When you receive a grade for your class, you may wonder how much it will count towards your GPA. It’s important to figure this out to see if you’re on track for meeting your academic goals. The good news is it’s not a complicated calculation.
How Letter Grades Relate to Grade Points
You may receive a letter grade on your assignments. Each of these has a grade point equivalent, as follows:
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
How Do Pass/No Pass Grades Work?
Some classes use a pass/no pass system rather than giving you a letter grade (this may be abbreviated as P or NP). If you receive a pass, you’ll receive credit for the class but it won’t impact your GPA. Typically, just electives use this system.
Calculating Your Grade Point Average for the Semester
To calculate your GPA for a particular semester, multiply the grade point for each class by the number of credits you earned. Then, add together the results for each class.
For instance, imagine you took four classes, each worth three credits, and received an A for one class, a B- for two classes, and a C for one class. This gives you:
4.0 x 3 + 2.7 x 3 + 2.7 x 3 + 2.0 x 3 = 34.2
Then, divide the result by the total number of credits for the semester. In the above example, this is:
34.2 / 12 = 2.85
This is your GPA for the semester.
Your Cumulative Grade Point Average
Once you know how to calculate your GPA for a particular semester, it’s easy to figure out your cumulative GPA. Simply repeat the above calculation for all the classes you’ve taken, remembering to divide by the total number of credits you’ve earned at college so far (not including credit for pass/fail classes).
What Happens If You Repeat a Class?
In addition to trying to gain better grades in your future classes, you may be able to improve your GPA by repeating classes. To figure out what your GPA might be after you retake a class, subtract your current grade from the total, add the grade you expect to gain, and divide the new total by the number of credits you’ve earned.
In the above example, if you wanted to improve your C, the calculation would be:
34.2 – 2.0 x 3 = 28.2
If you expected to be able to improve your grade to an A, this would lead to:
28.2 + 4.0 x 3 = 40.2
The calculation is then:
40.2 / 12 = 3.35
This means retaking the class could increase your GPA from 2.85 to 3.35.
Armed with the knowledge of how your GPA stands now, you can start taking steps to improve it. One important thing to do is improve your study habits. If you’re still living in a dorm, you should consider moving into off-campus student housing. Peterborough students can upgrade their living experience by moving into Severn Court. You’ll have a private bedroom with a desk and chair in a suite you share with five other students. We have both gender-inclusive and same-gender options. Take a virtual tour to see the apartments for yourself.
