Education · 1 min read
How to calculate your GPA
A GPA is a weighted average of your grade points. Here is how the arithmetic works, and where schools differ.
Last updated November 3, 2026
Step 1: convert letter grades to points
The most common US scale gives an A 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F 0. Many schools also use plus and minus grades (for example A− is often 3.7).
Important
The exact point values are set by each school. Use the scale in your own school handbook.
Step 2: weight each grade by its credits
Multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours. A 4-credit course matters more than a 1-credit course.
Step 3: divide by total credits
GPA = Σ (grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits
- Σ
- the sum over all courses
- grade points
- the points for the letter grade, for example 4 for an A
- credits
- the credit hours of the course
An A, a B and a C
| Course | Grade | Points | Credits | Points × credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-credit course | A | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| 4-credit course | B | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| 3-credit course | C | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Result: 30 points ÷ 10 credits = 3.0 GPA
Weighted and cumulative GPA
Some high schools add a point for honors, AP or IB courses; this is called a weighted GPA and the scale varies by school. A cumulative GPA combines every term: add up all grade points and all credits across terms, then divide once.
Common mistake
Do not average the term GPAs. That ignores the different credit loads of each term.