How to Calculate the GPA in the United States

The Grade Point Average (GPA) is the average raw score derived from the letter grades you earn in each course during a semester. The value of each grade is assigned a number from 0 to 4 or 5, depending on the grading scale of the institution. Schools also pay attention to your cumulative GPA when you apply for college or graduation. Unfortunately, there is no universal method for calculating GPA. The calculation can differ between countries and schools, as some institutions offer additional points for honors classes, while others use a credit-based system. However, with a basic understanding and some common GPA calculation methods, you can expect a fair approach to determining your GPA.

Gather your most recent grades by asking your teacher, administrator, or training officer. You can also find your scores by reviewing past academic reports or transcripts.

• Focus on the final grades for each course. Do not consider individual class scores, midterms, or progress reports. Only the final grades for a semester, course, or term should be used to calculate your GPA.

Record the grade for each course. Write down the exact numerical value next to each course using the 4-point scale. For example, if you received an A-, note down 3.7; if you received a C+, record 2.3.

• For easier reference, use this chart from the College Board to help convert your grades accurately to the 4.0 scale.

Add up all your grade values. Once you've recorded your grades, sum up the values. For example, if you received an A- in Biology, a B+ in English, and a B- in Economics, the total would be: 3.7 + 3.3 + 2.7 = 9.7.

Take the final total and divide it by the number of courses you took. If your total score is 9.7 out of a 4.0 scale across 3 courses, the GPA is calculated like this: 9.7 / 3 = 3.2. Therefore, your GPA is 3.2.

Determine the number of credits. For many universities, especially at the undergraduate level, each course has a specific number of credits. A credit is a unit of academic measurement used to assess the study program. Generally, credits are based on the teaching method, class hours, and the time spent studying independently. Check the credit value for each course you are taking. This is typically listed on your academic transcript or the course catalog.

• Some universities primarily offer 3-credit courses, while others offer 4-credit courses, and some combine both. For many schools, lab sessions count as one class hour.
• If you can't find the credit value for a course, ask the registrar or academic advisor for assistance.

Assign point values for each letter grade. Use the standard GPA scale for conversion: A = 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D = 1 point, and F = 0 points.

• If your school uses a 5-point scale for advanced-level courses, such as Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB), you will need to apply that scale for special courses.
• Add 0.3 to each positive grade or subtract 0.3 for negative grades. For example, an A- would be recorded as 3.7. Connect each letter grade to its corresponding GPA value and note it alongside your score. (Example: B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7).

Find the total number of credits. Add up all the credits from the courses you’ve completed to get your total credit value. For example, if you took 4 courses and each was 3 credits, your total would be 12 credits.

To calculate the total grade point average, divide the total grade points by the total number of credit hours. For example, if you have 45.4 grade points and 15.5 credit hours, the calculation is: 45.4 / 15.5 = 2.92. Your GPA for advanced classes based on the number of credit hours is 2.92.

Set up the first columns. In column A, type the name and the number of courses you are enrolled in. In column B, enter the letter grades you received to calculate your GPA.

Enter the scale values in column C. Assign numeric values to the letter grades you input. To complete this step, you must determine whether your school uses an unweighted GPA scale or a weighted GPA scale for honors classes.

• The standard 4-point GPA scale is as follows: A = 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D = 1 point, and F = 0 points. If your school uses a weighted GPA scale, they may give 5 points for honors-level courses. Check with your school administrator, teacher, or advisor to confirm this information. You may also find this information on your report card or final transcript.
• For plus or minus grades, add 0.3 for positive modifications or subtract 0.3 for negative ones. For example, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7.

Type an equal sign (=) in the first cell of column D. Every formula in Excel starts with the equal sign (=), so you need to use it each time you perform a calculation.

Type the SUM characters. This signals to the program that you're aiming to calculate the total (add everything together).

Enter the formula. The GPA formula is based on the grades you've earned, but the basic format is =SUM(C1:C6)/6.

• C1 refers to the first cell (C - column, 1 - row) where your first grade is located.
• The number after the colon represents the last cell in the list of grades.
• The number following the slash (/) is the total number of courses you're including in the calculation. In this case, there are 6 courses. If you have 10 courses, simply replace 6 with 10.

Press Enter. A number will appear in column D, representing your final calculated GPA.

Understanding the Type of Class You Attended. Some specific courses have ratings that adjust the 'weight' of the class. A regular class (also known as a class with the same level) is multiplied by 1 or left as is. A Pre-Advanced Placement (PAP) course (also called an Honors class) is multiplied by 1.05. An Advanced Placement (AP) class (also known as college-level) is multiplied by 1.1.

• Suppose a student named N attends five classes, and here are the grades: PAP Literature = 94, Regular Chemistry = 87, AP World Civilizations = 98, PAP Pharmaceuticals Training = 82, and Track = 100 (If unspecified, consider it a regular class).

Adjusting Grades According to Class Type.

• The PAP Literature class with a score of 94 is adjusted by 1.05, resulting in 98.7% AJ (AJ stands for adjusted grade). The Chemistry and Track classes are regular, so their scores remain unchanged at 87 and 100. The PAP Pharmaceuticals Training class is 82, adjusted by 1.05 to become 86.1% AJ, while the AP World Civilizations class is 98, adjusted by 1.1 to become 107.8% AJ.

Calculating the Average. The formula is simple; (g+g+g...)/#g, where g represents the grade for each class. Or, you can add up the grades and divide by the number of grades.

• Thus, we have 98.7 + 87 + 100 + 86.1 + 107.8 = 479.58. Dividing this by 5 gives 95.916. After rounding, N's GPA is 95.2 or 96. If this number seems too high or too low, double-check your calculations. If using a handheld calculator, make sure to use parentheses to avoid errors.

• Universities may offer specific tests for those who cannot calculate their GPA due to the time lapse between high school and university admission. Be sure to check with your university for more information.
• Note that while most universities calculate to one decimal place, some others may use two decimal places. With two decimals, an A- is 3.67, and a B+ is 3.33; with one decimal place, an A- is 3.7, and a B+ is 3.3. Be sure to confirm with your institution if you're unsure about their grading scale.
• Many universities and colleges offer online GPA calculators, where you can input your grades, credits, and additional information to calculate your GPA.
• Some universities may also consider using the Sessional Grade Point Average (SGPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). You can use the same method listed above to calculate these averages. The key difference is that SGPA and CGPA will include more grades and credits in their GPA calculations.
• Most academic reports and transcripts include details about the semester, quarter, or GPA status. Occasionally, they may also include your cumulative GPA.

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