How GPA is calculated
Each letter grade is worth grade points. Multiply a course’s grade points by its credit hours to get its quality points, add up the quality points, and divide by the total credit hours.
GPA = Σ(grade points × credit hours) ÷ Σ credit hours
The two scales
The default is the whole-letter scale from Florida law, which gives 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0 for A to F [1]. The plus/minus option uses the table one university registrar publishes [2]. It has no A+ and no D−, and the calculator offers only the grades that table lists.
| Letter | Whole letters | Plus/minus |
|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| A- | — | 3.67 |
| B+ | — | 3.33 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| B- | — | 2.67 |
| C+ | — | 2.33 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| C- | — | 1.67 |
| D+ | — | 1.33 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Schools set their own GPA scales and rules. Check your school’s policy before relying on a result.
Example: plus/minus scale
- English: B+ = 3.33 × 3 credits = 9.99 quality points
- Biology: A- = 3.67 × 4 credits = 14.68 quality points
- Calculus: B = 3.0 × 4 credits = 12 quality points
- History: A = 4.0 × 3 credits = 12 quality points
- Total: 9.99 + 14.68 + 12 + 12 = 48.67 quality points over 14 credits
- GPA: 48.67 ÷ 14 = 3.48
Example: whole letters
The same courses with B, A, B, A and no plus or minus:
- Quality points: 3 × 3 + 4 × 4 + 3 × 4 + 4 × 3 = 49 over 14 credits
- GPA: 49 ÷ 14 = 3.50
Questions
Is this a weighted or unweighted GPA?
Unweighted: an A is worth the same whether the course is standard, honors or AP. Weighted GPAs add extra points for advanced courses under rules set by a school, district or state; Florida, for example, has a state weighted system for honors and acceleration courses [1]. This calculator does not apply those.
Which scale should I choose?
How do I work out a semester GPA versus a cumulative GPA?
A semester GPA uses one term’s courses. For a cumulative GPA, add the total quality points and the total credits from every term, then divide: total points ÷ total credits. The working under the result shows both totals, so you can combine terms even if you have more than 12 courses.
Why do credit hours matter?
A 4-credit course counts four times as much as a 1-credit course. Each grade is multiplied by its credits before the totals are divided.
What about pass/fail or withdrawn courses?
Schools differ on whether they count. If your school leaves a course out of GPA, leave its row blank.