How to use the GPA calculator
- For each course choose the letter grade and enter its credit hours (also called units or credits). Use + Add course for more rows and ✕ to remove one.
- Your GPA appears as soon as one course has credits. Choose the 4.0 scale, where A+ counts as 4.0, or the 4.3 scale used by some schools.
- Open Add your earlier GPA to enter your current cumulative GPA and credits completed, and the tool shows what your cumulative GPA will be after this term.
If your school weights honors and AP or IB courses, set the level on each row. The unweighted GPA stays as shown, and a separate weighted GPA appears in the results.
How GPA is calculated
GPA stands for grade point average. Every letter grade is worth a number of grade points, each course's points are multiplied by its credits, and the total is divided by the total credits.
quality points = grade points × credits (for each course) GPA = total quality points ÷ total credits
This is a weighted average, so a 4-credit course counts more than a 2-credit one. A simple average of grade points would be wrong whenever the courses carry different credits.
| Grade | 4.0 scale | 4.3 scale | Typical percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 4.3 | 97–100 |
| A | 4.0 | 4.0 | 93–96 |
| A− | 3.7 | 3.7 | 90–92 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.3 | 87–89 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.0 | 83–86 |
| B− | 2.7 | 2.7 | 80–82 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 2.3 | 77–79 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.0 | 73–76 |
| C− | 1.7 | 1.7 | 70–72 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 1.3 | 67–69 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.0 | 63–66 |
| D− | 0.7 | 0.7 | 60–62 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | Below 60 |
The percentage ranges are a common pattern, not a rule. Schools set their own cut-offs, so use the letter grade from your transcript rather than converting from a percentage yourself.
Worked example
One term has five courses:
| Course | Grade | Points | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| Chemistry | B+ | 3.3 | 4 | 13.2 |
| Maths | C | 2.0 | 3 | 6.0 |
| History | A− | 3.7 | 2 | 7.4 |
| Art | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9.0 |
| Total | 15 | 47.6 |
GPA = 47.6 ÷ 15 = 3.17 (3.1733 before rounding).
Cumulative GPA. Suppose you already have a 3.40 GPA over 60 credits. Your earlier quality points were 3.40 × 60 = 204. Adding this term gives (204 + 47.6) ÷ (60 + 15) = 251.6 ÷ 75 = 3.35. Because the 60 earlier credits carry more weight than this term's 15, the cumulative GPA moves only a little.
Weighted GPA. If Chemistry were AP, its 3.3 would count as 4.3 in the weighted GPA, adding 4 quality points and lifting the weighted GPA by 0.27 to 3.44, while the unweighted GPA stays 3.17.
Weighted versus unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA treats every course equally, so the top possible score is 4.0. A weighted GPA gives extra points for harder courses, usually +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP, IB or advanced classes, so it can exceed 4.0. Schools differ on whether the bonus applies to every passing grade or only above a certain grade, and on whether colleges see the weighted figure. This calculator adds the bonus to any passing grade (anything above F). Check your school's policy before relying on the weighted result.
Universities outside North America often use other systems, such as percentages, class ranks or a 10-point or 5-point scale. If your transcript uses one of those, a conversion by the university's own table is more reliable than this calculator. Many institutions in Pakistan, for example, use a 4.0 scale with letter grades similar to the standard table, but cut-offs and the treatment of A+ vary by institution.
Ways to raise your GPA
- Credits matter: improving a 4-credit course from C to B adds more quality points than doing the same in a 1-credit course.
- The more credits you have already, the slower the cumulative GPA moves. A single term has the most effect early in a degree.
- Check the repeat-course policy. Some schools replace the old grade, and others average both.
- Use the tool to test targets: enter predicted grades for the current term and see what is needed to reach a scholarship or program cut-off.
What GPA you need for common goals
| Goal | Typical GPA (4.0 scale) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stay in good academic standing | 2.0 | Many schools place students below this on probation |
| Dean's list or honors roll | 3.5 or 3.7 | Varies by school and sometimes by term |
| Competitive graduate programs | 3.5 and above | Other parts of the application also count |
| Many merit scholarships | 3.0 to 3.8 | Check the renewal rule as well |
| Latin honors (cum laude and higher) | 3.5 to 3.9 | Set by each university |
These figures are broad guides, not rules. Use the calculator to test what you need from your remaining courses. Enter your earlier GPA and credits, then try different grades for this term until the cumulative GPA reaches your target.
Accuracy and limits
Results are rounded to two decimal places for display and use the exact point values shown in the table. Pass/fail and withdrawn courses should be left out, because they normally carry no grade points. Official GPAs are calculated by your institution, which may apply its own rounding, scale or repeat-grade rules, so treat this as an estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate GPA?
Multiply each course's grade points by its credits, add the results, and divide by the total credits. A 4-credit A (4.0) and a 2-credit C (2.0) give (16 + 4) ÷ 6 = 3.33.
What is a good GPA?
On a 4.0 scale, 3.0 is a B average and is often the minimum for graduate programs, 3.5 and above is considered strong, and 3.7 or higher is usually honors territory. Requirements depend on the school or scholarship.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA treats every class the same on a 4.0 scale. Weighted GPA adds a bonus, usually 0.5 or 1.0, for honors, AP or IB classes, so it can go above 4.0.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA?
Multiply your current GPA by your credits so far to get your earlier quality points, add this term's quality points, then divide by the total credits. The tool does this when you enter your earlier GPA and credits.
Can I convert a percentage into GPA here?
Not directly, because schools use different conversion tables. Use the letter grade on your transcript, or your institution's official percentage-to-grade table.