsupported card typeSevere trimming or alterationSevere contamination or unsafe encapsulationCard information cannot be verified