The cumulative grade point average is the rough average of grades based on the letter grades you get each semester. Each letter grade has a numerical value from 0-4 or 5 points, depending on the scale used by your institution. The school also checks your GPA when you apply to college or graduate. Unfortunately, there is no universal way to calculate GPA. Indeed, the way in which GPA is calculated varies by country and by institution, as some add grades to class awards, and some consider grades based on the whole subject. However, by using some basic calculation methods and more general GPA calculations, hopefully you will get a clearer picture of your GPA.
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Method 1 of 4: Using a Simple GPA Calculation
Step 1. Determine the scale of values
The most common grade scale for schools in the United States is a scale of 4. Using this scale, an A = 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D = 1 point, and F = 0 points. This method is called an unweighted GPA. Some schools use a weighted GPA that allocates 5 points to superior grades, such as award-winning, Advance Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB). The other classes get the same weight. Students who are in a class with 5 points can get a GPA above 4.0.
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Some schools use assessments with plus and minus signs. A plus sign is worth +0, 3 and a minus sign is worth -0, 3. For example, a B+ is worth 3, 3, a B is worth 3, 0, and a B- is worth 2.7 points.
51457 1b1 - If you are not sure about the method used by your school, you should ask your teacher or administrative staff.
Step 2. Collect the final values
You can request it from your teacher, office administration staff, or grader. You can also find out the value obtained by checking it on an old report card or transcript.
You want to collect the final grade for each of your classes. Individual class scores, midterm exam scores, or scores on the midterm report card do not count. Only the last grade for each semester, term, and quarter counts on your GPA
Step 3. Record the point value for each letter value
Write the correct point value next to each letter value using a 4-point scale. Therefore, if you get an A- in a subject class, score 3, 7; if you get C+, record the values 2, 3.
For reference, use the table from the College Board to help establish the correct 4.0 rating scale
Step 4. Add up all your point scores
After recording the numeric values based on the letter values, add up the values. So, suppose you get an A- in Biology, a B+ in English, and a B- in Economics. You add up the total values in this way: 3, 7 + 3, 3 + 2, 7 = 9, 7.
Step 5. Record this final number and divide it by the number of subjects you took
If you scored a 9, 7 on a 4-point scale for 3 subjects, you would calculate your GPA using the following equation: 9, 7 / 3 = 3, 2. Your GPA is 3, 2.
Method 2 of 4: Calculating GPA with Weighted Credit Hours
Step 1. Determine the amount of credit
For some schools, especially college courses, each course has a number of credit hours. Credit hours are units used by schools to measure workload. In general, credit hours are determined based on the teaching method, the number of hours spent in class, and the number of study hours spent outside of class. Earn a set number of credit hours for each course you take. This information should be listed on your school transcript or catalog.
- Most schools offer courses with 3 credit hours, others offer 4 credit hours courses, and some schools combine the two. For most schools, laboratory classes earn 1 credit hour.
- If you can't find credit hours for each course, check with your administrator or grader.
Step 2. Assign a scale value to each letter value
Use the common 4-point GPA scale to assign grades A = 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D = 1 point, and F = 0 points.
- If your school allocates 5 points to upper-level classes, such as Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB), you will use a weighted GPA scale.
- Add 0.3 for each letter value with a plus sign or subtract 0.3 for each letter value with a minus sign. If you have an A- in your class, mark it as 3, 7. Match each letter value with its scale value and write it next to the numerical value (eg B+ = 3, 3, B = 3, 0, B- = 3, 7).
Step 3. Calculate the weighted score
To get your GPA, you'll have to do a little math to determine the difference in scores on the scores that make up your overall GPA.
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Multiply each letter grade point by the number of credit hours to get a grade point. For example, if you get a B in a course with 4 credit hours, you would multiply the grade 3 on the B scale by 4 credit hours, which will give you 12 grade points for the class.
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Add the weighted points of each course together to calculate the total score points.
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Step 4. Get the overall weighted credits
Add up the credit hours you've taken to get the total credit amount. If you take 4 courses with 3 credit hours each, you will earn a total of 12 credit hours.
Step 5. Divide the total score points by the total credit hours
For example, if you had a total points score of 45.4 with 15.5 credit hours total, you would have a math problem: 45, 4 / 15, 5 = 2.92. Your credit hour weighted GPA is 2.92.
Method 3 of 4: Calculating GPA Using Excel
Step 1. Prepare your starting column
In column A, type the name or number of subjects you took. In column B, type the letter grades that will be included in the GPA.
Step 2. Enter the scale value in column C
Determine the numerical scale value of the letter values you have entered. To complete this step, you need to determine whether or not your school uses a weighted GPA scale.
- The 4-point GPA scale is as follows: A = 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D = 1 point, and F = 0 points. If your school uses a weighted GPA scale, upper grades will be allocated 5 points. Check with your administrator, teacher, or grader for this information. You can also find it on a report card or final grade sheet.
- Add 0.3 for each value with a plus sign or subtract 0.3 for each value with a minus sign. For example, B+ = 3, 3, B = 3, 0, B- = 2, 7.
Step 3. Type an equal sign (=) in the first cell in column D
All equations in excel start with an equal sign, so you have to use it every time you make a calculation.
Step 4. Type the letters SUM
This formula will indicate to the program that it will be calculated by the addition equation.
Step 5. Fill in your equation
This equation will be used to calculate your GPA determined by the number of letter grades you have, but the basic formula is “=SUM(C1:C6)/6”.
- C1 is the cell number (C-column, 1-row) of the first value in your column.
- The number to the right of the colon is the cell number of the final value in your list.
- The number after the slash is the number of subjects you are counting. In this case, the number of subjects counted is 6. If you have 10 subjects on the list, you will replace the number 6 with the number 10.
Step 6. Press Enter key
You will be greeted with a number in column D which is your last GPA.
Method 4 of 4: Calculating GPA by Percentage
There are some schools that use the GPA as a percentage, rather than a 4, 0 or 4, 33 scale. Here's how to calculate it
Step 1. Find out what type of class you are taking
Certain classes have a higher "weight" in the GPA calculation. The regular class has a weight of 1 (or does not change). While the PAP class or special class has a weight of 1.05 and the AP class or advanced class has a weight of 1.1.
Suppose a person takes 5 classes and scores as follows: Specialty Literature=94, Regular Chemistry=87, Advanced World History=98, Specialty Pharmacy Training=82, and Research Methods (if not specifically stated, count as regular class)
Step 2. Multiply the obtained value by its weight
Special Literature with a value of 94 will be multiplied by 1.05 so that it becomes 98.7%, Meanwhile, Chemistry and Research Methods is a regular class so that the value is fixed, namely 87 and 100. Special Pharmacy Training with a value of 83 will be multiplied by 1.05 so that to 86.1%. Furthermore, Advanced World History that scores 98 will be multiplied by 1.1 to make 107.8%
Step 3. Find the average
The formula is very easy, namely (n+n+n…)/#n, where n=value. Or in other words, add up all the values and divide by the number of classes.
Thus, 98, 7+87+100+86, 1+107, 8=479, 58.479, 8/5=95, 916. So, after rounding, the GPA obtained is 95, 2 or 96%. If the calculation result is too high, be sure to check it again. If you are using a calculator, be sure to use parentheses, or the results may be wrong
Tips
- Colleges often provide special tests for those who cannot calculate a GPA on any scale because of the time period between high school and college admission. Ask the college curriculum section for more complete information.
- Many colleges and universities offer online GPA calculators. This tool will calculate your GPA after you enter letter grades, credit hours, and other additional information.
- Most student report cards or records include a semester, quarter, or term GPA. Sometimes, they will also list the cumulative GPA.
- Keep in mind that while most schools will only count to 1 decimal point, others may count to 2 decimal points. With 2 decimal points, an A- is worth 3.67, a B+ is worth 3.33; with 1 decimal point an A+ is 3, 7, B+ is 3, 3. Ask your school if you are not sure about the calculation method they use.
- Some universities also consider a GPA per session (called the SGPA) and a cumulative GPA (called the CGPA). You can use some of the same methods as above to calculate your GPA. The difference is that the SGPA and CGPA will have more letter grades and credit hours which will be considered in the overall GPA.
