What this calculator does
A grade point average (GPA) turns a set of letter grades into one number, and it does so with a weighted average: each course's grade points are multiplied by its credits, the products are added up, and the total is divided by the credits that count. This page does that arithmetic on a 4.5-point, nine-tier scale(A+ through F), shows the working under the result, and lets you leave out courses that should not count. It is built for quick estimates during a term, for planning what you need next term, and for understanding how a transcript number is produced. It does not replace the official figure your school calculates.
The formula and why credits matter
GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ(credits that count)
Weighting by credits means a four-credit course moves your average more than a one-credit lab. If you simply average the grade points of your courses you get a different, wrong number, because every course is treated as if it were the same size. The first worked example below shows the difference with real numbers.
The scale used here, and how other scales differ
This tool uses a 4.5-point scale in which A+ is worth 4.5 and each step down loses 0.5 points: A0 (a plain A) is 4.0, B+ is 3.5, and so on down to F at 0. The last column of the table shows each grade as a share of the maximum, which is the same proportional idea used for the percentage figure in the result.
| Grade | Grade points (4.5 scale) | Share of maximum |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.5 | 100.0% |
| A0 | 4.0 | 88.9% |
| B+ | 3.5 | 77.8% |
| B0 | 3.0 | 66.7% |
| C+ | 2.5 | 55.6% |
| C0 | 2.0 | 44.4% |
| D+ | 1.5 | 33.3% |
| D0 | 1.0 | 22.2% |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0% |
Other schools use other schemes, and the same letter does not always mean the same number. Many institutions use a 4.0 maximum with plus and minus grades, for example 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 · F 0.0. Others use a 4.3 maximum, for example A+ 4.3 · A0 4.0 · A- 3.7 · B+ 3.3 · B0 3.0 · B- 2.7 · C+ 2.3 · C0 2.0 · C- 1.7 · D+ 1.3 · D0 1.0 · D- 0.7 · F 0.0. Some have no A+ at all, some drop D- or C-, and some publish a numeric conversion from percentage marks. A "B+" is 3.5 here but 3.3 on both of the schemes just listed, so you cannot compare GPA figures from different schools without checking the scale behind each one. Treat the tables above as common configurations, not as a standard, and use your registrar's published table whenever you have one.
Converting between scales (approximation only)
When someone asks for a GPA on a different maximum, the simplest estimate is proportional: GPA ÷ original maximum × new maximum. The table applies that formula to a few 4.5-scale averages. It is an estimate only. A school's A is worth 4.0 on a 4.0 scale and 4.0 on this scale too, but proportional conversion would turn this scale's 4.0 into 3.56, so the two methods disagree about the same grade. For applications, use the conversion or evaluation the receiving institution asks for, which is often an official transcript evaluation.
| 4.5-scale GPA | Proportional 4.3 | Proportional 4.0 | Percent of maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.50 | 4.30 | 4.00 | 100.0 |
| 4.20 | 4.01 | 3.73 | 93.3 |
| 4.00 | 3.82 | 3.56 | 88.9 |
| 3.50 | 3.34 | 3.11 | 77.8 |
| 3.00 | 2.87 | 2.67 | 66.7 |
| 2.50 | 2.39 | 2.22 | 55.6 |
| 2.00 | 1.91 | 1.78 | 44.4 |
Worked examples
Example 1: one semester. Calculus (3 credits, A+ = 4.5); Chemistry (4 credits, B+ = 3.5); Academic Writing (3 credits, A0 = 4.0); Art History elective (2 credits, C+ = 2.5); Chemistry Lab (1 credits, B0 = 3.0). The grade-point total is 47.5 and the credit total is 13, so the GPA is 47.5 ÷ 13 =3.65. A plain average of the five grade values would give 3.50, which is off because it ignores that Chemistry carries four credits and the lab only one.
Example 2: cumulative GPA and a target. Suppose you arrive with a 3.40 average over60 credits. Adding the semester above gives (3.4 × 60 + 47.5) ÷ (60 + 13) =3.45. To reach a cumulative 3.50 after another 15 credits you would need a term GPA of (3.5 × 88 − 251.5) ÷ 15 = 3.77. The more credits you have banked, the less one term can move the total, so late-stage targets need either very strong terms or more terms.
Example 3: a retake under different policies. A 3-credit course was first graded 1.5(D+) and retaken for 3.0 (B0). Other courses total 10 credits and 34.5 grade points. If the new grade replaces the old one, the GPA is 3.35. If both attempts are averaged in, it is 3.00. If only the first attempt counted, it would be 3.00. The same transcript can therefore produce results more than 0.35 apart depending on policy, which is why you must learn your school's rule before entering a retake.
Pass/fail, withdrawals, retakes and transfer credit
- Pass/fail courses usually earn credit toward graduation but are left out of the average. Tick "Exclude" on those rows.
- An F normally counts as 0 points in the average and earns no credit. This tool keeps F in the calculation at 0.0.
- Retakes may replace, average with or sit beside the original grade, and some schools cap the retake grade. Enter the grade that your policy actually counts, and exclude the row that is replaced.
- Withdrawals and incompletes are normally ignored until resolved. Exclude them rather than entering a grade.
- Transfer, exchange or summer credit may count toward your degree but not toward your GPA, or may be converted first. Ask the registrar.
- Fractional credits such as 0.5 or 1.5 are accepted in the credits box.
Common mistakes
- Averaging grade values without weighting by credits.
- Leaving a replaced retake or a pass/fail course in the calculation.
- Applying one school's grade table to another school's transcript.
- Entering "credits earned" as the previous credit count when the average is computed over "credits attempted for GPA". They can differ.
- Quoting a proportional conversion as if it were an official conversion.
When not to rely on this tool
Do not use it to decide scholarship eligibility, graduation honours or application cut-offs. For those the only number that counts is the one in your school's records system. The calculator does not know your school's retake cap, rounding rule, treatment of transfer credit, or which courses count as your major. It shows two decimal places by rounding the final value; some schools truncate instead, so a difference of 0.01 against your transcript is more likely a rounding rule than an arithmetic error.
Using the result
Mid-term, enter the grades you expect and see where the semester lands; change a single grade to see which course matters most. Use the "Copy result" button to paste the figure and the working into a note or an email to an adviser. If you are planning for a target, rerun the numbers with realistic grades rather than only top marks, then compare against the credits you plan to take. Everything is computed in your browser and nothing you type is stored or sent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I handle a retaken course?
Follow your school's policy. If the new grade replaces the old one, tick "Exclude" on the old row and enter only the new grade. If both grades count, enter both rows. If the retake grade is capped, enter the capped grade.
Is the percentage equivalent accurate?
It is a simple proportion, GPA ÷ 4.5 × 100, and only a reference. Official percentage conversions differ by school and country, so check the conversion table your school or the receiving institution publishes.
My school uses a 4.0 scale. Can I still use this?
Use it only as a rough guide. The nine tiers and 0.5-point steps here do not match a 4.0 plus/minus scale, so enter your own school's grade points into a spreadsheet using the same weighted formula if you need an exact answer.
Why does my transcript differ by 0.01 or more?
Typical causes are rounding or truncation, a retake or withdrawal policy, a different set of courses counting, and a different grade table. Compare the credit total used on your transcript with the one shown here first.
Do pass/fail courses count?
Normally they count toward earned credits but not toward the average. Tick "Exclude" on those rows so they do not enter the calculation.
Related tools
- Percentage Calculator: check score ratios and what share of a total each part is.
- Scientific Calculator: run the weighted-sum arithmetic by hand when comparing with a transcript.
- Discount Calculator: another percentage-based tool for budgeting textbooks and supplies.