How To Convert Your GPA To A 4.0 Scale?

We’re all familiar with the common university admissions phrase that starts with... “you must have a minimum GPA of...”

You take a look at your high school grades and convert them to an unweighted GPA. But, the number isn’t quite high enough for the university’s requirements. You sigh and scratch that university off the list, as well the names of all the other universities whose requirements are similar. Hold it right there! The truth is, you could still get into those universities!

How? Well, most universities don’t look at GPAs the same way that we do. The GPA, or grade point average, is only one factor in their admission consideration. A key performance indicator, GPAs tell universities about your general academic performance in high school. 

Some universities look at GPA differently, and they weigh it to account for the difficulty of your courses, but we’ll get to that later. First off, we’ll teach you how to be your own GPA percentage converter by diving into how to convert percent to GPA, how to convert GPA to 4.0 scale, and weighted versus unweighted GPAs.

 

Finding Your GPA Scale

Different schools use different scales for their GPA scores. Contact your academic advisor or counselor in your high school to find out what sort of scale your school uses.

It might look similar to the 4.0 scale provided above; otherwise, the grade points are either increasingly spread out (above 4.0 scales), compacted within larger ranges (below 4.0 scales).

 

How to Convert Weighted GPA to 4.0 Scale

To convert GPA to a 4.0 scale, you’ll need to gather your grades from every credit course that you took. Make a note as well for any difficult courses, such as the AP course or IB.   Check out the steps given below to convert the GPA with the college GPA scale.

 

Step 1 - Convert Percent to GPA

With the help of the table below, compare and weigh up your percentage grades to a 4.0 scale.

Grades	Score	4.0 Scale
A+	97-100	4
A	93-96	4
A-	90-92	3.7
B+	87-89	3.3
B	83-86	3
B-	80-82	2.7
C+	77-79	2.3
C	73-76	2
C-	70-72	1.7
D+	67-69	1.3
D	65-66	1
F	Below 65	0

 

Step 2 - Compare Your Grades

Allot one extra full point to courses with high academic rigor, like IB and AP courses, and allot half a point to honors courses. 

By accounting for academic difficulty in each course, you’ll set the stage for converting your overall GPA to a weighted GPA. 

 

Class	Credits	Grade	Weighted GPA	Unweighted GPA
AP Information technology	4	A	5	4
Honors calculus	4	A	4.5	4
French	3	B+	3.3	3.3
AP Public Administration	4	A-	4.7	3.7
AP European History	3	B	3	3
Honors Creative Writing	3	A	4.5	4
Financial Management	2	A	4	4

 

Step 3 - Calculate Unweighted And Weighted GPA on a 4.0 Scale

To calculate either unweighted or weighted GPA, you will have to multiply your GPA with the number of credits linked to that particular course. 

 

Unweighted GPA Value	Unweighted GPA Value	Weighted GPA Value	Weighted GPA
4(4)	88.4/23	4(5)	97.2/23
4(4)	4(4.5)
3(3.3)	3(3.3)
4(3.7)	4(4.7)
3(3)	3(3)
3(4)	3(4.5)
2(4)	2(4)
88.4	3.84	97.2	4.23

 

*Note: Sum of credits=23

Convert Percent to GPA

Most universities and colleges maintain a 4.0 grading system when calculating your GPA scores. We’ve provided you with the default 4.0 GPA scale which you could use as a reference to compare your GPA with admission requirements. 

Letter Grade	Grade Points	Numerical Grade
A+	4.0	97-100
A	4.0	94-96
A-	3.7	90-93
B+	3.3	87-89
B	3.0	84-86
B-	2.7	80-83
C+	2.3	77-79
C	2.0	74-76
C-	1.7	70-73
D+	1.3	67-69
D	1.0	64-66
D	0.7	60-63
F	0.0	0-59

 

Weighted vs Unweighted GPA

Your GPA score is influenced by whether it is weighted or unweighted. Unweighted GPAs treat every course, even if some are drastically more difficult than others, the same. 

Weighted GPAs consider the academic difficulty of the courses you took. Examples of special considerations for a weighted GPA include AP, IB, or honors classes. If you took any particularly difficult classes like those, you’ll add more points to your weighted GPA, even though you may have scored lower when calculating your unweighted GPA. 

Take a look at our blog post to learn more about the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA.  

 

Calculating Your Average GPA 

Your average GPA is likely already on your report card. But, if it isn't, you can calculate it on your own by adding all of your grade scores together. then, divide the sum by the number of courses to get the average. 

 

GPA = Sum of all grade points/number of credits

 

Calculating Your Standardized GPA Score 

Once you’ve got your average GPA in your hand, you can convert it to the 4.0 GPA scale. 

Standardized GPA = (GPA GPA Scale Value) Desired GPA Scale Value

So let’s say that on your school’s 8.0 GPA scale, you achieved an average GPA of 6.0. 

In this case, you divide your average GPA with your GPA scale value, 6.0/8.0. 

Then, you take the result and multiply it by 4.  This will give you your standardized GPA score.

6.0/8.0 = 0.75

0.75*4 = 3 GPA

 

If your GPA score has more than 1 number after the decimal point, round to the nearest hundredth. 

 

 

Conclusion

When applying for college, aim to meet GPA minimums outlined in admissions requirements. But, remember that admissions teams assess your whole application and not just your GPA. Be confident and apply whether your GPA meets the minimum or not!