Grade Point Average (GPA) is a standardized metric used by schools and universities to measure a student's overall academic achievement. It summarizes performance across multiple classes into a single representative number, usually on a four-point scale. Because different classes carry varying credit values, GPA calculations are structured as weighted averages, meaning courses with higher credit hours exert a greater influence on the final average.
To calculate your GPA, you first convert your letter grades into numerical grade points based on your school's scale. On a standard 4.0 scale, an A is 4 points, a B is 3 points, a C is 2 points, a D is 1 point, and an F is 0 points.
Next, multiply the grade point value of each class by its credit hours to find the "quality points" earned. Sum all the quality points together, and divide this sum by the total credit hours attempted. If you get a long decimal, check out our rounding decimals and digits tool. For estimating separate percentage grades, check our final course grade solver. To compute basic numerical averages without weights, check out our simple group averages tool.
An unweighted GPA treats all courses equally on a standard 0 to 4.0 scale, regardless of difficulty. A weighted GPA, however, awards extra points for advanced classes (like Honors or Advanced Placement courses).
In weighted systems, an A in an AP class is worth 5.0 grade points instead of 4.0, resulting in GPAs that can exceed 4.0. Our online GPA calculator lets you select custom scales and weights to match your school's guidelines.
Suppose a student takes four classes: Math (4 credits, grade A), History (3 credits, grade B), Chemistry (4 credits, grade B), and Art (2 credits, grade C).
First, convert grades to points: Math A = 4; History B = 3; Chemistry B = 3; Art C = 2. Next, multiply points by credits: Math quality points = 4 × 4 = 16; History = 3 × 3 = 9; Chemistry = 3 × 4 = 12; Art = 2 × 2 = 4. Summing quality points: 16 + 9 + 12 + 4 = 41. Summing credit hours: 4 + 3 + 4 + 2 = 13 credits. Dividing total quality points by total credits: 41 / 13 = 3.15. The semester GPA is exactly 3.15. This example shows how class weights define GPA standings.