GPA Scale
GPA meaning, grading scales, and conversion charts in one place. Compare the 4.0, 5.0 weighted, and 4.3 grading systems. Click any letter grade below to see its GPA value instantly.
GPA Scale Lookup
Select a scale, then click any letter grade to see the GPA points, percentage range, and more.
What Is the 4.0 GPA Scale?
So what is a 4.0 GPA? It is the highest grade point average on the standard unweighted scale, earned by receiving straight A grades. The 4.0 GPA scale assigns a numeric grade point value to every letter grade from A through F. An A earns 4.0 points, a B earns 3.0, a C earns 2.0, a D earns 1.0, and an F earns 0.0. Schools that use plus/minus modifiers add intermediate values — for example, a B+ is 3.3 and an A- is 3.7.
Most US high schools and colleges use this scale as the standard for GPA reporting. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the University of Georgia (UGA), and the University of Washington (UW) all use the standard 4.0 unweighted scale for cumulative GPA, though each applies plus/minus grades slightly differently. The table below shows every grade and its GPA value on the standard scale.
| Letter Grade | GPA Points | Percentage | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97 – 100% | Exceptional |
| A | 4.0 | 93 – 96% | Excellent |
| A- | 3.7 | 90 – 92% | Very Good |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87 – 89% | Good |
| B | 3.0 | 83 – 86% | Above Average |
| B- | 2.7 | 80 – 82% | Satisfactory |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77 – 79% | Average |
| C | 2.0 | 73 – 76% | Adequate |
| C- | 1.7 | 70 – 72% | Below Average |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67 – 69% | Poor |
| D | 1.0 | 63 – 66% | Below Standard |
| D- | 0.7 | 60 – 62% | Marginal Pass |
| F | 0.0 | 0 – 59% | Failing |
GPA Points by Letter Grade (4.0 Scale)
Some schools use a 4.3 scale where A+ earns 4.3 instead of 4.0. This is common at Canadian universities and a few US institutions. Use the lookup tool above to toggle between scales and compare values. To compute your GPA from individual course grades, try our GPA calculator.
Weighted vs Unweighted GPA: What’s the Difference?
An unweighted GPA uses the standard 4.0 maximum for every class regardless of difficulty. A weighted GPA adds extra grade points for honors, AP, and IB courses — typically using a 5.0 scale where an A in an AP class earns 5.0 instead of 4.0. Colleges see both numbers on your high school transcript and consider them differently during admissions.
The distinction matters because a 3.8 weighted GPA and a 3.8 unweighted GPA represent different achievement levels. The weighted version reflects course rigor, while the unweighted version shows raw academic performance. A student with a 4.2 weighted GPA is taking advanced courses; that number is impossible on an unweighted scale.
| Letter Grade | Regular (4.0) | Honors (4.5) | AP/IB (5.0) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Worked Example
Aisha takes 3 regular courses (all A’s) and 2 AP courses (both B’s).
Unweighted GPA: (4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 3.0 + 3.0) / 5 = 18.0 / 5 = 3.60
Weighted GPA: (4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 4.0) / 5 = 20.0 / 5 = 4.00
The weighted scale shows that Aisha’s B’s in AP courses carry the same weight as A’s in regular courses.
Most high school GPA scales use weighting — the 5.0 scale is the standard for schools that offer AP and IB programs. The University of Washington and many selective colleges recalculate your GPA on their own unweighted scale during admissions regardless of what your transcript shows. Use our high school GPA calculator to compute both weighted and unweighted versions, or our weighted grade calculator for individual class grades.
GPA Scales Around the World
GPA scales vary significantly between countries. The US 4.0 scale is just one of many systems used globally. Students applying to international programs or converting foreign grades for US admissions need to understand how these scales relate to each other.
| Country | Scale | Top Grade | Pass Grade | US 4.0 Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 4.0 | A (4.0) | D (1.0) | 4.0 |
| US Weighted | 5.0 | A in AP (5.0) | D (1.0) | N/A |
| Canada | 4.0 or 4.3 | A+ (4.0 or 4.3) | D (1.0) | 4.0 |
| Australia | 7-point | HD (7.0) | P (4.0) | 4.0 |
| India | 10-point CGPA | O (10.0) | P (4.0) | 4.0 |
| United Kingdom | Classification | First (70%+) | Third (40%+) | ~4.0 |
| Germany | 1.0 – 5.0 | 1.0 (best) | 4.0 (pass) | 4.0 |
Australia’s 7-point GPA scale is used at universities including the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and RMIT. A High Distinction (HD) scores 7.0 and maps to a US 4.0, while a Credit (CR) at 5.0 maps to roughly a US 2.7–3.0. India’s 10-point CGPA can be converted to a 4.0 scale using the formula (CGPA / 10) × 4. For more detail on the Australian system, see our Australia GPA calculator.
How Is GPA Calculated?
GPA is calculated by multiplying each course’s grade points by its credit hours, summing all the products, and dividing by total credit hours. This credit-weighted average ensures that a 4-credit course affects your GPA more than a 1-credit course with the same grade.
The Formula
GPA = Σ(Grade Points × Credit Hours) ÷ Σ(Credit Hours)
Where Grade Points come from the GPA scale chart above (A = 4.0, B+ = 3.3, etc.)
Worked Example
Jordan takes three courses this semester:
• English 101 (3 credits, A = 4.0) → 4.0 × 3 = 12.0 quality points
• Chemistry 201 (4 credits, B+ = 3.3) → 3.3 × 4 = 13.2 quality points
• History 150 (3 credits, A- = 3.7) → 3.7 × 3 = 11.1 quality points
Total quality points: 12.0 + 13.2 + 11.1 = 36.3
Total credit hours: 3 + 4 + 3 = 10
GPA: 36.3 ÷ 10 = 3.63
Notice that Jordan’s Chemistry grade (B+ = 3.3) pulls the GPA below a 3.7 because it carries 4 credit hours — the most of any course. A 90% in Chemistry would have earned an A- (3.7) and raised the semester GPA to 3.78. Small percentage differences cross GPA thresholds that matter for Dean’s List, latin honors, and graduate school admissions.
To calculate your own GPA automatically, use our GPA calculator. For combining multiple semesters into a running total, try the cumulative GPA calculator.
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