GPA Calculation
A complete guide to how GPA is calculated, with the formula, step-by-step worked examples, and a full grade point reference table.
The GPA formula
รท ฮฃ(Total Credits)
Where "Grade Points" is the numerical value assigned to each letter grade (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, etc.) and "Credits" is the number of credit hours for each course.
Worked example
| Course | Grade | Credits | Points ร Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | A | 3 | 4.0 ร 3 = 12.0 |
| English | B+ | 3 | 3.3 ร 3 = 9.9 |
| History | Aโ | 2 | 3.7 ร 2 = 7.4 |
| Art | Bโ | 1 | 2.7 ร 1 = 2.7 |
| Total | 9 | 32.0 |
Grade point values
| Letter | 4.0 | 5.0 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 4.0 | 5.0 | 93โ100% |
| Aโ | 3.7 | 4.7 | 90โ92% |
| B+ | 3.3 | 4.3 | 87โ89% |
| B | 3.0 | 4.0 | 83โ86% |
| Bโ | 2.7 | 3.7 | 80โ82% |
| C+ | 2.3 | 3.3 | 77โ79% |
| C | 2.0 | 3.0 | 73โ76% |
| Cโ | 1.7 | 2.7 | 70โ72% |
| D+ / D / Dโ | 0.7โ1.3 | 1.7โ2.3 | 60โ69% |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0โ59% |
Use our GPA Calculator to calculate your GPA automatically โ just enter your courses, credits, and grades.
GPA Calculation in Depth
Grade Point Average (GPA) was developed in the early 20th century as a standardised way to summarise a student's academic performance across multiple courses with different difficulty levels and credit values. The system assigns a numerical point value to each letter grade, weights those values by credit hours, and produces a single number between 0.0 and 4.0 (or 0.0 and 5.0 in some weighted systems).
Step-by-Step GPA Calculation
- List all your courses from the semester or term you're calculating.
- Find the credit hours for each course. These are listed on your transcript or course catalogue.
- Convert each letter grade to grade points using the table above (e.g., A = 4.0, B+ = 3.3).
- Multiply grade points by credit hours for each course to get quality points.
- Sum all quality points and sum all credit hours.
- Divide total quality points by total credit hours. The result is your GPA.
Cumulative GPA Calculation
Cumulative GPA works the same way, but includes every course you've ever taken. When you add a new semester, you simply add the new semester's total quality points to your running total and divide by the new total credit hours.
Semester GPA = quality points this term รท credits this term
Cumulative GPA = total quality points (all terms) รท total credits (all terms)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are courses weighted by credit hours?
A 4-credit course requires significantly more work than a 1-credit seminar. If both were counted equally, one excellent grade in a 1-credit course could disproportionately boost your GPA, while a poor grade in a rigorous 4-credit course would be unfairly diluted. Credit-hour weighting ensures that courses contribute to your GPA in proportion to how much of your academic load they represent.
Do pass/fail courses count toward GPA?
Usually no โ most institutions exclude P/F courses from GPA calculations. A "Pass" earns credit hours toward graduation but contributes zero grade points in either direction. A "Fail," however, may count as 0.0 grade points at some institutions, depending on their academic policy. Always check your school's specific rules before taking a course pass/fail.
How do I calculate a GPA from percentage grades?
First, convert each percentage to a letter grade using the standard scale (e.g., 90โ92% = Aโ), then convert the letter grade to grade points (Aโ = 3.7). From there, apply the standard formula. If your grading system doesn't use letter grades, use the percentage directly โ divide your percentage by 25 to approximate a 4.0-scale equivalent (e.g., 88% รท 25 โ 3.52).