Make a list of all completed courses along with the final numerical grade.
Assign a letter grade to each numerical grade. For example, using the 10-point grading scale; a grade of 95 or greater = A, 94-90 = A-, 89-86 = B+, 85-83 = B, 82-80 = B- and so on.
Find the numerical value by assigning each letter grade a value. For instance, A's = 4.0 and A-'s = 3.7; but, values for B's, C's, and D's are a little different. For example, a B+ = 3.3, C+ = 2.3, and a D+ = 1.1. In the same manner, a B = 3.0, C = 2.0, and D = 1.0. However, a B- = 2.7, C- = 1.7, and D = 1.0.
Calculate the quality points for each class using the formula: numerical value x credit hours = quality points. For example, if you made an A- in a 3-credit hour class, the formula would be 3.7 x 3 = 11.1.
Calculate the GPA by adding up both the credit hours (also known as quality hours) and quality points for all classes. Use the formula: quality points / quality hours = your GPA.
Write the formula: (quality hours x (desire GPA -- current GPA)) / (future GPA -- desired GPA) = credits needed. (See References 3)
Enter into the formula your total number of quality hours. Also, subtract your current GPA from your desired GPA. For example, if you have completed 50 credit hours and currently have a 2.5, but you desire a 3.0; the first half of your formula should be: 50 x (3.0 -- 2.5), which equals 50 x ( 0.5) or 25.
Enter into the formula your "future GPA," which is the GPA that you expect to have for your current course still in-progress. Subtract your future GPA from your desired GPA. For instance, your overall GPA is 2.5; however, you believe that your GPA for the current semester will be a 3.5 and you want to know what it will take to raise your overall GPA up to 3.0. The second half of your formula should be: 3.5 -- 3.0 = 0.5.
Solve the formula. Using the examples above, the formula should read: 25/0.5 = 50. This means, if you maintain a 3.5 GPA for the next 50 credits your overall GPA will rise from 2.5 to 3.0.