What is the difference between a 4.0 and 4.3 GPA scale?

The 4.0 scale caps at 4.0 for both A and A+ grades. The 4.3 scale awards 4.3 for an A+, 4.0 for an A, and 3.7 for an A-. The 4.3 scale is used by many Canadian universities and some US institutions. The practical difference is that the 4.3 scale rewards students who earn A+ grades with a higher GPA than those who earn plain A grades.

GPA Scale Converter — Free Online 2026

Universal Converter

GPA Scale Converter

Convert GPA between any two international scales instantly. Supports 4.0, 4.3, 5.0, 7.0, 10.0, 20.0, percentage, and letter grades. See equivalents across all scales at once.

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Universal GPA Equivalency Table

Letter	Pct %	4.0	4.3	5.0	7.0 (AU)	10.0 (IN)	20.0 (FR)
A+	97-100	4.0	4.3	5.0	7.0	10.0	18-20
A	93-96	4.0	4.0	4.8	7.0	9.5	16-17
A-	90-92	3.7	3.7	4.5	6.5	9.0	15
B+	87-89	3.3	3.3	4.2	6.0	8.5	14
B	83-86	3.0	3.0	3.8	5.5	8.0	13
B-	80-82	2.7	2.7	3.5	5.0	7.5	12
C+	77-79	2.3	2.3	3.2	4.5	7.0	11
C	73-76	2.0	2.0	2.8	4.0	6.0	10
C-	70-72	1.7	1.7	2.5	3.5	5.5	9
D+	67-69	1.3	1.3	2.2	3.0	5.0	8
D	63-66	1.0	1.0	1.8	2.5	4.5	7
D-	60-62	0.7	0.7	1.5	2.0	4.0	6
F	<60	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0-5

How to Convert GPA Between Different Scales

GPA scales vary widely across countries and institutions. The US uses 4.0, Canada uses 4.0 or 4.3, Australian universities grade on a 7-point scale, India uses 10-point CGPA, and France grades on a 20-point scale. When you apply to a school or job in another country, you need to translate your GPA into a number the recipient can understand. The conversion process works by finding a common reference point — usually percentage — and then mapping that percentage to the target scale.

General Conversion Formula:
Target GPA = (Source GPA ÷ Source Max) × Target Max

Example: Convert 6.0 on the Australian 7-point scale to US 4.0
Target GPA = (6.0 ÷ 7.0) × 4.0 = 3.43

More precise method (via percentage):
1. Find percentage from source: 6.0/7.0 = Distinction = ~75%
2. Map 75% to US 4.0: 73-76% = C = 2.0

Note: The linear formula gives 3.43, but the percentage-mapped result is 2.0 because Australian grades have different distributions. Always check the equivalency table for accuracy.

The example above shows why a simple linear formula can be misleading. Australian grading is more compressed than US grading, so a Distinction (6.0/7.0) does not carry the same percentile meaning as a 3.43/4.0 in the US. Our converter uses percentage-based mapping for more accurate cross-scale results. For specific Indian CGPA conversions, our CGPA to GPA calculator provides university-specific tables.

Understanding Each GPA Scale

US 4.0 Scale

The most widely recognized scale globally. An A earns 4.0 quality points, B earns 3.0, C earns 2.0, D earns 1.0, and F earns 0.0. Many schools add plus/minus modifiers (A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3). This is the baseline scale most international conversions target.

Canadian 4.3 Scale

Similar to the US 4.0 but awards 4.3 for an A+. This means students with A+ grades get a measurably higher GPA than those with plain A grades. Not all Canadian schools use 4.3 — some use 4.0, and Quebec uses a completely different R-score system. Always verify which scale your Canadian institution uses.

Australian 7-Point Scale

Used by most Australian universities, this scale runs from 0 to 7. High Distinction (HD) is 7, Distinction (D) is 6, Credit (CR) is 5, Pass (P) is 4, and Fail is 0. The percentage boundaries are: HD = 80%+, D = 70-79%, CR = 60-69%, P = 50-59%. Our Australia GPA calculator handles WAM-specific conversions for Australian students.

Indian 10-Point Scale

Indian universities use a 10-point CGPA scale. The standard conversion to US GPA is (CGPA / 10) × 4. A CGPA of 8.0 becomes 3.2 on the US scale. CBSE converts CGPA to percentage using the formula: Percentage = CGPA × 9.5. Different universities (Anna, VTU, Mumbai) have slightly different grade bands. Our percentage to GPA calculator handles these variations.

French 20-Point Scale

The French system is intentionally strict. Scores above 16 are considered exceptional, and a 10/20 (50%) is a passing grade. Most French students score between 10 and 15. A 14/20 is roughly equivalent to a US B+/A-. When converting, remember that French grading expectations are fundamentally different from US or Australian expectations.

US Weighted 5.0 Scale

Used primarily in American high schools, the weighted 5.0 scale rewards students who take Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Honors-level courses. On this scale, an A in a regular course earns 4.0, an A in an Honors course earns 4.5, and an A in an AP or IB course earns 5.0. This means a student taking mostly AP courses could have a GPA above 4.0, which is impossible on the standard unweighted scale. Colleges typically recalculate weighted GPAs to the unweighted 4.0 scale when comparing applicants from different high schools, since weighting systems vary between school districts.

Pro Tip: When including converted GPAs on applications, always list both your original score and the converted equivalent with the scale identified. Example: “GPA: 6.0/7.0 (Australian), equivalent to 3.43/4.0 (US).” This prevents confusion and shows awareness of both systems. Use our GPA calculator to verify your overall US GPA if you already have US course grades.

Common Conversion Mistakes to Avoid

Using only linear conversion: Dividing by the source max and multiplying by the target max ignores that grading distributions differ between countries. A “pass” in Australia is 50%, while a “pass” in the US (D) is 60%. Linear math alone distorts these differences. Use percentage-based conversion for better accuracy.
Assuming all 4.0 scales are identical: US 4.0, Canadian 4.0, and some Caribbean 4.0 scales have different percentage-to-grade mappings. In some Canadian schools, 85% is an A, while in the US standard it is 90%+. Always check the specific scale, not just the top number.
Treating the French 20-point scale like a percentage: A 14/20 is not 70% in the same sense as a US 70%. The French scale is designed so that most good students score 12-15. Converting 14/20 directly to “70% = C” grossly undervalues the French score. A 14/20 is closer to a US B+ or A-.
Forgetting weighted vs unweighted GPA: The 5.0 scale is a weighted scale used in US high schools for AP/IB courses. A 4.5 on a weighted 5.0 scale is not the same as a 4.5 on a hypothetical 5.0 unweighted scale. Always clarify which scale type you are converting from. Our grade converter handles both weighted and unweighted inputs.

Common Mistake: Self-converting your GPA when the target university requires a WES or NACES evaluation. Many US graduate programs explicitly state they require a credential evaluation from an approved agency. Submitting a self-converted number when an official evaluation is required can delay or disqualify your application. Check the admissions page before spending time on manual conversions.

Example: Mei has a 14.5/20 GPA from a French engineering school and applies to a US MBA program. A naive linear conversion gives (14.5/20) × 4 = 2.9 GPA, which looks below the 3.0 minimum. But mapping 14.5/20 through the French grading context, this equals roughly 87% effort, which maps to B+/A- = 3.3-3.7 GPA on the US scale. Mei includes both numbers on her application and submits a WES evaluation that confirms a 3.4 equivalent.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert a 4.0 GPA to a 7-point scale?

Multiply by 7/4 (1.75). A 4.0 GPA becomes 7.0, a 3.0 becomes 5.25, and a 2.0 becomes 3.5 on the Australian scale. For more accurate results, use percentage-based mapping since the grade bands differ between systems. Enter your value above and select the scales to convert instantly.

What is a 3.5 GPA on a 10-point scale?

A 3.5 US GPA converts to approximately 8.75 on the Indian 10-point scale using (GPA / 4) × 10. This falls in the A+ range in most Indian systems. On the CBSE percentage scale, this equals roughly 83% (8.75 × 9.5 = 83.1%).

How do I convert Australian GPA to US GPA?

Multiply by 4/7 (0.571). A 7.0 Australian GPA = 4.0 US, 6.0 = 3.43, 5.0 = 2.86. For more accuracy, map through percentage first: Australian D (6.0) = 70-79% range, which maps to C+ (2.3) on the US Plus/Minus scale. Linear and percentage-based results differ because grading standards differ.

What is the French 20-point scale?

The French system grades 0-20, with 10 as passing. Scores above 16 are exceptional and rare. A 14/20 is roughly a US B+/A-. The scale is intentionally strict: most good students score 12-15. Do not treat it as a percentage — a 14/20 is not equivalent to a US 70%.

What is the difference between 4.0 and 4.3 GPA scales?

The 4.0 scale gives both A and A+ a value of 4.0. The 4.3 scale awards 4.3 for A+, 4.0 for A, and 3.7 for A-. The 4.3 scale is common at Canadian universities and rewards A+ performance with a higher number. Below A-, both scales are identical.

Can I convert between any two GPA scales accurately?

Conversions are always approximate because grading standards differ between countries. Our converter uses percentage as a common reference point for the most widely accepted approximation. For official applications, credential evaluation services like WES provide verified conversions that universities trust.

How do I convert a letter grade to a GPA number?

On the US 4.0 scale: 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, D- = 0.7, F = 0.0. On the 4.3 scale, A+ = 4.3. Select “Letter Grade” as your source scale above.

What GPA scale does the UK use?

The UK uses percentage-based degree classifications rather than a GPA scale: First (70%+), 2:1 (60-69%), 2:2 (50-59%), Third (40-49%), Fail (<40%). When converting: First ≈ 3.7-4.0 US GPA, 2:1 ≈ 3.0-3.6, 2:2 ≈ 2.0-2.9. Select “Percentage” as your source scale for UK conversions.

How does the 5.0 GPA scale work?

The 5.0 weighted scale is used in US high schools with AP/IB/Honors courses. Regular A = 4.0, Honors A = 4.5, AP/IB A = 5.0. This rewards students for taking challenging courses. Colleges typically recalculate to unweighted 4.0 for comparison purposes.

Should I convert my GPA for international applications?

Yes. Include both your original GPA and the converted equivalent. Format: “GPA: 6.0/7.0 (Australian), equivalent to 3.43/4.0 (US).” Some universities require official WES or ECE evaluations instead of self-converted scores. Always check the specific program’s admissions requirements first.