GPA Scale
The complete GPA grading scale reference. Covers the 4.0 scale chart, GPA scale reporting meaning, percentage to GPA conversions, weighted scale, and the US grading system explained.
4.0 GPA Grading Scale Chart
The standard US GPA grading scale assigns numeric grade point values to letter grades on a 0.0 to 4.0 range. This scale is used by most US high schools, colleges, and universities to calculate GPA.
Schools without plus/minus grading assign only A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, and F = 0.0. The GPA grade scale above reflects the full plus/minus system used by most US institutions.
Percentage to GPA Scale Conversion
To convert a percentage grade to the 4.0 GPA scale, match the percentage to its letter grade using the standard US grading scale, then apply the grade point value. The table below shows the most common percentage ranges used by US schools.
| Percentage | Letter Grade | GPA Scale (4.0) |
|---|---|---|
| 97-100% | A+ | 4.0 |
| 93-96% | A | 4.0 |
| 90-92% | A- | 3.7 |
| 87-89% | B+ | 3.3 |
| 83-86% | B | 3.0 |
| 80-82% | B- | 2.7 |
| 77-79% | C+ | 2.3 |
| 73-76% | C | 2.0 |
| 70-72% | C- | 1.7 |
| 67-69% | D+ | 1.3 |
| 63-66% | D | 1.0 |
| 60-62% | D- | 0.7 |
| 0-59% | F | 0.0 |
What is GPA Scale Reporting?
GPA scale reporting is the practice of disclosing the scale your school uses when reporting your GPA. Because different schools use different scales (4.0, 5.0, 10.0, 100-point), the GPA number alone is meaningless without knowing the scale it was calculated on.
A 3.8 GPA on a 4.0 scale (95th percentile performance) is very different from a 3.8 on a 5.0 scale (76th percentile on a weighted system). When you report your GPA to colleges, scholarships, or employers, you must also report which scale it is based on.
GPA Scale Reporting on the Common App
The Common App has a dedicated GPA Scale field where applicants select the scale their high school uses. The options include: 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 10.0, 12.0, 20.0, 100.0, and Other. You should select the scale your school uses, not your GPA value.
Common App GPA Scale Reporting: What to Select
If your school counselor issued a transcript showing your GPA, the scale appears on the same document. When in doubt, contact your school counselor before submitting.
What Does GPA Scale Reporting Mean for International Students?
International students applying to US colleges must report their GPA on their home country scale and select that scale in the GPA scale reporting field. US admissions offices convert international GPAs using standardized conversion tables. A transcript evaluation service (WES, ECE) can convert international academic records to US equivalents if required by the institution.
How to Calculate GPA on the 4.0 Scale
Calculating your GPA on the 4.0 scale requires three inputs: each course grade, its credit hours, and the standard grade point conversion table. Use the 4.0 scale GPA calculator above for instant results, or follow these steps manually.
- Convert each letter grade to its grade point value using the 4.0 grading scale: A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, and so on.
- Multiply each grade point value by the number of credit hours for that course. This gives quality points per course. (Middle and high school students without credit hours: skip this step and go to step 4.)
- Add all quality points across every course to get the total quality points.
- Divide total quality points by total credit hours. The result is your GPA on the 4.0 scale.
Total quality points: 36.7 / Total credits: 10 = GPA 3.67
College GPA Scale vs High School GPA Scale
Both college and high school use the same 4.0 letter grade scale, but differ in how credit hours are applied and whether weighted grades are available.
High School GPA Scale
- Same 4.0 letter grade scale
- May use weighted 5.0 scale for AP/IB/Honors
- Many schools treat all courses as equal weight
- Colleges recalculate to unweighted 4.0 for comparison
College GPA Scale
- Same 4.0 letter grade scale
- Always credit-weighted (no 5.0 scale at most colleges)
- Every course has explicit credit hours
- 4-credit courses have 4x the impact of 1-credit courses
For junior high students, the middle school GPA calculator applies this scale without credit hours. If your school treats all courses equally, use the GPA calculator without credits. Return to the GPA calculator homepage to start calculating.
Weighted GPA Scale: 5.0 Scale Explained
The weighted GPA scale adds bonus grade points to advanced courses to account for their greater difficulty. The most common weighted scale is the 5.0 scale, where an A in an AP or IB course earns 5.0 instead of 4.0.
| Grade | Unweighted (4.0) | Weighted AP/IB (5.0) | Weighted Honors (4.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| A- | 3.7 | 4.7 | 4.2 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 4.3 | 3.8 |
| B | 3.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| B- | 2.7 | 3.7 | 3.2 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
| C | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
Many colleges recalculate applicants' GPAs on the unweighted 4.0 scale for comparison purposes. Use the weighted GPA calculator to compute your GPA on the 5.0 scale.
US GPA Scale vs International Grading Systems
The United States uses the 4.0 GPA scale across most high schools and colleges. International students applying to US institutions need to understand how their home country grading system maps to the US GPA scale.
Letter grades with optional plus/minus. Credit-weighted at college level.
Multiply by 0.4 for approximate 4.0 equivalent. An 8.0 CGPA converts to roughly 3.2.
A First (70%+) maps to approximately 3.7-4.0 on the US scale.
A 1.0 (very good) is the highest. Maps approximately to a 4.0 US GPA.
Similar to US. A+ may equal 4.0 or 4.3 depending on the institution.
For converting a foreign GPA to the 4.0 US scale, use the percentage to GPA converter or request an official evaluation from WES (World Education Services).
GPA on a 10-Point Scale
The 10-point GPA scale is used in India, some European universities, and other international institutions. GPA values run from 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest possible score.
To convert a 10-point GPA to the US 4.0 scale, multiply by 0.4. To convert a 4.0 scale GPA to a 10-point scale, multiply by 2.5.
GPA Scale at US Universities
Most US universities use the standard 4.0 unweighted GPA scale at the undergraduate level. Some schools cap A+ at 4.3 instead of 4.0. Here is the grading scale at commonly searched universities.
Always verify with your institution registrar. Grading policies can change and individual colleges within a university may use different scales.