GPA Calculator
Calculate your grade point average, weighted by credit hours.
Updates as you type.
What Is a GPA and How Is It Calculated?
Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is a single number that summarises your academic performance across all the courses you have taken. Each letter grade is mapped to a numeric value called a grade point, and each course is weighted by the number of credit hours (or units) it carries. A 4-credit course therefore influences your GPA twice as much as a 2-credit course.
The standard GPA formula is:
GPA = Σ(grade points × credit hours) ÷ Σ(credit hours)
In plain words: multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, add all of those products together, then divide by the total number of credit hours. The result is a weighted average, usually reported on a 4.0 scale, that reflects both how well you did and how much each course counted.
Because the GPA is weighted by credits, scoring an A in a heavy capstone course lifts your average more than an A in a light elective. This is why understanding the weighting is essential before you try to raise or predict your GPA.
The 4.0 Grade-Point Scale
Most universities in the United States and many international programmes use a 4.0 scale. Letter grades convert to grade points roughly as follows, though exact values vary by institution:
- A / A+ = 4.0
- A− = 3.7
- B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B− = 2.7
- C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C− = 1.7
- D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0
- F = 0.0
Some schools use a simpler whole-number mapping (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0), while others extend to a 4.3 or 5.0 scale for honours and Advanced Placement courses. Always check your registrar's official grading policy, because the same letter grade can carry a slightly different point value from one campus to the next. Enter your own school's values into the calculator for an accurate result.
Worked Example: Calculating GPA Step by Step
Suppose a student completes four courses in a semester:
- Calculus — 4 credits — grade A (4.0)
- English — 3 credits — grade B+ (3.3)
- Chemistry — 4 credits — grade B (3.0)
- History — 2 credits — grade A− (3.7)
Step 1 – Multiply grade points by credits:
Calculus: 4.0 × 4 = 16.0
English: 3.3 × 3 = 9.9
Chemistry: 3.0 × 4 = 12.0
History: 3.7 × 2 = 7.4
Step 2 – Sum the quality points: 16.0 + 9.9 + 12.0 + 7.4 = 45.3
Step 3 – Sum the credits: 4 + 3 + 4 + 2 = 13
Step 4 – Divide: GPA = 45.3 ÷ 13 = 3.48
The student's GPA for the term is 3.48 on a 4.0 scale. Notice that the high-credit A in Calculus pulled the average up strongly, while the 2-credit History grade had the smallest effect.
Weighted vs Unweighted and Cumulative GPA
An unweighted GPA treats every course on the same 4.0 maximum, regardless of difficulty. A weighted GPA awards bonus points for advanced courses — for example an A in an AP or honours class may count as 5.0 instead of 4.0 — which is why some students report GPAs above 4.0.
To find your cumulative GPA across several semesters, apply the same formula but include every course you have ever taken, summing all quality points and dividing by all credit hours. A common shortcut to combine terms is to track your running total of quality points and total credits each semester, rather than averaging the individual semester GPAs, which would ignore differing credit loads. Use the calculator above to test grade scenarios and see exactly what scores you need to reach a target GPA.
Frequently Asked Questions
On a 4.0 scale, a GPA of 3.5 or above is generally considered very good and competitive for graduate school and scholarships. A 3.0 is solid and meets the minimum for many programmes, while below 2.0 usually risks academic probation. Standards vary by field and institution, so always check the requirements that apply to you.
Use the same formula, GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ(credits), but assign higher grade-point values to advanced courses. For example, count an A in an honours or AP class as 5.0 instead of 4.0. The extra points reward course difficulty, which is why a weighted GPA can exceed 4.0.
Yes. A failing grade counts as 0.0 grade points but still includes the course's credit hours in the denominator, so it lowers your GPA significantly. If you retake the course, many schools replace the F with the new grade, though some average the two attempts. Check your institution's grade-replacement policy.
GPA usually refers to the average for a single term or semester, while CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) is the overall average across all completed terms. Both use the same credit-weighted formula; CGPA simply includes every course you have taken so far rather than just the most recent semester.
Raising a GPA gets harder as you accumulate more credits, because each new course is a smaller share of the total. The fastest gains come from earning high grades in high-credit courses and retaking any failed classes where your school allows grade replacement. Use the calculator to model the grades needed to hit your target.
Credit hours reflect how much time and work a course demands, so weighting ensures heavier courses have a proportionally larger impact on your average. Without weighting, a one-credit seminar would affect your GPA as much as a four-credit lab course, which would not fairly represent your overall academic effort.