What is a GPA?
Your grade point average turns letter grades into one number. Each grade is worth a set number of points, from 4.0 for an A down to 0 for an F. Classes with more credits count more, so an A in a 4 credit course lifts your GPA more than an A in a 1 credit elective. High schools, colleges and scholarship programs in the US use the GPA to compare students quickly.
How GPA is calculated
Example: A− in English (1 credit), B+ in AP Biology (1 credit), B in Algebra II (1 credit) and A in Spanish (1 credit) give 3.7 + 3.3 + 3.0 + 4.0 = 14.0 quality points over 4 credits, an unweighted GPA of 3.50.
Letter grades to GPA points
This is the standard 4.0 scale most US high schools and colleges use. The percentages are typical but not universal, so check your school's grading policy.
| Letter grade | Percent | Regular | Honors | AP or IB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97 to 100 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A | 93 to 96 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A− | 90 to 92 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 87 to 89 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| B | 83 to 86 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| B− | 80 to 82 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| C+ | 77 to 79 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| C | 73 to 76 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| C− | 70 to 72 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| D+ | 67 to 69 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| D | 63 to 66 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| D− | 60 to 62 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| F | below 60 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Weighted vs unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA treats every class the same. It tops out at 4.0 and shows how good your grades are. A weighted GPA rewards harder classes: honors classes usually get 0.5 extra points and AP or IB classes 1.0, so the scale goes up to 5.0. A B in an AP class (4.0 weighted) then counts as much as an A in a regular class.
An F earns no bonus here, even in an AP class, because a failed course should not add points. Schools differ in the details. Some only weight grades of C or better, some cap the bonus at a few classes a year, and many colleges recalculate your GPA with their own rules. Use the weighted result as a guide and your transcript as the official number.
How to use the GPA calculator
- 1Add a row for each course this semester. The course name is optional.
- 2Pick the letter grade, enter the credits, and choose Regular, Honors or AP/IB.
- 3Read your unweighted and weighted GPA. For your cumulative GPA, add the GPA and credits you had before this semester.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA uses the same 4.0 scale for every class, so an A is a 4.0 in regular English and in AP Chemistry. A weighted GPA adds a bonus for harder classes, usually 0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP or IB, so an A in an AP class counts as 5.0.
How do I calculate my GPA by hand?
Multiply the grade points of each class by its credits to get quality points. Add up all quality points and divide by the total credits. A (4.0) in a 3 credit class and B (3.0) in a 4 credit class give 12 + 12 = 24 quality points over 7 credits, a GPA of 3.43.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA?
Multiply your previous GPA by your previous credits, add the quality points of the new semester, and divide by all credits together. Enter your previous GPA and credits in the cumulative section and the calculator does this for you.
Is an A+ worth more than 4.0?
On the standard 4.0 scale, no: A+ and A are both 4.0. Some schools give an A+ 4.3. If yours does, the result here can be a little lower than your official GPA, so check your school handbook.
What counts as a good GPA?
A 3.0 unweighted GPA, a B average, is often the minimum for scholarships and many colleges. Selective colleges usually look for 3.7 and above, and they read your GPA together with how hard your classes were, which is what the weighted GPA shows.