How the GPA Calculator Works
Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is a standardized number used by high schools, colleges, and universities to evaluate your academic success. Our calculator uses the standard, unweighted 4.0 scale common in the United States and many international programs.
How to Calculate GPA
Calculating your GPA is not as simple as averaging your letter grades. The calculation is credit-weighted. This means a 4-credit science course with a lab will impact your GPA significantly more than a 1-credit physical education course.
To find your Total Grade Points, each letter grade is converted to a number (e.g., an 'A' becomes 4.0, a 'B' becomes 3.0). You then multiply that number by the credits the course is worth. After doing this for all your classes, you add the grade points together and divide them by your total credits.
Standard 4.0 Grading Scale
This calculator relies on the universally accepted collegiate scale for mapping letters to numbers:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the difference between Unweighted and Weighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA caps your maximum score at 4.0, treating all classes equally in terms of difficulty. A weighted GPA is used by some high schools to reward students for taking advanced classes (like AP or Honors). In a weighted system, an 'A' in an AP class might be worth 5.0 points instead of 4.0.
2. How do Pass/Fail classes affect my GPA?
Generally, a "Pass" grade gives you the required credits to graduate but does not yield any grade points, so it is completely excluded from your GPA calculation. A "Fail," however, often counts as 0 grade points and will severely lower your GPA. You should check your specific university handbook to be sure.