How to Calculate Your GPA
Last updated: October 13, 2026
Your GPA, or grade point average, is the average of your grade points, with each class counted by its credit hours. This guide uses the common 4.0 scale. Your school may use a different one, so check its policy before you rely on the result.
Step 1: Turn each letter grade into grade points
On the basic 4.0 scale, an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0, a C is 2.0, a D is 1.0 and an F is 0.0. Many schools also use plus and minus grades. A common version is A− 3.7, B+ 3.3, B− 2.7, C+ 2.3 and so on. See the letter grade scale for a full chart, including how to turn a percentage into a letter first.
| Letter grade | Percentage | Grade points (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90–100% | 4.0 |
| B | 80–89% | 3.0 |
| C | 70–79% | 2.0 |
| D | 60–69% | 1.0 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
Step 2: Multiply by credit hours
Multiply each class’s grade points by its credit hours. A 4-credit class counts more than a 2-credit class, so an A in it lifts your GPA further and a D drags it down further. If every class counts the same, as in many high schools, you can skip this step and count each class once.
Step 3: Add up and divide
GPA = total grade points ÷ total credit hours
Example: English (A, 3 credits), Math (B, 4 credits) and Biology (C, 4 credits).
- English: 4.0 × 3 = 12
- Math: 3.0 × 4 = 12
- Biology: 2.0 × 4 = 8
- Total grade points: 32. Total credits: 11.
- 32 ÷ 11 = 2.91, so your GPA is 2.91
Example where every class counts equally: grades of A, B, B, C and A give 4 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 4 = 16 grade points. 16 ÷ 5 = 3.2.
Weighted GPA for honors, AP and IB classes
Some schools add extra grade points for honors, AP or IB classes. The amount differs by school, often 0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP or IB, which means a weighted GPA can go above 4.0.
| Letter grade | Unweighted | Honors (weighted) | AP or IB (weighted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Example: AP Biology (A, 5.0), Honors English (B, 3.5), Algebra II (A, 4.0) and Spanish (B, 3.0), all equal credit. The grade points add up to 5.0 + 3.5 + 4.0 + 3.0 = 15.5, and 15.5 ÷ 4 = 3.875, so the weighted GPA is 3.88. The unweighted GPA for the same grades is (4 + 3 + 4 + 3) ÷ 4 = 3.5. Your school’s policy decides which one appears on your transcript.
Cumulative GPA
To combine several terms, add up all the grade points and all the credits, then divide. Do not simply average the term GPAs unless every term had the same number of credits.
Example: you have a 3.2 GPA over 30 credits and you earn a 3.6 over 15 new credits. Old grade points are 3.2 × 30 = 96, new grade points are 3.6 × 15 = 54, and (96 + 54) ÷ (30 + 15) = 150 ÷ 45 = 3.33. Your new cumulative GPA is 3.33.
How to raise your GPA
The most useful move depends on how many credits you have already earned. Early on, every class counts for a large share of the total, so one strong semester can lift the number quickly. Later, the same improvement moves it less, because it is averaged against more credits. Two practical checks:
- Work out the target first. Decide the cumulative GPA you want, then solve for the grade points needed from your remaining credits.
- Check retake rules. Some schools replace the old grade when you retake a class and others average the two. The policy changes how much a retake helps.
Special cases
- Pass/fail classes. They usually count for credit but not for GPA, so leave them out of the calculation.
- Withdrawals and incompletes. A W or an I normally has no grade points. Check how your school treats them.
- Rounding. Schools round to two decimals in most cases, but some use one decimal or truncate.
Start with your class grades
A GPA is only as accurate as the letter grades going into it. To find the grade in each class first, use the standard calculator or the college calculator, then turn each percentage into a letter with the letter grade scale.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate GPA with credit hours?
Multiply each class’s grade points by its credit hours, add the results, then divide by the total credit hours. A 4-credit B counts for 12 grade points and a 3-credit A counts for 12.
What is a good GPA?
It depends on the school and the goal. On the 4.0 scale, a 3.0 means a B average, and many scholarships, honors programs and graduate programs set cutoffs around 3.0 to 3.5.
Can a GPA be higher than 4.0?
Yes, but only on a weighted scale that gives extra points for honors, AP or IB classes. An unweighted GPA tops out at 4.0 on the common scale.
Do I average my semester GPAs to get my cumulative GPA?
Only if every semester had the same number of credits. Otherwise add all grade points and all credits across the semesters and divide once.
Calculate it automatically
Paste your gradebook into Grade Calculator and the table fills in on its own. Change any score, or add an upcoming assignment, to see your class grade update.