How GPA is calculated
GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated by multiplying each course's credit hours by its grade point value, summing all those products (quality points), and dividing by the total number of credit hours. For example, an A in a 3-credit course contributes 12 quality points (3 × 4.0), while a B+ contributes 9.9 quality points (3 × 3.3). The result is a weighted average on the 4.0 scale, where a perfect GPA is 4.0 and anything above 3.5 is typically considered honours-level academic performance.
Grade point values used
This calculator uses the standard 4.0 scale: A+/A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7, F = 0.0. Note that individual institutions may use slightly different scales — some give A+ a value above 4.0, and some do not include ± modifiers. Always check your school's official grading policy for precise grade point values.
Tips for improving your GPA
Because GPA is credit-weighted, courses worth more credits have a larger impact. Retaking a course with a low grade (if your institution allows grade replacement) is one of the most effective ways to raise a GPA, especially if it was a high-credit course. Focusing on high-credit courses where you have the best chance of an A also makes a disproportionate positive impact. Some institutions exclude certain courses (pass/fail, remedial) from the GPA calculation — check your transcript policies for details.