Is Professor Elm's Training Method worth grading?
Pokémon · Expedition Base Set · 148/165 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Professor Elm's Training Method brings $40.56 versus $2.29 raw — a $38.27 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($22.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.29
- PSA 10
- $40.56
- PSA 9
- $22.00
- Gem premium
- 18×
- As of
- Aug 10, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $40.56 | +$13.27 | −$11.73 | −$112 |
| PSA 9 | $22.00 | −$5.29 | −$30.29 | −$130 |
| PSA 8 | $32.85 | +$5.56 | −$19.44 | −$119 |
Net = sale price − $2.29 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $26.64 | −$25.65 |
| 50% | $31.28 | −$21.01 |
| 75% | $35.92 | −$16.37 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $165 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $60.00 | −$105 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $165 | $60.00 |
| 9.5 | — | $10.00 |
| 9 | $15.00 | $24.45 |
| 8.5 | — | $11.00 |
| 8 | $32.85 | $8.56 |
| 7 | $7.00 | — |
| 6 | $50.00 | $7.96 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other Expedition Base Set cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Professor Elm's Training Method — FAQ
Is Professor Elm's Training Method worth grading?
A PSA 10 Professor Elm's Training Method brings $40.56 versus $2.29 raw — a $38.27 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($22.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Professor Elm's Training Method worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Professor Elm's Training Method (Expedition Base Set 148/165) sells for about $40.56 versus $2.29 for a raw near-mint copy — a 18× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Professor Elm's Training Method?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $165, ahead of CGC 10 at $60.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Professor Elm's Training Method need for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
Is your Pokémon card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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