GPA Scale Reference

Complete letter grade to GPA conversion table. Toggle between the standard 4.0 scale and the weighted 5.0 scale used for AP and honors courses.

LetterGPA Points% RangeDescription
A+4.097100%Exceptional — highest academic achievement
A4.09396%Excellent — outstanding performance
A-3.79092%Excellent — strong performance
B+3.38789%Good — above average work
B3.08386%Good — solid, competent performance
B-2.78082%Good — meets most expectations
C+2.37779%Satisfactory — acceptable work
C2.07376%Satisfactory — average performance
C-1.77072%Satisfactory — below average
D+1.36769%Poor — minimum passing in many programs
D1.06366%Poor — barely passing
D-0.76062%Poor — lowest passing grade
F0.0059%Failing — does not meet minimum requirements
Standard 4.0 scale used by most US colleges and universities. A+ and A both equal 4.0 points.

How to Use the GPA Scale Reference

This interactive table shows the complete letter grade to GPA conversion used at most US colleges and universities. Toggle between the standard 4.0 scale and the weighted 5.0 scale used for AP and honors courses. Use the search box to quickly find any grade, GPA value, or description.

Hover over any row to highlight it for easy reading across all columns. The percentage ranges shown follow the most common academic standards, though individual institutions may use slightly different cutoffs.

Understanding the 4.0 GPA Scale

The 4.0 scale assigns numeric quality points to letter grades. Your GPA is the weighted average of these points, weighted by credit hours. A grade of A or A+ earns 4.0 points — the maximum on this scale.

GPA = Sum(Grade Points × Credit Hours) / Sum(Credit Hours) Example: A (4.0) × 3 credits + B+ (3.3) × 3 credits = 12.0 + 9.9 = 21.9 total points / 6 credits = 3.65 GPA

4.0 Scale vs. 5.0 Weighted Scale

The standard 4.0 scale is used for regular college courses. The weighted 5.0 scale is used in high school for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and honors courses. On the 5.0 scale, an A in an AP class earns 5.0 points instead of 4.0, rewarding students who challenge themselves.

Standard 4.0: A in regular English = 4.0 GPA points

Weighted 5.0: A in AP English = 5.0 GPA points

A student with all A's in AP courses can exceed a 4.0 weighted GPA.

Grade Percentage Ranges

While the letter grade to GPA mapping is standardized, the percentage cutoffs can vary by institution. The ranges in this table reflect the most widely used system (A = 93–100%, B = 83–86%, etc.). Some schools use a 10-point scale where A = 90–100%, B = 80–89%, and so on.

Frequently Asked Questions

At most US colleges and universities, both A+ and A equal 4.0 GPA points — there is no numeric difference. An A+ is a distinction of excellence but does not boost your GPA above a regular A. Some high schools and a few universities do award 4.3 points for an A+, so check your specific institution's policy.
Generally: 3.7–4.0 is considered excellent (Dean's List territory), 3.0–3.6 is good, 2.0–2.9 is satisfactory, and below 2.0 may put you on academic probation at many schools. Graduate school admissions typically look for 3.0+ (many programs prefer 3.5+). Employers in competitive fields often filter for 3.5+ GPA candidates.
No. While the 4.0 scale is standard in the US, different countries and even different institutions use different scales. UK universities use degree classifications (First, 2:1, 2:2, Third). India uses a 10-point CGPA system. Germany uses a 1–5 scale (where 1 is best). When applying internationally, you may need to convert your GPA using equivalency charts.
Latin honors typically follow these thresholds, though requirements vary by institution: Cum Laude (with honor) = 3.5 GPA, Magna Cum Laude (with great honor) = 3.7 GPA, Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor) = 3.9–4.0 GPA. Some schools use class rank percentiles instead of fixed GPA cutoffs.
On a standard 4.0 scale, no — 4.0 is the maximum. However, if your school uses weighted grading for AP/IB/honors courses on a 5.0 scale, your weighted GPA can exceed 4.0. Many college applications ask for both your weighted and unweighted GPA. Admissions offices are aware of this distinction and evaluate both in context.

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