Education · Quick Answer
How is GPA calculated?
GPA = sum of (grade points × credit hours) / total credit hours. On a 4.0 scale: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0. Weighted GPAs add 0.5-1.0 for AP or honors courses.
The formula
GPA = Σ (grade points × credits) / Σ credits
Standard 4.0 scale
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Worked example
Four classes, all 3 credits: A, B+, A−, C
- (4.0×3) + (3.3×3) + (3.7×3) + (2.0×3) = 12 + 9.9 + 11.1 + 6 = 39.0
- Divide by total credits (12): 3.25 GPA
Weighted vs. unweighted
Weighted GPA adds 0.5-1.0 for honors or AP/IB classes, so it can exceed 4.0. Colleges usually recalculate to an unweighted scale for admission comparisons.