| Course Name | Grade | Type | Credits |
|---|
GPA Scale: What the Numbers Mean
GPA is total quality points divided by total credit hours, where quality points are grade points times credits. An A (4.0) in a 3-credit class and a B (3.0) in a 4-credit class give (12 + 12) ÷ 7 = 3.43. Add your courses above to see your semester GPA, a weighted GPA for Honors and AP classes, and your new cumulative GPA.
GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated by dividing total quality points by total credit hours. Quality points = grade points x credit hours for each course. Most US universities use the 4.0 scale, though some award A+ as 4.3.
| Letter Grade | Percentage | 4.0 Scale | 4.3 Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97 to 100% | 4.0 | 4.3 |
| A | 93 to 96% | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90 to 92% | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87 to 89% | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| B | 83 to 86% | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| B- | 80 to 82% | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77 to 79% | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| C | 73 to 76% | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| C- | 70 to 72% | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67 to 69% | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| D | 60 to 66% | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 | 0.0 |
GPA classifications: 3.9 to 4.0 is typically Summa Cum Laude, 3.7 to 3.89 is Magna Cum Laude, and 3.5 to 3.69 is Cum Laude. Most graduate schools require a minimum GPA of 3.0 for admission.
GPA Calculation: Worked Example
These are the four courses the calculator loads by default, on the 4.0 scale.
| Course | Grade | Credits | Grade points | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | A | 3 | 4.0 | 12.0 |
| History | B+ | 3 | 3.3 | 9.9 |
| Biology | A− | 4 | 3.7 | 14.8 |
| Spanish | B | 3 | 3.0 | 9.0 |
| Total | 4 courses | 13 | GPA 3.52 | 45.7 |
45.7 ÷ 13 = 3.52 unweighted. If History is an Honors class (+0.5) and Biology is AP (+1.0), the quality points rise to 51.2 and the weighted GPA is 51.2 ÷ 13 = 3.94. The 4-credit class moves the result more than any 3-credit class, which is why a simple average of the grade points (3.5) is not your GPA.
Weighted vs Unweighted GPA
High schools often add a bonus for harder classes. A common scheme adds 0.5 for Honors and 1.0 for AP or IB, which lets an A in an AP class count as 5.0.
| Grade | Regular | Honors | AP / IB |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A− | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| B− | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Set each course's type in the calculator and the weighted GPA appears under the main result. The calculator adds the bonus to every passing grade and never to an F. Schools differ: some give the bonus only for a C or better, some use other bonus sizes, and many colleges recalculate applicants' GPAs with their own rules. Use your school's handbook for the official figure. College GPAs are almost always unweighted.
How Much Can One Semester Move Your GPA?
A student with a 3.0 GPA takes 15 more credits. The more credits already on the transcript, the less one semester changes the total.
| Credits already completed | New GPA after 15 credits of 4.0 | New GPA after 15 credits of 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 3.50 | 2.50 |
| 30 | 3.33 | 2.67 |
| 60 | 3.20 | 2.80 |
| 90 | 3.14 | 2.86 |
Common GPA mistakes
- Averaging grades without credits. A 1-credit lab and a 4-credit lecture do not count the same.
- Counting pass/fail or withdrawn courses. At most schools they add credits to your transcript but not to the GPA calculation.
- Mixing weighted and unweighted numbers. Enter an unweighted current GPA in the cumulative section, because the calculator combines it with your unweighted semester points.
- Assuming A+ is 4.3. Many schools cap A+ at 4.0. Choose the 4.3 scale only if your school uses it.
To turn a percentage score into a letter first, the percentage calculator gives points earned as a percent, and the average calculator handles plain averages of test scores.