Grade points on the 4.0 scale
| Letter | A+ | A | A- | B+ | B | B- | C+ | C | C- | D+ | D | D- | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0 |
This is the most common scale in US high schools and colleges. Some schools give an A+ 4.3, and some don't use D- or plus and minus at all.
Worked example
The example rows are English (A), AP Biology (B+), Honors Algebra II (A-) and History (B), one credit each.
- Unweighted: (4.0 + 3.3 + 3.7 + 3.0) ÷ 4 = 3.50
- Weighted, adding 1.0 for AP and 0.5 for honors: (4.0 + 4.3 + 4.2 + 3.0) ÷ 4 = 3.88
Classes with more credits count more. A two-credit A counts twice as much as a one-credit B.
Common questions
- How do I calculate my GPA?
- Turn each letter grade into grade points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0 and so on), multiply by the course's credits, add them up and divide by the total credits. Four one-credit classes with A, B+, A- and B give (4.0 + 3.3 + 3.7 + 3.0) / 4 = 3.5.
- What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
- Unweighted GPA uses the same 4.0 scale for every class. Weighted GPA adds extra points for harder classes, commonly 0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP or IB, so it can go above 4.0.
- Is an A+ worth more than 4.0?
- On most high school and college scales an A+ counts as 4.0, the same as an A. Some schools give 4.3. Check your school's scale.
- Which GPA do colleges look at?
- Colleges see the GPA on your transcript, and many recalculate it their own way. Report the one your school publishes.