How GPA is calculated
Your grade point average (GPA) is a weighted average: each course's grade points are multiplied by its credits (or units, or hours), added up, and divided by the total credits. A four-credit course therefore counts twice as much as a two-credit course.
GPA = Σ (grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits
The standard 4.0 scale
| Letter | Points | Letter | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
| A− | 3.7 | C | 2.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | C− | 1.7 |
| B | 3.0 | D+ | 1.3 |
| B− | 2.7 | D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
This is the most common scale in the United States and is used by many universities elsewhere. Some schools give A+ 4.3, some do not use plus and minus grades at all, and some use different steps, so check your institution's handbook and adjust if needed.
Worked example
| Course | Grade | Points | Credits | Points × credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| 2 | B+ | 3.3 | 4 | 13.2 |
| 3 | A− | 3.7 | 3 | 11.1 |
| 4 | C | 2.0 | 2 | 4.0 |
| 5 | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9.0 |
| Total | 15 | 49.3 | ||
Term GPA = 49.3 ÷ 15 = 3.29. These are the default values in the calculator above.
Credits change everything
Because GPA is weighted, the same grades can give different results. An A in a 1-credit course and a C in a 4-credit course average 2.40; swap the credits (A in the 4-credit course, C in the 1-credit course) and the GPA becomes 3.60. When planning a semester, the grades in your largest courses matter most.
Cumulative GPA
To combine a new term with your earlier record, weight each by its credits rather than averaging the two GPAs:
Cumulative GPA = (previous GPA × previous credits + term points) ÷ (previous credits + term credits)
With a previous GPA of 3.2 over 30 credits and the example term above (49.3 points over 15 credits), the cumulative GPA is (96 + 49.3) ÷ 45 = 3.23. Enter your previous GPA and credits in the optional fields to get this automatically.
Raising a GPA
- The more credits you have, the slower it moves. After 90 credits, even a perfect 4.0 term of 15 credits raises a 3.0 GPA only to about 3.14.
- Retake policies differ. Some schools replace the old grade, others average both attempts; check before retaking a course.
- Pass/fail courses usually earn credits but no grade points, so they do not affect GPA.
Other grading systems
Many countries do not use a 4.0 GPA. The UK uses degree classifications (First, 2:1, 2:2, Third), much of Europe uses ECTS grades or national scales such as 1–10 or 1–20, and many Asian universities use a 4.0 or 5.0 scale with their own letter boundaries. Converting between systems is not a simple formula; universities and credential-evaluation services publish their own conversion tables, and those are what admissions offices use.
Common mistakes
- Averaging grades without credits, which overstates small courses.
- Averaging two GPAs directly for a cumulative figure instead of weighting by credits.
- Converting percentages to GPA with a generic chart. Percentage-to-letter boundaries differ between schools.
Your official GPA is the one on your transcript. Institutions may round differently or treat repeated, transferred and pass/fail courses in their own way.
Weighted GPA in high school
Many US high schools report a weighted GPA that adds extra points for harder classes, commonly +0.5 for honours and +1.0 for Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, so an A in an AP class counts as 5.0. Practices vary a lot between schools, and many colleges recalculate applicants' GPAs on their own unweighted scale. This calculator gives the unweighted 4.0 figure; if your school weights grades, add the bonus to the grade points of those courses yourself.
GPA and academic standing
Universities often use GPA thresholds for honours and warnings. A dean's list commonly starts around 3.5 for a term, Latin honours (cum laude and higher) at graduation often start between 3.5 and 3.9, and academic probation is often triggered below 2.0. The exact numbers are set by each institution, so check your student handbook.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my GPA?
Multiply each course's grade points by its credits, add the results, and divide by the total credits. For example, 49.3 points over 15 credits is a GPA of 3.29.
What GPA is a B+ average?
On the standard 4.0 scale, a B+ is 3.3.
How do I calculate cumulative GPA?
Multiply your previous GPA by previous credits, add this term's grade points, and divide by the total credits from both.
Is a 3.0 GPA good?
A 3.0 is a B average. Many graduate programmes and employers use 3.0 as a minimum, while competitive programmes often expect 3.5 or higher.
What is a weighted GPA?
A GPA that gives extra points for harder classes, often +0.5 for honours and +1.0 for AP or IB, so it can exceed 4.0.
Sources
- College Board, How to convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale.
- European Commission, ECTS Users' Guide (grading and grade conversion), 2015.
Last reviewed 7 October 2026. Results are estimates; see our disclaimer.