Grading is the most standardised condition language on this site, which makes it unusually easy to describe a card honestly.
What is assessed
Centring — the evenness of the borders, front and back, often stated as a ratio. Corners — sharpness, softness, rounding, any fold. Edges — chipping and wear, most visible on dark borders. Surface — print lines, scratches, dimples, creases, gloss and staining.
The scales
The main grading services run from 1 to 10, with 10 at the top. One of the major services grades in half-point steps and publishes a sub-grade for each of the four areas, so a card can carry both an overall number and the four behind it.
Numbers are not interchangeable between services. A grade means "this service said this", and the market prices different services differently. Always say which service alongside the number.
Raw language
For an ungraded card, describe rather than score:
- "Sharp corners, centred slightly left, one small edge chip at the bottom, clean surface under side light"
That sentence is more useful than any guessed number, and it cannot come back at you.
Guessed grades
Saying what you think a card would grade is allowed, common, and risky. If you do it, say plainly that it is an opinion, and never put a number in the title. A number in a title is read as a fact.
When grading is worth it
When the likely gain clearly exceeds the fee and the wait, which for most cards it does not. Selling raw with an honest description is a perfectly good answer, and this room understands it.
Questions people ask
Does a slab guarantee the card?
It records that service's judgement of condition at that time. It is not a guarantee of anything else.
What is a sub-grade?
A separate score for each of the four areas, published by some services alongside the overall grade.
Can a graded card be re-graded?
Services allow resubmission and the outcome is not guaranteed to improve. It is a gamble with a fee attached.