How to Calculate Your GPA
Last updated: October 11, 2026
Your GPA, or grade point average, is the average of your grade points, with each class counted by its credit hours. This guide uses the common 4.0 scale. Your school may use a different one, so check its policy.
Step 1: Turn each letter grade into grade points
On the basic 4.0 scale, an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0, a C is 2.0, a D is 1.0 and an F is 0.0. Many schools also use plus and minus grades. A common version is A− 3.7, B+ 3.3, B− 2.7, C+ 2.3 and so on. See the letter grade scale for a full chart.
Step 2: Multiply by credit hours
Multiply each class’s grade points by its credit hours. If every class counts the same, as in many high schools, you can skip this and count each class once.
Step 3: Add up and divide
GPA = total grade points ÷ total credit hours
Example: English (A, 3 credits), Math (B, 4 credits) and Biology (C, 4 credits).
- English: 4.0 × 3 = 12
- Math: 3.0 × 4 = 12
- Biology: 2.0 × 4 = 8
- Total grade points: 32. Total credits: 11.
- 32 ÷ 11 = 2.91, so your GPA is 2.91
Example where every class counts equally: grades of A, B, B, C and A give 4 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 4 = 16 grade points. 16 ÷ 5 = 3.2.
Weighted GPA
Some schools add extra grade points for honors, AP or IB classes. The amount differs by school, often 0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP, which means a weighted GPA can go above 4.0. Your school’s policy decides how it works.
Cumulative GPA
To combine several terms, add up all the grade points and all the credits, then divide. Do not simply average the term GPAs unless every term had the same number of credits.
Let the calculator do it
The GPA calculator handles letter grades, credit hours, weighted classes and a previous GPA for you.