How GPA is calculated
Each letter grade has a point value. Multiply that value by the course's credit hours to get grade points, add them up, and divide by the total credits. Courses with more credits count more.
The 4.0 grade scale
| Letter | Points | Letter | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
| A− | 3.7 | C | 2.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | C− | 1.7 |
| B | 3.0 | D+ | 1.3 |
| B− | 2.7 | D | 1.0 |
| — | F | 0.0 |
This is the most common U.S. scale. Some schools give an A+ 4.3, or skip plus and minus grades. Check your school's catalog if your numbers differ.
Worked example
Biology (4 credits, A = 16.0 points), English Composition (3 credits, B+ = 9.9), Calculus I (4 credits, B = 12.0) and U.S. History (3 credits, A− = 11.1) add up to 49.0 grade points over 14 credits. 49.0 ÷ 14 = a semester GPA of 3.50.
Cumulative GPA
To update your overall GPA, combine old and new grade points. Multiply your current GPA by the credits you've already earned, add this term's grade points, and divide by all credits together. Each new term moves the cumulative GPA less as your total credits grow, which is why early semesters matter so much.