Calculate GPA

It should be stated that there is no standard way to calculate GPA. Not only do the GPA computation methods vary by country; they also differ by institution. The following are some of the ways the grade point average is figured out.

How Grade Point Averages are Determined

The GPA is determined by dividing the earned grade points by the number of attempted credit hours. The average grade may be between 0.0 to 4.0.

Example 1

Some grading points are like this: A=4 grade points, B=3 grade points, C=2 grade points, D=1 grade point and WF/F=0 grade points.

Assume the student has the following transcript: biology course: credit hours 3 / grade A / grade points 12; biology lab: credit hours 1 / grade B / grade points 3; English 101: credit hours 3 / grade C / grade points 6; math: credit hours 3 / grade F / grade points 0.

To calculate GPA, get the total credit hours attempted and total grade points. Here, the total credit hours are 10. The total grade points are 21.

Now the total grade points should be divided by the credit hours. 21 divided by 10 is 2.10. For the cumulative GPA, get all the grade points and credit hours for all semesters. Divide the grade points by the credit hours.

Example II

As stated earlier, schools employ different points for plus and minus grades. For example, some schools use the following table: A = 4, A- = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3, B- = 2.67, C+ = 2, C- = 1.67, D+ = 1.33, D = 1, D- = .67, F = 0.

To calculate GPA in this case, add the numbers to determine your grade totals. Divide this figure by your list grade number. The result is your average.

Example III

Other institutions may use the following system: A+ 5.00, A 4.00, A- 3.67, B+ 3.33, B 3.00, B- 2.67, C+ 2.33, C 2.00, C- 1.67, D+ 1.33, D 1.00, D- 0.67 and U 0.00.

Assume you got an A- in math and a B in chemistry. Add 3.67 + 3.00. The answer is 6.67. Divide this figure by the number of classes you’ve been taking up. In this example, it is 2: 6.67/2. The GPA is 3.33.

Example IV

When you calculate GPA, remember that some schools give more credit for AP courses. If that’s the case, add a point for all grades from A to C-. This isn’t applicable for D and F grades.

The rating system would look like this: A+ = 4, A = 4, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.2, B = 3, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.2, C = 2, D+ = 1.2, D = 1, D- = 0.7 and F = 0. Add the numbers and divide it by the classes you’re in. That is your GPA.

To calculate GPA, you have to add the grades and divide it by the number of classes you take. However, you must use only the rating system employed by your school.