How to use the GPA calculator
- Add a row for each course with its letter grade and credits (or credit hours).
- Set the course type to Honors or AP/IB if your school gives extra weight.
- To update your overall GPA, enter your current cumulative GPA and the credits already completed.
The formula
Quality points = Grade points × Credits (for each course) GPA = Total quality points ÷ Total credits Weighted GPA = uses grade points + 0.5 (honors) or + 1.0 (AP/IB) Cumulative GPA = (Old GPA × Old credits + New quality points) ÷ All credits
Worked example
| Course | Grade | Points | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| Math | B+ | 3.3 | 4 | 13.2 |
| History | A− | 3.7 | 3 | 11.1 |
| Total | 10 | 36.3 |
GPA = 36.3 ÷ 10 = 3.63. If English were an AP class, its weighted points would be 5.0, giving a weighted GPA of 3.93.
Standard 4.0 grade scale
| Letter | Percent (typical) | Grade points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 93–100 | 4.0 |
| A− | 90–92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89 | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86 | 3.0 |
| B− | 80–82 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79 | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76 | 2.0 |
| C− | 70–72 | 1.7 |
| D+ / D / D− | 60–69 | 1.3 / 1.0 / 0.7 |
| F | below 60 | 0.0 |
Percentage cut-offs vary between schools; the grade points are the most widely used US values.
How to raise your GPA
- Focus on high-credit courses: a grade in a 4-credit class moves your GPA more than the same grade in a 1-credit class.
- Use grade replacement if your school allows retaking a course to replace a low grade.
- Plan your load: balance hard classes across terms rather than stacking them.
- Remember the math: the more credits you have, the slower your cumulative GPA changes, so early terms matter most.
Weighted GPA and college admissions
Colleges see both your grades and the rigor of your courses. Many recalculate GPA using their own method — some strip out weighting, some count only core academic classes. Taking AP, IB or honors classes can show challenge even when an admissions office uses unweighted grades, and the College Board notes that schools look at your transcript as a whole rather than a single number.
Quarter vs semester credits
Colleges on a quarter system award fewer credits per course than semester schools: one semester credit equals 1.5 quarter credits. GPA itself isn’t affected — it’s an average — but when you combine grades from two schools for a cumulative GPA, convert all credits to the same system first. High schools often count a full-year course as 1 credit and a semester course as 0.5; enter whatever your school uses, as long as you are consistent.
GPA outside the US
Many countries don’t use GPA. UK degrees use classifications (First, 2:1, 2:2), Canada varies by province and university (some use 4.0, 4.3 or percentage scales), and India commonly uses a 10-point CGPA. Applications to US universities usually ask for a credential evaluation (for example from WES or ECE) rather than a do-it-yourself conversion.