GPA Calculator
Skip the manual arithmetic and calculate your own numbers.
The basic GPA formula
For an unweighted GPA, letter grades are converted to grade points. A common 4.0 scale uses A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1 and F = 0. Schools may use plus/minus values or a different scale.
Quality points are the grade points for a course multiplied by the number of credits for that course.
Example with equal-credit classes
If every class has the same credit value, you can average the grade-point values directly. For example, grades worth 4.0, 3.0, 3.0 and 2.0 points add to 12. Dividing by four classes gives a 3.0 GPA.
This shortcut only works cleanly when the classes have equal weight.
Example with different credit hours
Suppose you earn an A in a 4-credit course and a B in a 2-credit course. The A produces 16 quality points and the B produces 6 quality points, for a total of 22. Divide 22 by the 6 total credits to get about 3.67.
The 4-credit course affects the GPA more because it represents a larger share of the total credits.
Weighted GPA
Some schools add extra grade points for honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or other advanced classes. There is no single national weighted-GPA formula, so the weighting system should be checked against the school or district policy.
A weighted GPA can therefore exceed 4.0 even though the unweighted GPA cannot on a standard 4.0 scale.
Semester GPA vs. cumulative GPA
A semester GPA uses only the courses in one term. A cumulative GPA combines quality points and attempted credits from multiple terms. To update a cumulative GPA correctly, combine total quality points rather than simply averaging two GPA numbers when the terms contain different numbers of credits.
Common GPA mistakes
- Averaging letter grades without considering credit hours.
- Assuming every school uses exactly the same plus/minus scale.
- Mixing weighted and unweighted grade points.
- Averaging semester GPAs when the semesters have different credit totals.
- Ignoring school rules for repeated courses, pass/fail classes or withdrawn courses.
Frequently asked questions
How do credit hours affect GPA?
Multiply each course grade-point value by its credits. A higher-credit course contributes more quality points and therefore has more influence on the GPA.
Can a GPA be above 4.0?
An unweighted GPA on a standard 4.0 scale generally cannot exceed 4.0, but weighted systems can assign extra points to advanced courses.
Should I average semester GPAs to get a cumulative GPA?
Only if the semesters have the same total credits. The more reliable method is to combine total quality points and total attempted credits.