Quick Answer: To find the Grade Point Average (GPA) of your grades, you need to convert each letter grade into its point value on an average 4.0 scale (for instance A = 4.0 and B = 3.0 and C is 2.0). Then, divide each points value by the number of credits required for the course to determine your quality point. In the end, add all of your points of quality together and divide the result by the total amount of credits you have attempted.
Knowing your academic performance is an essential aspect of getting through college and high school. Graduation Point Average also known as GPA is the standard gauge of your academic performance. The colleges use this score to decide if they will accept you and scholarship committees assess the GPA to determine if they will award financial aid.
Many students are unable to comprehend the process of making their GPA calculable challenging. With different scales for grading credits hours, grading scales, or course load weights converting the letter transcript into one number can seem like a complicated math problem. But once you break it down into smaller steps, keeping track of your academic standing becomes extremely easy.
This guide will guide you through how exactly to determine your GPA, know the distinction between scores that are weighted and unweighted and utilize electronic tools that make the process of grading easy. No matter if you’re trying to make an honor roll spot or trying to get on the right path to graduation, understanding the art of GPA calculations is a crucial first step to getting your academic goals met.
What is a Grade Point Average (GPA)?
A Grade Point average is an indicator of a student’s academic progress over a particular semester or over the course of their education. The majority of schools across the United States use a 4.0 scale. In this scale, the most affluent score that can be obtained is 4.0 that is equivalent to the “A” Letter grade.
To calculate your GPA you must first understand how raw scores translate to letters grades. If you have an unofficial result from an exam, and you want to determine the percentage, study how to calculate percents for grades. Once you know the percentage you want, translate the percentage to an alphabet grade as well as an GPA points value.
In accordance with the standard US academic scales of grading that are used, percentages usually correspond to GPA points in the form of:
- 93 100 % (A): 4.0 points (A): 4.0 points
- 90 92% – percent (A+): 3.7 points
- 87 percent – 89 percent (B+): 3.3 points
- 83% – 86% (B): 3.0 points
- 80 82 percent (B–): 2.7 points
- 73 percent – 76 73% – 76.6% (C): 2.0 points
- 60 percent (D): 1.0 point (D): 1.0 point
- Lower than 60 percent (F): 0.0 points
How do you determine your GPA unweighted?
Calculating your weighted GPA will require a few elementary maths steps. GPAs that are not weighted do not take into account the difficulty of the course. A “A” for a fundamental elective is given the same importance that one who earns an “A” in a more Advanced Science course.
First step: convert your letter grades to point value. Look at your grades at present and assign a number to each of them by using the 4.0 scale described above. Step 2: Calculate what your “quality points” are. Multiply the points of the grade by the amount of credit hours that the course is worth. For instance, if you received the grade of “B” (3.0 points) in a math class that is 3 credits class Your quality points for the class would be 9.0.
3. Calculate the total quality points and credits. Add up all the quality points you have earned in all of your classes. After that, add all the credit hours that you tried to complete.
step 4: Divide the sums. Divide your total quality points by the number of credit hours. The resultant number will be your grade point average.
If performing this manual math is too tedious and time-consuming, then you could always make use of the digital calculator. Teachers and students seeking to convert test results into grades, it is recommended to use the EZ Grader tool gives an instant accurate and precise grading chart that can save hours of manual math.
How to Calculate Your Cumulative GPA
A cumulative GPA displays your grades in several semesters. The cumulative GPA includes grades and credit hours from all term(s), unlike a semester GPA, which includes grades and credit hours for one term.
The way to determine the cumulative GPA is to multiply each semester’s GPA by the credit hours earned for that semester. Total all the quality points from the semesters and divide the total by the sum of the credit hours obtained in all the semesters.
Formula:
Cumulative GPA = Total Quality Points ÷ Total Credit Hours
Example:
Suppose you earned a 3.0 GPA in your first semester with 15 credit hours and a 3.6 GPA in your second semester with another 15 credit hours.
- First semester: 3.0 × 15 = 45 quality points
- Second semester: 3.6 × 15 = 54 quality points
- Total quality points: 45 + 54 = 99
- Total credit hours: 15 + 15 = 30
Your cumulative GPA would be:
99 ÷ 30 = 3.30 GPA
This can be done easily with a cumulative GPA calculator, which will add up your semester grades and credit hours. A point of clarification, if you use the grading system of your institution, you should add all completed coursework that is applicable to your result for the most accurate result.
How to Calculate Your GPA from Marks
If you have an idea of what you might have scored on your exams you can estimate your GPA. But it will rely on your school’s or university’s grading scale as the same percentage can match different grade points at different schools.
Step 1: Calculate your percentage
- Divide the marks you earned by the total possible marks and multiply the result by 100.
- Percentage = (Marks Earned ÷ Total Marks) × 100
- For example, if you scored 450 out of 500 marks, your percentage would be 90%.
Step 2: Convert your percentage into grade points
Refer to your own institution’s letter grade/grade point conversion for your percentage to letter grade and GPA points. For instance, if your college or university gives you 3.7 points for a 90% grade, then you should use the 3.7 as your grade point.
Step 3: Calculate your GPA
If all courses are weighted equally with the same number of credit hours, then the GPA can be found by totaling up the grade points from all courses, and dividing by the number of courses. If different courses are different credit hours, for each course multiply the grade point by the credit hours, sum all the quality points, and divide by the sum of all the credit hours.
Example:
Suppose your three courses have grade points of 4.0, 3.7, and 3.0, and all three courses carry equal credit hours.
GPA = (4.0 + 3.7 + 3.0) ÷ 3 = 3.57
Calculating your GPA from marks becomes easier when you know your institution’s grading scale and course credit hours. You can also use a GPA calculator to simplify the process and check your results.
How to Calculate Your GPA in High School and University
The first step to computing a GPA in high school or college is to convert the grades into grade points. The method will, however, change depending on the grading system, credits for your course and the weighted/unweighted GPA system used by your school.
For high school students:Review your grade sheet and use your school’s grading scale to convert your letter grades to their corresponding grade points. Your school may give you extra points for taking Honors, AP, or IB courses if you take these courses in order to calculate a weighted GPA.
For university students: Review your grade points for each course and multiply by the credit hours for each course. Sum the number of quality points for all courses and divide by the number of credit hours.
Example:
Suppose a university student earns a 3.0 grade point in a three-credit course and a 4.0 grade point in a four-credit course.
- First course: 3.0 × 3 = 9 quality points
- Second course: 4.0 × 4 = 16 quality points
- Total quality points: 25
- Total credit hours: 7
GPA = 25 ÷ 7 = 3.57
Whether you are learning how to calculate GPA in high school or university, always follow your institution’s official grading scale. This helps you get a more accurate result and understand your academic performance.
How do you determine your GPA prior to the semester’s end
Students are often interested in knowing where they are prior to the time when final exams start. Calculating your GPA earlier allows you to discern which classes require additional study and which classes you can pass with ease.
If your course is nearly completed, but you’ve not yet taken your final exams but, you may still assess your final score. It is important to know your grade percentage and the weight the final exam has in the syllabus for your course. For a step-by-step guide to the process, read our article on how to calculate your semester Grade without the Final.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Grade is a 75?
In the standard academic scales for grading generally, a score of 75% is the “C” Letter grade. This is typically the equivalent of a 2.0 in the GPA points scale. For a more thorough explanation of this particular score and the impact it has on your transcript, refer to What grade is 75?.
What is a 15/20 Grade?
A score of 15/20 equals 75 percentage. Calculate this by dividing 15 times 20 which yields 0.75 after which you multiply 100. As previously mentioned 75% is typically considered a “C” Letter grade. Learn more about this particular fraction by going to What’s a 15/20 grade?.
What is the reason colleges are looking at GPAs with no weighting?
Colleges accept applications from a multitude of high schools. Each school weights grades in a different way. When looking at the weighted GPA, admissions officers are able to examine each applicant on a playing field, and ensure that an overall 4.0 scale means the same thing for a person who lives in New York as it does for students in California.
Can my GPA change after I graduate?
No. When you complete high college or school the final cumulative GPA will be a permanent record on your academic transcript at the specific school. If you decide to pursue higher education, for example, master’s degrees then you’ll start with a an entirely new GPA for the program you are pursuing.
Last thoughts
Calculating your GPA doesn’t have to be a difficult task. If you are able to comprehend the 4.0 scale as well as keeping an eye on your course credits and separating out unweighted or weighted grade, it is possible to gain complete control over the course of your education.
Do not wait until close in the term to know what your score is, monitor your performance throughout the course of the year. Use online calculators and tools to prevent manual arithmetic errors and let you take a shorter time calculating numbers and focusing on your academics.