GPA Calculator

Use this GPA Calculator to estimate your semester GPA or plan your overall performance by entering courses, credit hours, and letter grades. It supports unweighted and weighted GPA, so you can model Honors or AP/IB bumps while keeping caps clear and realistic. If you’re browsing more study tools, explore our Education Calculators hub.

For long-term planning, many students pair this page with a cumulative tracker like calculator gpa cumulative. You can also jump to All Calculators when you want a quick way to compare tools side-by-side.

Calculator Inputs

Fast • Private • Local

Unweighted uses the selected grade scale only. Weighted adds a level bump per course (Regular/Honors/AP-IB) with a per-course cap.

Weighted cap policy: course points can rise with bumps, but are capped at 5.0 max per course. Unweighted caps at 4.0 or 4.33.

Display precision does not change your calculation; it only changes how the final GPA and totals are shown.

Course Name (optional) Credits * Grade * Level Action
Weighted max per course: 5.0

Results

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How to Calculate GPA

GPA (Grade Point Average) is computed by converting each letter grade into grade points, multiplying by credit hours, and dividing by the total credits. This tool supports both unweighted and weighted GPA so you can model how rigorous courses affect your average.

Core Formula

For each course i, you compute quality points: qualityPointsᵢ = coursePointsᵢ × creditsᵢ. Then sum credits and quality points across all included courses: TotalCredits = Σ creditsᵢ and TotalQualityPoints = Σ qualityPointsᵢ. Finally: GPA = TotalQualityPoints ÷ TotalCredits.

Weighted vs Unweighted Policy (Clear Caps)

Unweighted GPA uses the base points from the selected grade scale and caps each course at the scale maximum (4.0 or 4.33). Weighted GPA adds a level bump per course (Regular +0.0, Honors +0.5, AP-IB +1.0) and caps each course at 5.0 to keep results realistic. The results card shows the max reference used for the progress ring.

Rounding & Precision

Calculations use full decimal precision internally. Display rounding is applied at the end (2 decimals by default, optional 3). Quality points are shown with a consistent decimal format so you can replicate the math in a spreadsheet if needed.

Use Cases

  • Scholarship eligibility: test whether your current and projected GPA meets a minimum requirement (e.g., 3.50+).
  • Program admissions: model a competitive major that expects strong grades in prerequisite courses with higher credits.
  • Target GPA planning: estimate what grades you need next semester to reach a desired GPA milestone.
  • Retake strategy: compare scenarios where you retake a course and replace a low grade versus averaging attempts.
  • Honors/AP weighting check: see how Honors or AP/IB bumps can influence your weighted GPA without confusing caps.

Worked Examples

The examples below use the standard letter scale where A = 4.0 (A-, B+, etc. follow typical 0.3 steps), and weighted bumps apply only in weighted mode. Your school’s catalog may differ, but the math structure is the same.

Example 1: Unweighted Semester GPA (15 credits)

Courses: Calculus (3 credits, A), English (3 credits, B+), Biology (4 credits, A-), History (3 credits, B), Elective (2 credits, A). Quality points: (4.0×3)=12.0, (3.3×3)=9.9, (3.7×4)=14.8, (3.0×3)=9.0, (4.0×2)=8.0. Total quality points = 53.7. Total credits = 15. GPA = 53.7 ÷ 15 = 3.58.

Example 2: Weighted GPA With Honors/AP (16 credits)

Courses: Honors English (3 credits, A-), AP Biology (4 credits, B+), Regular History (3 credits, A), AP Calculus (4 credits, A), Regular Elective (2 credits, B). Base points: A-=3.7, B+=3.3, A=4.0, A=4.0, B=3.0. Bumps: Honors +0.5, AP-IB +1.0, Regular +0.0. Course points become 4.2, 4.3, 4.0, 5.0 (capped), 3.0. Quality points: 12.6 + 17.2 + 12.0 + 20.0 + 6.0 = 67.8. GPA = 67.8 ÷ 16 = 4.24.

Example 3: A+ Scale Option (A+ = 4.33) Unweighted

Courses: Chemistry (4 credits, A+), Writing (3 credits, A), Statistics (3 credits, A-), Art (2 credits, B+). Points: A+=4.33, A=4.0, A-=3.7, B+=3.3. Quality points: 17.32 + 12.0 + 11.1 + 6.6 = 47.02. Credits = 12. GPA = 47.02 ÷ 12 = 3.92 (displayed to 2 decimals).

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to enter credit hours for each course (GPA is credit-weighted, not a simple average).
  • Mixing grade scales (e.g., using A+ = 4.33 in one place and A+ = 4.0 elsewhere) without declaring a single policy.
  • Assuming a weighted bump applies to every class (many schools only weight specific honors/AP/IB courses).
  • Including empty rows or partially filled rows (credits without grade, or grade without credits) which changes totals incorrectly.
  • Confusing semester GPA with cumulative GPA when planning long-term targets.

Quick Tips

  • Use the weighted mode to model course rigor, but confirm how your school caps weighted points.
  • Enter credits exactly (including 0.5 labs or mini-courses) for a more accurate estimate.
  • Compare scenarios: switch one course grade up/down to see its real impact on total quality points.
  • If your institution replaces retake grades, run the calculator twice (before/after) to understand the difference.
  • Track progress over time using a cumulative planner like calculator gpa cumulative.

FAQ

These answers cover common GPA policies. Always check your school or college catalog for official rules, especially for weighting, retakes, and transfer credits.

What’s the difference between weighted vs unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA uses grade points from a standard scale (often A = 4.0) and does not add extra points for course difficulty. Weighted GPA adds a bump for advanced levels like Honors or AP/IB, which can raise points above 4.0. Schools differ: some cap weighted points per course (for example at 5.0), others cap the final GPA. This calculator shows both modes and applies clear per-course caps so your estimate stays consistent and explainable.
Does A+ count differently than A?
Policies vary widely. Some schools treat A+ the same as A (both worth 4.0), while others award A+ as 4.33 on a 4.33-based scale. This calculator includes three scale options: standard A–F, A+ treated as 4.0, and A+ treated as 4.33. Choose the one that matches your transcript policy. If you use weighted GPA, course bumps may apply, but a clear cap is still enforced for each course to avoid unrealistic point inflation.
How do pass/fail courses affect GPA?
Many institutions exclude pass/fail courses from GPA calculations, meaning they count toward credits earned but not quality points. However, some schools treat “Fail” as an F that impacts GPA, and others have special rules for elective pass/fail options. This calculator focuses on letter-grade GPA math, so for pass/fail classes you should either omit them (if they don’t affect GPA) or map “Fail” to F only if your policy explicitly counts it in GPA. Confirm the rule in your program handbook.
How do retakes impact GPA?
Retake policies are school-specific. Some institutions replace the original grade entirely (only the newest attempt counts). Others average attempts, keep both attempts, or allow replacement only for a limited number of credits. To model your situation, run scenarios: first enter the original grade, then enter the replacement grade and compare totals. If your school replaces grades, you should remove the earlier attempt from the calculation; if it averages both, include both attempts with the correct credits and grades.
Do transfer credits count toward GPA?
Transfer credits often appear as accepted credits without affecting the receiving institution’s GPA, but this depends on the college. Some schools record transfer grades for internal GPA, while others only record “CR” (credit) with no grade points. If your transcript does not include transfer grades in GPA, omit them here and treat them as credits earned only. If your institution does include transfer grades, enter them as normal courses with the corresponding credit hours and letter grades.
How is GPA rounding handled?
Most GPA calculations use full precision quality points and then round the final GPA for display (commonly to two or three decimals). Some schools round each course’s grade points first, while others keep more precision until the end. This calculator computes with full decimal precision internally, then rounds only the displayed GPA to 2 decimals by default (or 3 if you choose). This reduces rounding distortion, especially when you have many small-credit courses or half-credit labs.
Why do credit hours matter so much?
GPA is a credit-weighted average: a 4-credit course influences your GPA more than a 1-credit course because it contributes more quality points. The calculation multiplies each course’s points by its credits, then divides by total credits. This is why improving a grade in a high-credit course often moves your GPA more than improving a low-credit elective. Entering accurate credit hours is essential for a realistic estimate, particularly in semesters with a mix of labs, lectures, and short modules.
Is semester GPA the same as cumulative GPA?
Semester GPA is calculated using only the courses in one term, while cumulative GPA combines multiple terms and uses total quality points and total credits across your academic record (as defined by your institution). This calculator computes a term-style GPA for the rows you enter. To plan long-term outcomes, you can treat your existing record as “starting totals” and then add future terms in a dedicated planner. If you’re tracking multiple semesters, a cumulative-focused tool can be more convenient than re-entering everything each time.
Are there limits to Honors/AP weighting?
Many schools apply weighted bumps only to designated courses and may cap weighted points per course (often around 5.0). Some districts also cap the number of weighted classes counted in a term or cap the final weighted GPA. This calculator applies a transparent per-course cap for weighted mode to keep course points from rising indefinitely. If your institution uses a different cap, you can still use the calculator for planning—just interpret the weighted estimate in the context of your official policy.

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Accuracy & Trust Notes

Method: This calculator runs locally in your browser. Your course entries are processed on-device and are not transmitted by this widget.

Rounding / precision policy: Calculations keep full decimal precision for quality points and totals. Display rounding is applied to the final GPA (2 decimals by default, optional 3). Weighted mode applies level bumps and caps per course at 5.0; unweighted caps per course at 4.0 or 4.33 depending on the selected scale.

Privacy-first: No logins, no tracking scripts, and no external libraries are used in this widget.

Last Updated: January 18, 2026

Sources & References

Common GPA and weighting rules are typically described in school or college catalogs and grading policy documents. Always confirm your institution’s official grade scale, retake rules, and transfer-credit treatment.

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