How to Calculate Your GPA (Step by Step)
4 min read
Your GPA is a weighted average of your grades, where harder, higher-credit courses count more. Calculating it yourself helps you track progress and see what you need to hit a target.
Here is how to calculate your GPA, step by step.
Step by step
- 1Convert letter grades to points
On the standard 4.0 scale, A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0, with pluses and minuses in between (A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, and so on).
- 2Multiply each grade by its credit hours
For each course, multiply the grade points by the credit hours to get quality points. A 3-credit course with a B (3.0) earns 9 quality points.
- 3Add up the quality points and credits
Sum all the quality points, and separately sum all the credit hours for the term.
- 4Divide to get your GPA
GPA = total quality points / total credit hours. If you earned 45 quality points across 14 credits, your GPA is 45 / 14 = 3.21.
- 5Use the calculator
Enter each course's grade and credits in the GPA Calculator to get your GPA without the arithmetic.
Tips
- Higher-credit courses move your GPA more, so they are worth extra focus.
- To find your cumulative GPA, total the quality points and credits across all terms, not the average of term GPAs.
- Weighted (honors/AP) scales can exceed 4.0 - check whether your school uses one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GPA formula?
GPA = total quality points / total credit hours, where quality points for each course are the grade points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, etc.) times the credit hours.
What is a weighted GPA?
A weighted GPA gives extra points for harder courses like honors or AP - for example an A in an AP class might count as 5.0 instead of 4.0.
How do I calculate cumulative GPA?
Add up all quality points and all credit hours from every term, then divide. Do not just average your term GPAs - that ignores differing credit loads.