Understanding exactly what a TGA grade means takes more than knowing the number on the label. True Grade Authentication uses a detailed 1-10 scale with half-point increments, and each grade tier corresponds to specific, defined standards for centering, corners, edges, and surface.
Knowing this scale in detail helps collectors set realistic expectations before submitting and understand what a returned grade actually says about a card's condition.
Here's how TGA's full scale breaks down.
None of this requires prior grading knowledge to follow.
Flawless 10 and Gem Mint 10 sit at the very top of TGA's scale, reserved for cards showing essentially no visible flaws even under magnification. Gem Mint 10 specifically requires 55/45 front centering, 75/25 or better back centering, and flawless corners, edges, and surface.
Very few cards from any pack pull actually meet this standard, which is part of why top grades carry significant premiums on the resale market.
Near Gem Mint 9.5 and Mint 9 sit just below the top tier, still representing genuinely strong condition with only the most minor, hard-to-spot flaws. Cards in this range are common among carefully pulled and immediately sleeved pack-fresh cards.
The gap between a 9 and a 9.5 often comes down to centering measurements that are difficult to judge with the naked eye alone.
Handling a card correctly from the moment it's pulled matters for where it ultimately lands on this scale. EVORETRO's Graded Card Sleeves keep a freshly graded slab display-ready.
Before submission, protecting a raw card in a rigid holder helps preserve the corners and surface a grader will be evaluating closely.
Near Mint/Mint 8, Near Mint 7, Excellent Mint 6, and Excellent 5 make up TGA's middle range, covering cards with visible but moderate wear. These grades are common for cards that saw some handling before being submitted, including many vintage pulls from personal collections.
A card in this range can still hold real value, particularly for scarce or vintage cards where a perfect copy is genuinely rare.
Very Good/Excellent 4 down through Poor 1 cover cards with increasingly visible damage, while the Authentic designation is reserved specifically for cards that are trimmed, miscut, or otherwise manually altered. Authentic isn't a numeric grade at all — it's a separate category confirming a card's legitimacy without assigning a condition score.
TGA doesn't grade cards that fall into altered categories on the numeric scale, keeping the scale's integrity intact for unaltered submissions.
Every TGA-graded card receives four individual subgrades covering centering, surface, corners, and edges, alongside the overall numeric grade. A card's overall grade generally reflects its weakest subgrade area, since a single significant flaw can hold back an otherwise pristine card.
Reviewing subgrades alongside the overall number gives a much clearer picture of exactly why a card graded the way it did.
A card's grade is a snapshot of its condition at the moment it was submitted, not a guarantee that it will remain in that exact state forever if handled carelessly afterward. Even a sealed slab can suffer damage from drops or improper storage, though the internal card itself stays protected far better than a raw card would.
Treating a high grade as a starting point worth preserving, rather than a permanent, unchangeable fact, keeps a collection's value intact over the long run.
Beyond submitting your own cards, knowing TGA's scale in detail also makes you a smarter buyer when purchasing already-graded cards from other collectors. A seller's asking price should generally track with where a card actually sits on the scale, not just the headline number rounded up in a listing title.
Comparing a specific grade against recent sold prices for that exact grade, rather than assuming all "high grade" cards are priced similarly, leads to better buying decisions.
Flawless 10 and Gem Mint 10 sit at the top of the scale.
Yes, half-point increments run throughout the entire scale.
It confirms legitimacy for damaged or altered cards, without assigning a numeric grade.
Four: centering, surface, corners, and edges.
Understanding TGA's grading standards helps set realistic expectations for your submission. Browse EVORETRO's graded card accessories collection to display your results once they're back.
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