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Grading Scale Calculator

View standard grading scales (plus/minus, simple, pass/fail) with GPA values and percentage ranges, or build a completely custom grading scale with your own cutoffs.

Select Grading Scale Type

LetterGPA% RangeRange Bar
A+4.097–100%
A4.093–96%
A-3.790–92%
B+3.387–89%
B3.083–86%
B-2.780–82%
C+2.377–79%
C2.073–76%
C-1.770–72%
D+1.367–69%
D1.063–66%
D-0.760–62%
F0.00–59%

How to Use the Grading Scale Calculator

Use the Standard tab to view and select from three common grading scales: the full Plus/Minus scale (A+, A, A-, B+…), the simplified Standard scale (A, B, C, D, F), or Pass/Fail grading. Each scale shows letter grades, GPA values, and percentage ranges with a visual bar chart.

Use the Custom tab to build your own grading scale from scratch. Enter any letter designation, set the percentage cutoffs, and assign GPA values. This is useful for instructors designing course rubrics or students at institutions with non-standard scales.

Comparing the Three Standard Scales

Plus/Minus Scale (Recommended)

The plus/minus scale with 13 grade levels (A+ through F) is the most widely used at US colleges and universities. It provides the finest granularity and most accurately reflects a student's performance. Employers and graduate schools are most familiar with this scale.

Standard Scale (Simple)

The simplified 5-grade scale (A, B, C, D, F) uses broader percentage ranges and is common in some K-12 schools and community colleges. Students may prefer this scale for its simplicity, but it rewards students less precisely — an 80% and 89% both earn a B.

Pass/Fail

Pass/Fail grading is used for elective courses, professional development credits, and certain specialized programs. Grades of Pass (60%+) do not affect GPA at most institutions, making P/F courses attractive for exploring new subjects without risking GPA.

Example comparison: A student scores 88% in a course.

Plus/Minus scale: B+ (3.3 GPA)

Standard scale: B (3.0 GPA)

Pass/Fail: Pass (no GPA impact)

Building a Custom Grading Scale

When creating a custom grading scale, follow these guidelines to avoid gaps and overlaps:

Frequently Asked Questions

The Plus/Minus scale is the most recommended for college courses because it provides the finest differentiation and is the academic standard at most US universities. Use the Standard scale (no plus/minus) if your institution requires it or for younger students who benefit from simpler grading. Pass/Fail is appropriate for low-stakes or supplementary learning experiences where you don't want GPA consequences.
Research is mixed on this question. Plus/minus grading can hurt students who previously received solid A's (now potentially A-) but can help students who scored near the top of the B range (now B+). On balance, studies suggest plus/minus grading tends to slightly lower average GPAs because it creates more gradations below the highest marks. Students who want to maximize GPA performance should aim for the A range regardless of scale.
A Pass grade earns course credit but is not included in GPA calculations at most universities. This means you can take challenging or unfamiliar courses with less GPA risk. However, some graduate schools and employers may view many P/F courses skeptically, as they provide less information about academic performance. Most advisors recommend limiting P/F courses to 1–2 per semester and not using P/F for core major requirements.
At most institutions, professors must specify the grading scale in the course syllabus at the start of the semester and are generally not permitted to change it to students' disadvantage after coursework has begun. Professors can curve grades upward (add points or lower cutoffs), which benefits students, but raising cutoffs mid-semester is typically prohibited by academic policy. Always check your course syllabus on the first day.
Grade curving adjusts raw scores or cutoffs to improve the distribution of grades. Common methods include: adding a fixed number of points to all scores, scaling scores so the highest grade becomes 100%, or adjusting cutoffs downward. A curved grade is typically applied before the letter grade is assigned — so a 78% might become a B if the curve lowers the B cutoff from 80% to 77%. The custom scale tool above lets you simulate any curving scenario.

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📋 GPA Scale Reference 📊 Grade Chart % Percentage to GPA 🔢 Letter Grade to GPA