Complete GPA Calculation Guide
GPA turns grades into points and averages them. In many U.S. scales, A is 4.0, B is 3.0, C is 2.0, D is 1.0, and F is 0. Plus and minus grades use steps such as 3.7 or 3.3. Your school’s chart wins if it differs.
Semester GPA
Multiply each course’s credits by its grade points. Those products are quality points. Add the quality points, add the credits, and divide. A 3-credit A (4.0) is 12 quality points. A 4-credit B (3.0) is 12 quality points. Together that is 24 quality points over 7 credits, or about 3.43. A 4-credit course moves the average more than a 1-credit lab.
Cumulative GPA
Do not average semester GPAs unless every term has the same number of credits. Add quality points and credits across terms. If 45 credits at 3.20 are 144 quality points, and a new 15-credit term adds 51, the new total is 195 over 60 credits, or 3.25. The CGPA calculator does that weighted step. A pass/fail course often adds credit and no grade points, but a failing mark is sometimes a zero. Ask the registrar.
Weighted GPA and Repeats
Unweighted GPA usually stops at 4.0. Weighted GPA may give extra points for honors or AP, and the bonus is different at every school. A repeat may replace the old grade or count both attempts. Calculate the cumulative GPA, and a separate major or prerequisite GPA, when an application asks for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate GPA by hand?
Turn each grade into points, multiply by credits, add the quality points, and divide by total credits.
Is CGPA the same as GPA?
GPA can mean one term. CGPA means the cumulative average across terms.
Can I average my semester GPAs?
Only when each semester has the same number of credits. Otherwise add quality points and credits.
Does pass/fail change GPA?
Often it adds credit and leaves GPA unchanged. Some schools count a fail as zero. Use the registrar’s rule.
Where can I check the arithmetic?
Use the CGPA calculator after you have the credits and grade points.