Semester GPA
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select grades to calculate
Total credits
—
counted this semester
Quality points
—
grade points × credits
Scale
4.0
standard US scale
Courses
How the GPA Calculator Works
The formula
Every letter grade maps to grade points on the standard US 4.0 scale — A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0, with plus/minus steps of 0.3 in between. Each course contributes its grade points multiplied by its credit hours (its quality points), and your GPA is total quality points ÷ total credits. A 3-credit A and a 4-credit B therefore give (4.0×3 + 3.0×4) ÷ 7 = 3.43.
Weighted grades
Many high schools reward harder courses with bonus points: +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP or IB classes, so an A in AP Calculus counts as 5.0 instead of 4.0. Switch to the weighted scale and tag each course to see this. Failing grades never receive a bonus, and colleges usually recalculate an unweighted GPA anyway — so check both numbers.
Cumulative GPA
Your cumulative GPA combines all semesters, weighted by credits. Enable the cumulative option and enter your prior GPA and total completed credits; the calculator merges this semester in using credit weighting, so a heavy semester moves your cumulative GPA more than a light one.
Frequently asked questions
How is GPA calculated?
Each letter grade maps to grade points on the 4.0 scale (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0). Multiply each course's grade points by its credits to get quality points, add them up, and divide by the total credits: GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA treats every course the same on the 4.0 scale. A weighted GPA adds a bonus for harder courses — typically +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP or IB — so an A in an AP class counts as 5.0. Weighted GPAs can therefore exceed 4.0. Failing grades receive no bonus.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA?
Combine your previous GPA with this semester using credit weighting: multiply your prior GPA by your prior credits, add this semester's quality points, and divide by the combined total credits. Enable the cumulative option in this calculator and enter your prior GPA and credits to see it automatically.
What is a good GPA?
It depends on context. Nationally, the average high school GPA is around 3.0. Many universities expect 3.5+ for competitive admissions, and 3.7+ (mostly A grades) is considered excellent. For college students, staying above 3.0 keeps most scholarship and graduate school options open.
Do pass/fail courses affect GPA?
Usually not. Most schools exclude pass/fail (credit/no-credit) courses from the GPA calculation — you earn the credits, but no grade points. Leave such courses out of this calculator, or check your school's policy since some count a fail as an F.