About the GPA calculation
A grade point average weights each course by its credit value, so a four-credit course moves your GPA twice as much as a two-credit one. Averaging grade points directly — ignoring credits — gives a different and usually wrong answer, which is the single most common GPA mistake.
Formula
GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ(credits)
Enter grades as points:credits pairs — "3.7:3" is a 3.7 in a three-credit course.
Omit the credits and each course is weighted equally.Worked example
A 4.0 in 3 credits and a 3.7 in 4 credits: (4.0×3 + 3.7×4) ÷ 7 = (12 + 14.8) ÷ 7 = 3.83. The plain average of 4.0 and 3.7 would be 3.85 — close here, but the gap widens with uneven credits.
Frequently asked questions
What grade points do letter grades map to?
On the common US four-point scale, A is 4.0, A− is 3.7, B+ is 3.3, B is 3.0, and so on down in 0.3 to 0.4 steps. Scales vary considerably by institution and country, so use your own school's conversion table.
What is the difference between GPA and CGPA?
GPA usually refers to a single term or semester. CGPA is cumulative across your entire programme, calculated the same way but over every course taken. Enter all your courses here to get the cumulative figure.
Should I include failed or withdrawn courses?
Failed courses usually count as zero grade points while still consuming credits, which is why a single fail hits a GPA so hard. Withdrawals typically carry no credits and are excluded. Follow your institution's policy.
How do weighted honours or AP courses work?
Some schools award extra points — a 5.0 scale for advanced courses. Enter the boosted grade point directly and the credit weighting handles the rest.
Sources
- Standard credit-weighted grade point average