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GPA Calculator

Calculate your GPA on the standard 4.0 scale (weighted or unweighted), combine semesters into a cumulative GPA, and find your weighted course grade — including what score you need on your final exam to hit your target. All in one free tool.

4 calculators in one Standard 4.0 scale Weighted & unweighted Updated: Jul 21, 2026
Add your courses with credit hours and the letter grade you earned. Switch to Weighted to add bonus points for Honors and AP/IB courses.
Course nameCreditsGradeLevel
Tip: tap % next to a course's grade to enter a numeric score (0–100) instead of picking a letter — it's converted automatically.
Add every semester's GPA and credit hours as its own row to track your running cumulative GPA over time. Your list is saved automatically in this browser, so you can come back and add the next semester later.
Semester nameGPA (0–4.0)CreditsRunning CGPA
Saved locally on this device · clear all semesters
Want to know what GPA you need going forward? Use the GPA Needed tab above — it uses the semesters listed here as your current standing.
This GPA needed calculator tells you what average GPA you must earn across your remaining credit hours to reach a target cumulative GPA. It uses the running cumulative GPA and total credit hours from the semesters listed in the Cumulative GPA tab as your current standing — add or edit semesters there first.
Formula: Needed GPA = (Target × (total + remaining credits) − current CGPA × total credits) ÷ remaining credits.
Add each assessment in the course (midterm, homework, final…) with its weight and your score to get the overall weighted course grade.
AssessmentWeight %Score
Total weight:
⚙️ Passing grade
Used to show whether your weighted average is passing. Adjust to match your school's or instructor's policy.
Based on your current grade so far, find the score you need on the remaining part of the course (e.g. the final exam) to reach your target grade.
Common weight splits
Quick answer To calculate GPA, convert each letter grade to grade points (A=4.0, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, B-=2.7, C+=2.3, C=2.0, C-=1.7, D+=1.3, D=1.0, F=0.0), multiply each course's points by its credit hours, add the results, then divide by total credit hours: GPA = Σ(credit hours × grade points) ÷ Σ(credit hours).
4.0A on the 4.0 scale
+0.5Typical Honors weighted bonus
+1.0Typical AP/IB weighted bonus
3.5+Common honor roll threshold
⚙️ Accuracy note: This tool uses the standard US 4.0 grade-point scale and a common Honors (+0.5) / AP-IB (+1.0) weighting convention. Exact grading scales, weighting policies, honor roll/Dean's List thresholds, and passing grades vary by school, district, and university. Results are for informational purposes only — for an official GPA, consult your school's registrar or transcript.

What is GPA, and how is it calculated?

A complete guide — with formulas and worked examples — to GPA, weighted vs. unweighted GPA, cumulative GPA, weighted course grades, and finding the score you need on a final exam.

GPA (Grade Point Average) is a single number that summarizes academic performance across courses, from a single semester to an entire degree. US schools use a letter grade system: the score earned in a course is expressed as a letter (A, A-, B+ … F), and each letter maps to a grade point on a 4.0 scale. GPA is a credit-hour weighted average of those grade points — a course worth more credit hours affects your GPA more than one worth fewer credit hours.

How do you calculate GPA?

Quick answerConvert each letter grade to grade points, multiply by credit hours, add the results, then divide by total credit hours: GPA = Σ(credit hours × grade points) ÷ Σ(credit hours). For example, a 4-credit A (4.0) and a 3-credit B (3.0): (4×4.0 + 3×3.0) ÷ 7 = 3.57.
  • Formula: GPA = Σ(credit hours × grade points) ÷ Σ(credit hours)
  • Example: 4 credits at A (4.0), 3 credits at B (3.0), 3 credits at C (2.0) → (4×4.0 + 3×3.0 + 3×2.0) ÷ 10 = (16 + 9 + 6) ÷ 10 = 3.10
  • Higher-credit courses have a bigger effect on your overall GPA than lower-credit ones.

What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?

Quick answerUnweighted GPA stays on the standard 0–4.0 scale no matter how difficult the course is. Weighted GPA adds bonus points for more rigorous courses — commonly +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP/IB — so it can climb above 4.0. A student with all A's in AP classes could have a weighted GPA of 4.5+ while their unweighted GPA stays capped at 4.0.

Colleges often recompute applicants' GPA on an unweighted scale so students from schools with different weighting policies can be compared on equal footing. This tool's GPA Calculator tab lets you toggle between the two so you can see both numbers for the same set of courses.

How do you calculate cumulative GPA (CGPA)?

Quick answerCumulative GPA is a credit-hour weighted average across semesters: New CGPA = (Previous GPA × previous credit hours + New GPA × new credit hours) ÷ (previous + new credit hours). Example: a 3.20 GPA over 60 credit hours plus a 3.60 GPA over 15 new credit hours → (3.20×60 + 3.60×15) ÷ 75 = 3.28.

Because CGPA blends every semester together, a single strong or weak semester moves the cumulative number less as your total credit hours grow — this is why GPA recovery gets mathematically harder the further along you are. The Cumulative GPA tab also includes a target scenario: tell it your goal GPA and how many credit hours you have left, and it works out the average you'd need to hit it.

How do you calculate a weighted course grade?

Quick answerMultiply each assessment's score by its weight, add the results, then divide by the total weight: Weighted average = Σ(score × weight) ÷ Σ(weight). Example: a midterm worth 30% scored at 78, and a final worth 70% scored at 85 → (78×30 + 85×70) ÷ 100 = 82.9.

Weights don't need to add up to exactly 100 — the calculator normalizes automatically by dividing by the total weight you entered, not a fixed 100. This makes it easy to add or remove assessments (quizzes, homework, projects, a midterm and a final) without recalculating every other weight by hand.

What score do I need on my final exam?

Quick answerNeeded score = (Target grade − Current grade × current weight ÷ 100) ÷ (remaining weight ÷ 100). Example: current grade 72 worth 40% of the course, targeting an 80 overall with the final worth the remaining 60%: (80 − 72×0.40) ÷ 0.60 = (80 − 28.8) ÷ 0.60 = 85.3. If the result is over 100 the target isn't reachable; at 0 or below, your current grade already guarantees it.

The standard 4.0 GPA scale (letter grade → points → percentage)

The letter-grade-to-GPA-point mapping used throughout this calculator, with a common approximate percentage range for each letter.

Standard US 4.0 scale
Letter gradeGrade pointsTypical % range
A4.093–100
A-3.790–92
B+3.387–89
B3.083–86
B-2.780–82
C+2.377–79
C2.073–76
C-1.770–72
D+1.367–69
D1.060–66
F0.0below 60

GPA & grading reference tables

Weighted bonus points, honor roll thresholds, and typical credit-hour values — citable, at-a-glance reference.

Letter grade → GPA points
LetterPoints
A4.0
A-3.7
B+3.3
B3.0
B-2.7
C+2.3
C2.0
C-1.7
D+1.3
D1.0
F0.0

This is the most widely used unweighted GPA scale at US high schools and colleges. Some institutions use slightly different point values for plus/minus grades.

Typical (not universal) GPA honors thresholds
DistinctionTypical GPA
A/B honor roll (typical)3.0+
Honor roll (typical)3.5+
High honor roll (typical)3.75+
College Dean's List (typical)3.5–3.75+
Latin honors, cum laude (typical)3.5+
Latin honors, magna cum laude (typical)3.7+
Latin honors, summa cum laude (typical)3.9+

These thresholds vary widely by school and are shown only as common examples — always check your own school's or university's exact policy.

Typical weighted-GPA bonus by course level
Course levelBonus pointsExample: an A becomes
Regular+0.04.0
Honors+0.54.5
AP / IB+1.05.0

This calculator does not add a bonus to a failing grade (F stays 0.0 regardless of course level) — a common convention, though some schools handle this differently.

Common credit-hour values
Course typeTypical credit hours
High school year-long course1.0
High school semester course0.5
College lecture course3–4
College lab course1–2
College seminar1–3
Full-time college semester load12–18

Credit hours vary by institution and course — check your syllabus or course catalog for the exact value.

GPA & grading terms glossary

Short definitions of the core terms used in GPA and grade calculations.

GPAGrade Point Average — a credit-hour weighted average of the grade points earned across courses, typically on a 0–4.0 scale.
Weighted GPAA GPA that adds bonus points for more rigorous courses (e.g. +0.5 Honors, +1.0 AP/IB), allowing it to exceed 4.0.
Unweighted GPAA GPA that stays strictly on the 0–4.0 scale regardless of a course's difficulty level.
Credit hourA unit measuring the workload or classroom time of a course; used to weight each course's contribution to GPA.
Cumulative GPA (CGPA)The credit-hour weighted GPA across all semesters completed so far, as opposed to a single semester's GPA.
Quality pointsA course's credit hours multiplied by its grade points; GPA is the sum of quality points divided by the sum of credit hours.
Grade pointThe numeric value (0.0–4.0) assigned to a letter grade on the standard GPA scale.
Honor rollA recognition list for students whose GPA meets a school-set threshold, commonly 3.0 or 3.5 and above.
Dean's ListA college or university's per-semester academic recognition list, typically requiring a GPA of about 3.5 or higher.
Weighted averageAn average where each value is multiplied by its own weight before summing, then divided by the total weight — used for course grades made up of several assessments.

In-depth guides

Step-by-step explanations of the most commonly asked GPA and grade questions.

How to calculate weighted GPA step by step

Step 1: Find each course's base grade points on the 4.0 scale (A=4.0, B+=3.3, and so on).
Step 2: Add the course-level bonus if the course is Honors (+0.5) or AP/IB (+1.0); regular courses get no bonus, and a failing grade (F) stays at 0.0 regardless of level.
Step 3: Multiply each course's weighted grade points by its credit hours to get quality points.
Step 4: Add all the quality points and divide by total credit hours to get your weighted GPA.

Because weighted GPA can exceed 4.0, it's most useful for showing course rigor within a single school's own scale — colleges frequently recompute it on an unweighted basis for cross-school comparisons. Switch the toggle in the GPA Calculator tab above to see both numbers for the same courses.

How your cumulative GPA updates each semester

Your cumulative GPA is not a simple average of your semester GPAs — it's a credit-hour weighted average of everything you've completed. Formula: New CGPA = (Previous GPA × previous credit hours + New GPA × new credit hours) ÷ (previous + new credit hours).

This is why one great or one rough semester moves your CGPA less as your total credit hours grow: a 3.20 CGPA over 90 credit hours barely shifts from one more semester of 15 credit hours, even at a very different GPA, because the new semester is a small fraction of the total. Use the "Target scenario" panel in the Cumulative GPA tab to see exactly what average you'd need across your remaining credit hours to hit a specific goal.

The Cumulative GPA tab lets you list every semester as its own row (not just a previous/new pair), showing a running CGPA line that updates after each one — so you can track your degree progress semester by semester in one place. Your semester list is saved automatically in this browser (via localStorage), so it's still there next time you visit.

How to figure out the score you need on your final exam

Step 1: Find your current grade and what percentage of the course it represents (e.g. midterms and homework worth 40% combined).
Step 2: Note the remaining weight — usually the final exam (e.g. the remaining 60%).
Step 3: Decide your target overall course grade.
Step 4: Apply the formula: Needed score = (Target − Current × current weight ÷ 100) ÷ (remaining weight ÷ 100).

If the number you get is above 100, the target is mathematically out of reach no matter what you score. If it's zero or negative, your current grade already secures that target even with a zero on the rest of the course. The "Grade I need" mode in the Grade Calculator tab above also shows this needed score for several common letter-grade targets at once.

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate GPA?
Convert each letter grade to grade points on the 4.0 scale (A=4.0, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, B-=2.7, C+=2.3, C=2.0, C-=1.7, D+=1.3, D=1.0, F=0.0), multiply each course's points by its credit hours, add the results together, then divide by total credit hours. Formula: GPA = Σ(credit hours × grade points) ÷ Σ(credit hours). For example, a 4-credit A and a 3-credit B give (4×4.0 + 3×3.0) ÷ 7 = 3.57.
What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA always stays on the standard 0–4.0 scale regardless of course difficulty. Weighted GPA adds bonus points for more rigorous courses — commonly +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP/IB — so it can climb above 4.0. Colleges often recalculate applicants' GPA on an unweighted scale to compare students fairly across different high schools' weighting policies.
How do you calculate cumulative GPA (CGPA)?
Cumulative GPA combines every semester's GPA and credit hours into one credit-weighted average: New CGPA = (Previous GPA × previous credit hours + New GPA × new credit hours) ÷ (previous + new credit hours). For example, a 3.20 GPA over 60 credit hours combined with a 3.60 GPA over 15 new credit hours gives (3.20×60 + 3.60×15) ÷ 75 = 3.28.
How do you calculate a weighted course grade?
Multiply each assessment's score by its weight, add the results, then divide by the total weight: Weighted average = Σ(score × weight) ÷ Σ(weight). For example, a midterm worth 30% scored at 78 and a final worth 70% scored at 85 give (78×30 + 85×70) ÷ 100 = 82.9. Weights don't need to add up to exactly 100 — the calculator normalizes automatically.
What score do I need on my final exam to get a certain grade?
Needed score = (Target grade − Current grade × current weight ÷ 100) ÷ (remaining weight ÷ 100). For example, if your current grade is 72 worth 40% of the course and you want an overall 80 with the final worth the remaining 60%: (80 − 72×0.40) ÷ 0.60 = 85.3. If the result exceeds 100, the target isn't mathematically reachable; if it's 0 or below, your current grade already guarantees it.
What is the standard 4.0 GPA scale?
The standard US 4.0 scale assigns grade points as follows: A=4.0, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, B-=2.7, C+=2.3, C=2.0, C-=1.7, D+=1.3, D=1.0, F=0.0. This is the most widely used unweighted scale at US high schools and colleges, though a small number of institutions use slightly different point values for plus/minus grades.
What GPA do you need for honor roll or Dean's List?
Thresholds vary by school, but common typical benchmarks are a GPA of 3.5 or higher for honor roll (sometimes split into "A honor roll" at 3.75+ and "A/B honor roll" at 3.0+) and roughly 3.5–3.75+ for a college Dean's List each semester. Always confirm the exact cutoff with your own school or university, since policies differ widely.
Can a weighted GPA go above 4.0?
Yes. Because weighted GPA adds bonus points for Honors (+0.5) and AP/IB (+1.0) courses, a student who earns A's in several AP classes can end up with a weighted GPA of 4.3, 4.5, or higher. Unweighted GPA, by contrast, is capped at 4.0 since it doesn't add any course-difficulty bonus.
How do credit hours affect GPA?
Credit hours act as a weight: a course worth more credit hours has a bigger effect on your overall GPA than a course worth fewer credit hours, even if both have the same letter grade. This is why GPA is described as a credit-hour weighted average rather than a simple average of your letter grades.
Can I enter a numeric score instead of a letter grade for a course?
Yes. In the GPA Calculator tab, tap the % toggle next to any course's grade to switch that row from a letter-grade dropdown to a numeric score input (0–100). The calculator converts the percentage to the matching letter grade (93+ = A, 90–92 = A-, and so on down the standard scale) and uses it in the GPA calculation automatically.
Can I track my GPA across multiple semesters?
Yes. The Cumulative GPA tab lets you add each semester as its own row with "+ Add semester", showing a running cumulative GPA that updates after every semester you add — not just a single previous/new pair. Your semester list is saved automatically in your browser's local storage, so it's still there the next time you visit to add another semester.

Methodology & sources

ToolPico's GPA Calculator is a free, independent tool. The calculation engine performs every operation with standard arithmetic formulas: GPA is Σ(credit hours × grade points) ÷ Σ(credit hours), cumulative GPA is (Previous GPA × previous credits + New GPA × new credits) ÷ (previous + new credits), a weighted course grade is Σ(score × weight) ÷ Σ(weight), and the needed final-exam score is (Target − Current × current weight ÷ 100) ÷ (remaining weight ÷ 100). Letter grades map to grade points on the standard US 4.0 scale (A=4.0 … F=0.0); weighted mode adds a common +0.5 (Honors) / +1.0 (AP-IB) bonus. Results are computed instantly client-side (in your browser); no data is sent to a server.

Basis: Standard US 4.0 GPA scale and common credit-hour weighting conventions. Last updated: July 21, 2026. Grading scales, weighting bonuses, and honor thresholds vary by school and institution — results are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for an official transcript or your registrar's calculation.
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