It depends on the scale and context, but on a 4.0 scale a GPA around 3.5 or above is generally seen as strong. Specific requirements vary by school and programme.

How do +/− grades affect GPA?

Many schools map them to fractional points — A− to 3.7, B+ to 3.3, and so on — which nudges the average up or down.

What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?

Unweighted caps at 4.0 and treats all classes equally; weighted adds points for honors or AP courses, so it can go above 4.0.

How to Calculate Your GPA

Published 10/27/2025 · 3 min read · Everyday calculators

Lena Hoffmann — Science & education writer at Allin

Mathematics · Physics

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In short

GPA (grade point average) is the credit-weighted average of your grade points. Convert each grade to points (commonly A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0), multiply by the course's credits, add these up, and divide by the total credits. Courses graded A (4), B (3) and A (4) worth 3, 4 and 3 credits give (12 + 12 + 12) ÷ 10 = 3.6.

GPA is a weighted average of your grades. Here's how to convert letter grades to points, weight by credits, and work out your overall GPA.

What GPA measures

GPA squeezes a whole transcript into one number that summarizes performance. It is a weighted average, so a grade in a big four-credit course moves it more than the same grade in a one-credit elective. That weighting is what separates GPA from a plain average of your letter grades.

Convert grades to points

Most schools use a 4.0 scale: A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Many also use plus and minus grades, mapping A− to 3.7 and B+ to 3.3, which nudges the average. Honors or AP classes may be graded on a weighted scale that adds 0.5 or 1 point, so always use your own school's exact table.

Weight by credits

Multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, then divide the total by the sum of credits. Say you earn A (4) in a 3-credit class, B (3) in a 4-credit class and A (4) in a 3-credit class: that is 12 + 12 + 12 = 36 quality points over 10 credits, a GPA of 3.6. Bigger courses simply pull harder.

Weighted, unweighted and cumulative

An unweighted GPA caps at 4.0 and treats all courses the same difficulty. A weighted GPA adds points for honors and advanced classes, so it can exceed 4.0 and reward a harder schedule. Your cumulative GPA simply extends the same calculation across every term you have completed, not just one.

GPA calculatorCompute your grade point average from a list of grade points.Try the tool →

Frequently asked questions

What is a good GPA?: It depends on the scale and context, but on a 4.0 scale a GPA around 3.5 or above is generally seen as strong. Specific requirements vary by school and programme.
How do +/− grades affect GPA?: Many schools map them to fractional points — A− to 3.7, B+ to 3.3, and so on — which nudges the average up or down.
What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?: Unweighted caps at 4.0 and treats all classes equally; weighted adds points for honors or AP courses, so it can go above 4.0.

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