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EducationYour GPA — grade point average — is the single number most people use to summarize your academic performance. Colleges, scholarship committees, and even some employers read it first. The good news: the math behind it is just one weighted average, and once you see the formula, you can calculate it yourself in minutes.
This guide walks through the exact GPA formula, shows a worked example, and clears up the quirks — plus/minus grades, credit hours, and what "weighted" means.
Try it yourself: Punch in your grades and credit hours to get your exact GPA instantly. GPA Calculator →
The GPA formula
Every course earns you grade points: its grade value multiplied by its credit hours. Add up all grade points, divide by all credit hours, and you have your GPA.
GPA = Σ (grade points × credit hours) ÷ Σ (credit hours)
Step 1: convert grades to points
On the standard 4.0 scale used by most US schools, letter grades convert like this:
| Grade | Points | Typical % |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 93–100 |
| A− | 3.7 | 90–92 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89 |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86 |
| B− | 2.7 | 80–82 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79 |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76 |
| D | 1.0 | 65–69 |
| F | 0.0 | Below 65 |
Scales vary — some schools don't use plus/minus, and some countries use entirely different scales — so always check your school's own conversion.
Step 2: weight by credit hours
Not all courses count equally. A 4-credit chemistry class affects your GPA more than a 1-credit gym class. Multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, then divide the total by your total credit hours.
Worked example
| Course | Grade | Points | Credits | Grade pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | B | 3.0 | 4 | 12.0 |
| English | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| History | B+ | 3.3 | 3 | 9.9 |
| PE | A | 4.0 | 1 | 4.0 |
Total grade points = 37.9. Total credits = 11. GPA = 37.9 ÷ 11 = 3.45. Notice the B in chemistry (4 credits) pulls harder than the A in PE (1 credit) — that is the weighting at work.
What about pass/fail courses?
Pass/fail or "credit/no credit" courses generally do not affect your GPA — they count toward credits earned but are left out of the GPA math entirely. That makes them useful for exploring hard subjects, but they won't raise a GPA either.
Term GPA vs. cumulative GPA
Term GPA covers one semester — the calculation above. Cumulative GPA applies the same formula across every graded course you've ever taken at the school. Cumulative is the number on your transcript and the one that matters for graduation, scholarships, and graduate school.
Frequently asked questions
Each letter grade converts to points (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0). Multiply each grade's points by the course's credit hours, add those totals together, then divide by total credit hours. That weighted average is your GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Usually not. Most schools treat A+ and A as 4.0 on an unweighted scale. Some weighted scales award 4.3 for A+, and some AP/honors systems go to 5.0. Check your school's grading policy — it varies.
Yes — an F counts as 0.0 points in your GPA calculation unless your school has a grade-forgiveness policy where a retaken course replaces the F. Even with forgiveness, the failed attempt may still appear on your transcript.
A 3.0 is generally considered good and satisfies most graduation and internship requirements. Many graduate programs and competitive employers look for 3.5 and above. Context matters — a 3.4 in engineering carries different weight than in other fields.
Disclaimer: Grading scales and policies vary by school and country. Confirm your school's specific grade-point conversion and credit rules before making academic decisions.