From letter grades to grade points
On the 4.0 scale, each letter grade has a value in grade points. This is a common scale, not a rule:
| Letter grade | Grade points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 |
| A | 4.0 |
| A− | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B− | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C− | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| D− | 0.7 |
| F | 0.0 |
Schools differ. Some give an A+ 4.3, some have no plus or minus grades, and the lowest passing grade varies. Check your school’s catalog or ask the registrar for the scale that applies to you.
The two formulas
Every course adds quality points, which are its grade points multiplied by its credit hours:
Quality points = grade points × credit hours
Your GPA is then the total quality points divided by the total credit hours:
GPA = total quality points ÷ total credit hours
This is a weighted average, the same idea as in the weighted average guide: a 4-credit course moves your GPA more than a 2-credit course.
Worked example
Three courses in one semester: an A in a 3-credit course, a B− in a 4-credit course and a C+ in a 2-credit course.
| Course | Letter grade | Grade points | Credit hours | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course 1 | A | 4.0 | 3 | 4.0 × 3 = 12 |
| Course 2 | B− | 2.7 | 4 | 2.7 × 4 = 10.8 |
| Course 3 | C+ | 2.3 | 2 | 2.3 × 2 = 4.6 |
| Total | 9 | 27.4 |
GPA = 27.4 ÷ 9 = 3.044…, which is reported as 3.04.
Semester GPA and cumulative GPA
Semester GPA uses only the courses of one term. Cumulative GPA uses the courses of every term so far: add all quality points, add all credit hours, and divide. It is not the plain average of your semester GPAs, because a term with more credit hours counts for more.
Pass/fail, withdrawn courses and rounding
A pass/fail or withdrawn course is usually not counted in GPA. Check your school, because policies differ, and so does the treatment of incompletes and retaken courses.
GPA is usually reported to two decimals. Keep the full number while you calculate and round only the final result, because rounding each course first can shift the answer. In the example above, 3.044… becomes 3.04. If your school or an application asks for a different format, follow theirs.
Track your GPA in the app
The app supports the US 4.0 GPA with a letter grade picker, so you can enter your courses and credit hours and see your GPA update.