How to Calculate Your GPA–Letter Grades and Percentages
One of my most popular posts is about how to calculate your “real” GPA. Some readers have asked how to translate grades expressed as a percent into letter grades, and then into a GPA based on a 4.0 scale.
Below is a chart that can serve as a starting point. Recognize, however, that all schools and colleges will have their own grading policies. This is one way to translate one kind of grade into another. It’s meant as a helpful tool, but you should always investigate how individual colleges and schools handle this translation before making any assumptions about how they will consider your own performance.
If you’re worried about your GPA, it’s likely that you are a bit nervous about how your GPA will affect your admission to college. There are three things to keep in mind.
First, it’s not just about your GPA overall. You need to pay close attention to your core GPA.
Second, you need to think first about which colleges fit you best. It may turn out that you are worrying too much for the wrong reasons.
Third, if you are having trouble fitting all these pieces together–your GPA, your test scores, your interests, your aptitudes–you may want to consider asking for some professional advice from an expert who can help you navigate the college admissions process.
Interested in a free consultation? Send me a note!
Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant
Technorati Tags: GPA, grade point average, calculate, percentage, percent, weighted, unweighted, college, university, high school, admission Del.icio.us Tags: GPA, grade point average, calculate, percentage, percent, weighted, unweighted, college, university, high school, admission
About the Author
Mark Montgomery
As a former professor, administrator, and high school teacher, Mark has the knowledge and skills to counsel students as they make the transition from high school to college.
224 Responses to “How to Calculate Your GPA–Letter Grades and Percentages”
Leave a Comment
how can i calculate weighted average mark to GPA??? MY WEIGHTED AVERAGE MARK is 56.
thanx.
Hello Mashall,
It depends on what type of curriculum you are enrolled in. Where are you in school?
Katherine
my number is 17.60 of 20 point. how can I calculate my gpa?(for MIT university)
Hi, how can i translate my American GPA to a German GPA?
Hey, I dropped in because I had a question, but you have already answered it and I’m extremely relieved that 15 is actually considered GOOD in a French system. However I have another question, do you have some sort of a chart which can determine and translate the French system to an American? I’m currently in tenth grade in a French high school near Marseille, and one of my goals is to be admitted to Cornell- one of the best universities in NY. I’m wondering what a 13/14 average would be considered as on an American GPA scale? Also, one of the main reasons I’m actually leaving a comment, (I have never commented on website material before) is to let you know that your answers are probably some of the most useful I have ever encountered. You are doing an excellent job, thank you very much.
Hi, Natalie.
Remember, 15 is good, but 17 is better. LOL.
I don’t have a handy chart to make the correlations you seek. Such things don’t really exist. You will have to trust that Cornell (or wherever) will have a good idea of what the educational system is like in France, and they will compare you against others who have been educated in the same sort of system. You will be judged within the context in which you are educated. GPAs are not really “translated.”
I’m glad you find the website useful. Please come back again, and ask more questions!
Hi, Seif.
The short answer is that you cannot. You will be judged within the German context when your application is reviewed. You can eyeball things a bit if you know what your rank was as a graduate: top 10%, top 25%, top 50%. This will be an indicator of what colleges will accept you, and sometimes you can find such information on various websites.
Best of luck, and let me know if we can help you with identifying a good college for you in the US. We enjoy working with students from all over the world!
Hi, Reza. You don’t mention which school system you currently participate in, but the answer is that you cannot calculate your US GPA using numbers achieved outside of the US. You can try to figure out your class rank (did you graduate in the top 10%? Top 25%? Top 50%? That can give you a rough indicator of your statistical chances for admission to MIT. But even those stats are slippery.
Let me know I can provide you more personal guidance as you identify the best colleges for you, and as you prepare your applications. We enjoy working with students from all over the world!
Best of luck.
hi can someone help me find out my percentage if i have a 3.85 GPA. i’m applying in a university in mexico that is based on a 100% scale.
i hope someone can help me
thanks.
HEY SIR,I AM AN INDIAN.I WANT TO KNOW MY GPA ON 4 POINT SCALE.AS MY AGGREGATE PERCENTAGE IS 80%.
Hi I would like to say that you loose .3 for an a- thats not bad u loose so MUCH3
Hi I would like to say that you loose .3 for an a- thats not bad u loose so MUCH.
Why do u loose so many points if u get an A-.
Hello, Enrico. You do not need to worry about translating your school results in Mexico to an American GPA. Colleges and universities will know how to interpret your performance in Mexico. Don’t do anything: just submit your results and rest assured that it will be given a fair review.
Good luck!
Hello,
I went to school in Lima Peru. I’m applying for a government job and they are asking for my GPA. My GPA in Peru (20 point scale) is 13.95.
hii!
I have a 3.25 unweighted GPA
I knowo my weighted Gpa (4.4) doesnt really matter too much for college
but i was wondering what my percentage would be ?
3.25= ?
thanks
Hi, Virginia,
I’m not exactly sure what you’re asking. A 3.25 translates (roughly) to a B, but getting close to a B+. By some measures, this might mean that you ave about an 85%. But colleges will use the 3.25, if that is what is reported on your transcript.
Hope this helps!
Hello, Natalia. You should just give your Peruvian grade point average on the application. If there is room to explain, you might mention what a passing grade is considered under this system. But do not try to translate your Peruvian 13.95 into the American system. If you want to get an official transcript report prepared for an employ, you might check out the services offered by WES, or World Educational Services.
Best of luck!
Hello Sir
Thais is Nishat..I want to know my GPA..My average percenatge is 69..
Thnax
Dear Nishat,
I presume you are writing from India. You should not worry about translating your percentage into an American-style GPA. University admissions personnel in the US will evaluate your transcript based on the standards common at your secondary school, and upon the Indian national system. Rest assured that most every admissions office in the US has expertise in evaluating transcripts from abroad.
We also have experience evaluating transcripts; Katherine Price, my associate, has deep experience in working with students with India. Let me know if you would like to be in touch with her about possibly having her help you with your applications.
Best of luck to you.
Hello Mark ,
FIrst of all I’d like to say that it’s pretty awesome and totally useful to ask a professional advsior like you , Secondly I’m an egyptian student in my last year at high school and I’ve got 96.3& in my exams this year so I was asking for an official method to convert this percentage into a GPA score and any kind of organization who could do this process for me here in Egypt or in the US .
Hi, I was wondering if finding your GPA scores you only total only your grade % of the math, english, science and history? Or do you add your electives in also on the total GPA score? Such as music, art, health or PE.
Kim,
As I explain in the post, GPA does include everything. But colleges will discount all the electives–if they are not academically rigorous.
Mark
Hello,
Thanks for your question. You do not need to convert your percentage to an American GPA score. Most colleges are pretty capable of interpreting a foreign transcript within the context in which you earned. There are organizations like World Education Services that will do an official report, and I sometime recommend them. But it is only absolutely necessary when the college admissions people require that sort of official conversion. If you want to make certain that the conversion is very clear, perhaps you could approach WES and see if they will do it if you pay for it, and then send the report to the schools to which you apply.
Best of luck.
Mark
Hi, I’m asking if my gpa is 4.32/5 in singapore.wat is the conversion in us gpa 4 system. I wish to gauge my phd sch application average per semester is abov gpa 3.
Hello Sir. I am from India. I have completed my Bachelor of Technology degree and now I want to persue my Master’s degree in the USA. In the bachelor’s degree I got 8.1 GPA on a scale of 10 (this is what followed by Indian Universities). When I am filling up a form in the GRE website, it is asking me to select from A, A-, B+, B, B-…etc. I am really confused as to where do I fit into the closest. Please tell me what the 8.1 Indian GPA would be in American letter grading system. Which letter grade should I select.
Hello.
The fact is that the form you are filling out was not created with international students in mind. I would say leave the form blank. And then you can either pay third-party experts (like WES-World Education Services) to translate and interpret your transcript for an American context, or you can count on the admissions office to do that interpretation for you. You might want to ask the college, directly, how they would like you to complete the form. My guess is that they’ll realize that the form’s question does not fit your situation.
Good luck.
Hi, I’m currently at cornell and was trying to figure out the highest possible grade I can get for one of my classes. I received a B on the exam which is mean grade. The tests account for 20% of my grade, and I calculated using your criteria that the highest grade I can get is a 96.6 which is an A or a 4.0
Would this be correct ?
Hello,
My daughter’s high school uses a scale where a 3.0 translates to an 88 average and a 94 or better is required for a 4.0. The school does not weight classes. My question is do colleges/universities generally have a system to standardize GPAs when comparing applicants?
Thanks
Hello.
I’m doing my first semester in college in India. I want to transfer to a college in the US after my second semester.
I have 2 major questions:
1) Will I need only my first year grades from college, or all my high school grades as well?
2) Will I need to convert all my percentage scores into GPA to be able to apply?
I’d like to point out that there are various universities here, each autonomous and having very different marking styles, so I might have to convert all my grades or percentages into a format that the US university might understand.
How do I do that?
Thanks loads! Really appreciate all the help so far.
Hi, Mr. Mark im in nursing school right now and our graded scale is like the one posted here on the website. We have maybe 5 to 6 weeks left of school and I wanted to know exactly what I would have to make in order to pass the class? These are my grades exam 1 62%, exam 2 72%, and exam 3 54% we have exam four coming up and then the final each worth 100 points. The four exams each make up for 17% each totaling 68%…., the final worth 100 points makes up for 22%. We aslo have 5 vce assignments that are worth 100 points….at 1% per vce totaling 5% of our total grade…And last but not least a project worth 100% which is 5% of our grade. Can you please email me back regarding this becuase im trying to figure this out. Thanks!! P.S for us to pass I need at least an 80% or higher which is a C!!
Hi, Jay. This math is really beyond my purview: my guess is that you could (and should) figure out the math yourself. If you need help translating all this from the perspective of your school’s grading policy, why not head over to the office of the registrar or student services? They should be able to help you. With regard to grades in individual courses, you should be raising this issue with each of your professors.
Good luck!
Hello, Sneha,
1. You should anticipate sending whatever academic records you have. Different universities will have different policies, but you aim is to provide the college in the US with as much information about your academic past as possible.
2. Generally you do not do the conversion yourself. The colleges have the responsibility of learning about the policies and styles of marking at your current university. One possibility, though, is to share information about those policies and styles with the receiving university. If, for example, there is something printed or on the Indian university’s website about grading policies, print it out and include it with your application. Don’t make a conversion yourself: let the receiving university do that.
Good luck with your application!
Honestly, each college may have their own ways of “standardizing” grades and GPAs. But they likely do not really try to standardize a system for which there is no real standard. The student will be judged within the context of her school: if the school reports percentages on the transcript, they will use those without “converting” to a 4.0 scale. When looking at a transcript, they want to know how well your daughter performed in relation to her peers at her current school. They will not attempt to make a direct correlation of her GPA with the GPA of a kid at a swanky private school on the East Coast or at an urban high school in Detroit. They will compare her with her peers at her current high school.
So don’t worry about the conversions–even though you may worry that there is no “standard.” Remember, admissions is an art, not a science. And the American education system, as you know, is woefully lacking any sort of national standards. Maybe we should–as a nation–be less resistant to national standards? Food for thought….!
Thanks for writing in.
Hi, Sam,
If you’re a Cornell, then you are certainly capable of doing this math. Algebra, man, algebra. If in doubt, talk to the professor in your class.
One thing to point out: as at most colleges, your professor is inflating grades. If he was not, then a C would be the “mean grade.” Consider yourself lucky.
Good luck on the exam!
Hi Mark,
I would appreciate your reply for the following question.
Can you please name at least 1 or 2 universities / schools who provide courses for Students from India with 3 year degree, to get a BS degree in the same discipline.
I am holding a 3 degree (B.Com ) from India and want to get a 4 yr Degree in Commerce with minimal course work.
Any help / pointer is highly appreciated.
Thanks
Sundar
Hi Marc
I would really appreciate your advice. I am a medical doctor from India. My Medical School used percentage system. My average percentage in the total four and half years was 70%. It looks really modest but actually I was always one of the top 5 students (total 64 in batch) throughout the course. The reason for modest looking percentage is that in most medical colleges in India even the topper can only usually acheive a maximum of 75 – 80%
I am planing to apply to American Universities for further studies and when I started researching these conversion tables, it is worrying me as the GPA translated from these tables definitely do not accurately reflect my achievement in college
I would be grateful for your advice
Hello.
You need not worry so much. First off, graduate programs in the US know that every country’s system is different. Americans may sometimes be parochial, but our universities have welcomed international students for many, many decades. I would not worry about conversions. But if your medical school has some sort of information about how grades are awarded in that school, and what percentage of student attain what result, that might be helpful to include with your application. Also a recommendation from a college official that highlights the fact that the a 80% mark is outstanding would help alert the reader of your application to the differences. Of course, the reader already will be alert and will be experienced, most likely. But hedge your bet by providing information–not direct conversions.
Hope that helps.
Mark
Thank you Mark….That was a really quick response…please keep up the good work…take care.
Dear Sundar,
Thanks for your question If I understand what you are asking, you want to know of schools where you can pursue a second bachelors degree, having already completed one. If that is right, I can only reply with another question: why would you want to do that??? It’s expensive and redundant.
My brother, who has been in business for himself for years, would tell you that if you want to be in business, set up a business. Be in business. No need to get an MBA. Set up a business for yourself. Learn business while making money for yourself, rather than pay someone else to teach you business so that you can work in a cubicle somewhere making money for someone else.
And if you really want “minimal course work,” then what, really, is the point? Just to have another set of letters after your name? I’m sure that looks nice on a business card, but those letters don’t put money in the bank, do they? From the way you put your question, you want a degree but not an education. In my view, that’s backwards. Plus, the return on investment would stink, especially if you invest in an American BA degree. Would you really want to pay US$100,000 (or perhaps double that) for some letters?
Sorry to be a bit hard on you; maybe I am misunderstanding your question. But if you really want to know, there are probably plenty of universities in the US that would be happy to take your money for a second 4 year BS degree in business. The economy is hurting right now…at least in the US. Finances are tight, and perhaps your money will help them make their budget.
It’s interesting: we read here that India is the land of opportunity….!
Best of luck!
hello
i graduated in Iran , my average is 15 out of 20 ,im applying for Malaysia ,they asked CGPA /percentage. how can i convert my grade to Malay grade system?
thnx alot
Hello, Mitra. I’m not an expert on the Malaysian system, or am I an expert on the Iranian system. But unless the Malaysian university requires you to make this conversion, I would submit your marks from Iran just as they are. If you can include an explanation of how grades are calculated at your Iranian school (especially if it comes on official school letterhead and is written and signed by a school official), this will really help. Don’t try making the conversion yourself. If in doubt, just talk to the Malaysian university directly.
Best of luck!
Mr. Mark Montgomery, your doing an amazig job!!
Hi, Mr Mongomery
i am currently a freshman in a public high school and i wanted to ask you a question about something you said earlier, ” You will be judged within the context in which you are educated.” i realize you said this in reply to someone living in France but is it possible the same rules apply here in the US? i came from Ellicott City MD where i would have gone to a private blue-ribbon school and i moved to Mechanicsburg PA where the schooling isnt as good…so basically imm asking would colleges look at me differently if i came from some unprestigious school in the middle of nowhere or if i came from Philips Exeter Academy?
Hi, Matt.
The answer to which you refer would be the same for students in the US: you are judged in the context in which you are educated. As you make choices at Mechanicsburg, you want to find ways to challenge yourself as best you can. In some rural districts, you might want to check out the dual enrollment options with your local community college. If your high school does not offer a lot of AP or even honors courses, you want to find ways to create that challenge for yourself. Of course, there are limits as to what you can do. But if school is too easy, then it’s up to you to read beyond the syllabus and/or find opportunities to enrich your own learning. Still, you will be judged by the standards of Mechanicsburg: if few rigorous courses exist, make sure you take them all! Also, take heart in the knowledge that not everyone from Philips Exeter gets into their dream school: they essentially compete with one another for top schools. So actually, excelling in Mechanicsburg may set you apart and give you a slight advantage in some things!
I hope this helps.
hi mr. montgomery
I really messed up in high school i got a average gpa of 1.9 . all my life i got all A’s untill high school when my dad sister died then both my grandparents died different years in high school, that is no excuse as for me to get these horrible grades but i do believe it caused me to get some of them. i am extremely smart and was planning on going to a community college and get nothing but A’s in all my classes and i need to know two things first is if i get a’s can i get into a school like M.I.T or caltech and second should i go to the community college for 1 year or 2 years i only want to go for 1 year but if i should go for 2 years to get into M.I.T or somewhere else like it i will. Thanks
Hello, Darius,
The nice thing is that in the US you are always given a second chance. I think the plan to attend community college is the right one. With your GPA the way it is, I’d recommend two years, but that sort of depends on where you want to go. Whether you will get into MIT or CalTech, I’d have to say it is doubtful, though not completely impossible. Having the AA with excellent grades, a record of participation, some solid recommendations, and some other accomplishments along the way will help give you more chances at more schools. But MIT and CalTech accept few transfers, and even fewer who have not had the very rigorous training in the sciences from the get-go (which will be hard to do at community college–you’ll have trouble finding classes that are analogous to those offered in the first two years at CalTech or MIT). My advice is to focus for the rest of your senior year on getting excellent grades (don’t wait until you graduate), and then do really well your first year of CC. Then take stock, ask around, and see what your options are. That will be your next fork in the road. But for now, just keep going down your path, seeking excellence, and when you get to the fork your choices will be more clear.
Good luck!
Hi,
Thanks for your useful information. I have a question regarding my GPA. My BSc and MSc grades are 15.83 and 16.44 out of 20. (in Iran). I have used grading system of India for an equivalent GPA: 3.5 for BSc and 4.0 for MSc. Are these GPAs correct? If not, how can I calculate the real GPAs? My BSc rank was 3rd among 30 students.
Best regards
This is so weird I mean I don’t have an excuse to why I’m failing Science I need help.
hi, What about if the university has different system to calculate gardes, for example in our university we have this type of grade:
A+ = 80-100
A = 70-79
B+ =60-69
B = 50-59
C = 45-49
D= 40-44
F = 0-39
can you tell me how to calculate GPA?
thank you