Grade & GPA · Guide
How to Calculate Your High School GPA
Convert, add, divide. Here is the whole process, with the small details that trip students up.
Want the answer for your own numbers? Use the free GPA Calculator — it does every step below for you.
Step 1: Gather your final grades
Use semester or final grades from your report card or transcript, not progress reports. Leave out pass/fail classes unless your school counts them.
Step 2: Convert each grade to points
| Letter | Percentage | Points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 |
| D− | 60–62% | 0.7 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
Only have percentages? Translate each one through this chart first. An 88% is a B+, so it is worth 3.3 points.
Step 3: Weight by credits (if your school uses them)
Many high schools give most classes 1 credit and some electives 0.5. Multiply each class's points by its credits.
Step 4: Divide
GPA = total (points × credits) ÷ total credits
Example: one semester
English 91% (A−, 3.7, 1 cr) = 3.7. Algebra 84% (B, 3.0, 1 cr) = 3.0. Biology 95% (A, 4.0, 1 cr) = 4.0. History 78% (C+, 2.3, 1 cr) = 2.3. Art 97% (A+, 4.0, 0.5 cr) = 2.0.
Total points: 15.0. Total credits: 4.5.
Semester GPA = 15.0 ÷ 4.5 = 3.33
Your cumulative high school GPA
Repeat for every semester, keeping running totals of points and credits. Divide the grand totals. Do not average the semester GPAs unless each semester had the same credits. Our cumulative GPA guide shows the full method.
Worked example: four years
Year GPAs and credits
9th grade: 3.2 over 7 credits = 22.4 points. 10th: 3.4 over 7 = 23.8. 11th: 3.6 over 7 = 25.2. 12th (first semester only): 3.8 over 5 = 19.0.
Total: 90.4 points over 26 credits.
Cumulative GPA = 90.4 ÷ 26 = 3.48
A simple average of the four year GPAs gives 3.50. The difference comes from the smaller number of credits in 12th grade so far. Colleges usually see your GPA through junior year, plus senior grades when they arrive.
Weighted vs unweighted
The steps above give an unweighted GPA, capped at 4.0. If your school adds bonuses for honours or AP classes, you also have a weighted GPA. See how to calculate a weighted GPA.
If your school has no plus or minus grades
Some schools use whole letters only: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0. That changes individual classes. An 88% is a B+ (3.3) on a plus/minus scale but a plain B (3.0) without one. A 92% is an A− (3.7) with minus grades but a full A (4.0) without them. Use whichever scale your school prints on the report card.
AP exam scores are not GPA grades
Your AP class grade goes into your GPA, often with a weighting bonus. Your AP exam score, from 1 to 5, does not — it is reported separately and may earn college credit. Do not enter exam scores into a GPA calculation.
Quick shortcut: percentage to GPA
If all you have is an overall percentage, a rough estimate is percentage ÷ 25. An 88% average gives about 3.5. But schools convert class by class through letter bands, which usually gives a slightly different, more accurate answer — 3.3 in this case. The percentage to GPA converter shows both.
What is a good high school GPA?
- 3.0 — a B average. Meets the minimum for many colleges and scholarships.
- 3.5 — between B+ and A−. Competitive at a wide range of colleges.
- 3.8 and above — mostly As. Typical of applicants to highly selective colleges, who also look closely at course difficulty.
A rising trend helps. Admissions readers notice when grades improve from 9th to 11th grade, even if the overall number is not perfect.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using quarter grades instead of semester grades.
- Counting a half-credit class as a full credit.
- Mixing weighted and unweighted points in one calculation.
- Forgetting failed classes — an F counts as 0 points but still adds credits.
The fastest way: enter your classes in the GPA calculator, which does every step for you.
Frequently asked questions
Convert each final grade to points on the 4.0 scale, multiply by the class credits, add everything up, and divide by the total credits. 15 points over 4.5 credits is a 3.33 GPA.
Find the letter grade for the percentage, then use that letter's points: 93% and up is 4.0, 90–92% is 3.7, 87–89% is 3.3, 83–86% is 3.0. Dividing by 25 is only a rough shortcut.
Yes. A 3.5 unweighted GPA sits between B+ and A− and is competitive at many colleges. Highly selective colleges often see higher GPAs, but they also weigh course rigour, essays and activities.
Yes. Your cumulative GPA includes every graded class from 9th grade on. Because later years add more credits, a weaker freshman year matters less by the time you apply — but it never disappears.