Blog
Your GPA is the weighted average of your grade points by credit hours. An A (4.0) in a 4-credit class contributes twice as much as an A in a 2-credit class. Here is how to calculate semester GPA, cumulative GPA, and weighted GPA on the 4.0 scale — with worked examples.
| Letter Grade | Grade Points (Standard) | Grade Points (Some Schools) |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 4.3 (rare) |
| A | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Example semester with 5 courses:
| Course | Grade | Grade Points | Credits | Quality Points (GP × Credits) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English 101 | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| Calculus I | B+ | 3.3 | 4 | 13.2 |
| Biology 101 | A- | 3.7 | 4 | 14.8 |
| History 201 | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9.0 |
| Art Elective | A | 4.0 | 2 | 8.0 |
| Totals | 16 | 57.0 |
Semester GPA = 57.0 ÷ 16 = 3.56
| Semester | Credits | Quality Points | Semester GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (from above) | 16 | 57.0 | 3.56 |
| Spring | 15 | 49.5 | 3.30 |
| Cumulative | 31 | 106.5 | 3.44 |
Cumulative GPA = 106.5 ÷ 31 = 3.44. Note: this is NOT the average of 3.56 and 3.30 (which would be 3.43). The fall semester weighs slightly more because it had more credits.
| Current GPA | Credits Done | Target GPA | GPA Needed Over Next 15 Credits | Realistic? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | 30 | 2.5 | 3.75 | ~Possible with strong effort |
| 2.0 | 60 | 2.5 | 4.0 | ✗ Near impossible |
| 2.5 | 30 | 3.0 | 4.0 | ✗ Near impossible |
| 2.5 | 60 | 3.0 | 3.5 (over 60 more credits) | ~Requires consistent B+ average |
| 3.0 | 30 | 3.5 | 4.0 (over 30 credits) | ✗ Straight As required |
| 3.0 | 60 | 3.5 | 4.0 (over 60 credits) | ✗ Straight As required |
| 3.5 | 30 | 3.7 | 4.0 (over 30 credits) | ~Possible, need straight As |
Key insight: The earlier you start performing well, the easier it is to build and maintain a strong GPA. Every low grade in the first two years requires multiple high grades later to compensate.
Weighted GPAs add extra points for advanced courses:
| Course Type | A | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Honors | 4.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| AP/IB | 5.0 | 4.0 | 3.0 |
A student with straight As in all AP courses could have a 5.0 weighted GPA. Colleges look at weighted GPA in context of what courses were available — a 3.8 in all AP classes impresses more than a 4.0 in all regular classes.
Calculate your GPA instantly — enter grades and credits, get your semester and cumulative GPA.
Open GPA Calculator