How to Calculate Your GPA
Your grade point average (GPA) is a credit-weighted average of your grades. Working it out by hand is straightforward once you know the three steps.
Step 1: Convert each grade to points
On the common 4.0 scale, A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Many schools also use pluses and minuses, where an A- is 3.7 and a B+ is 3.3.
Step 2: Weight each grade by its credits
Multiply each course's grade points by the number of credits (or units) it carries. A grade in a heavier course counts for more.
Step 3: Divide by total credits
Add up all the weighted points, then divide by the total number of credits. That is your GPA.
Worked example
Three credits of A (4.0) and four credits of B (3.0): that is 3x4 + 4x3 = 24 grade points across 7 credits, which is 24 / 7 = about 3.43.
Weighted vs unweighted
An unweighted GPA tops out at 4.0. A weighted GPA gives extra points for honours or advanced classes (often up to 5.0), to reward harder courses. Check which one your school uses.
How to convert a percentage to GPA
Many schools map percentage grades to the 4.0 scale before averaging. A common conversion is 90 to 100% = A = 4.0, 80 to 89% = B = 3.0, 70 to 79% = C = 2.0, 60 to 69% = D = 1.0, and below 60% = F = 0. If your school uses a different cutoff, use theirs, but the method is the same: convert each percentage to its grade point, then follow the three steps above.
How to calculate cumulative GPA
Your cumulative GPA is the same calculation stretched across every semester, not just one. Add up all the grade points you have ever earned (each grade times its credits) and divide by the total credits from every term. A single strong or weak semester moves your cumulative GPA less as you accumulate more credits, which is why grades early in a program carry extra weight.
How can you raise your GPA?
Because GPA is credit-weighted, the fastest lever is your heaviest and lowest-graded courses: lifting a low grade in a high-credit class moves the average more than acing a one-credit elective. Retaking a course where your school replaces the old grade, and loading future terms with grades above your current average, both pull it up. Use the worked method to test a target: work out the grade points you would need next term to reach the GPA you want.
Do it instantly
Skip the arithmetic with the GPA Calculator, and use the Grade Calculator to work out the score you need on a final.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my GPA?
Convert each grade to points (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0), multiply each by the course's credits, add them up, and divide by total credits. Three credits of A and four of B is (3x4 + 4x3) / 7 = about 3.43.
How do I convert a percentage to GPA?
Map each percentage to a grade point first: commonly 90-100% = 4.0, 80-89% = 3.0, 70-79% = 2.0, 60-69% = 1.0, below 60% = 0. Then weight by credits and average as usual. Use your school's cutoffs if they differ.
What is a good GPA?
On a 4.0 scale, 3.5 and above is generally strong, and many programs look for 3.0 or higher. It depends on the context.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted tops out at 4.0. Weighted gives extra points for honours or advanced classes, often up to 5.0.
How do credits affect my GPA?
Each grade is weighted by its credits, so a grade in a higher-credit course counts more toward your average, and is the fastest place to raise it.