1. Determine Grade Points for Each Course:
* Assign numerical values to your letter grades: This varies slightly depending on your school or institution, but a common system is:
* A = 4.0
* B = 3.0
* C = 2.0
* D = 1.0
* F = 0.0
* Plus/Minus Grading: If your system uses pluses and minuses (e.g., A-, B+, etc.), you'll need to adjust the numerical values accordingly. A common system is:
* A+ = 4.3
* 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
2. Multiply Grade Points by Credit Hours:
* For each course, multiply the numerical grade point value by the number of credit hours the course is worth.
3. Sum the Weighted Grade Points:
* Add up all the weighted grade points you calculated in Step 2.
4. Divide by Total Credit Hours:
* Divide the sum of weighted grade points (from Step 3) by the total number of credit hours you've taken.
Example:
Let's say you took three courses:
* Course 1: A (4.0) in a 3-credit course: 4.0 * 3 = 12.0 grade points
* Course 2: B+ (3.3) in a 4-credit course: 3.3 * 4 = 13.2 grade points
* Course 3: C (2.0) in a 3-credit course: 2.0 * 3 = 6.0 grade points
Calculations:
* Total grade points: 12.0 + 13.2 + 6.0 = 31.2
* Total credit hours: 3 + 4 + 3 = 10
* GPA: 31.2 / 10 = 3.12
Your GPA in this example is 3.12.
Important Considerations:
* Check your school's grading system: The exact numerical values assigned to letter grades might differ slightly from the examples above. Always refer to your school's official grading scale.
* Cumulative GPA: Your cumulative GPA is your overall GPA across all semesters or terms.
* Semester/Term GPA: You can calculate your GPA for each semester or term separately using the same method.
* Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA: Some schools calculate weighted GPAs which give extra weight to honors or AP courses. Your school will specify if they use a weighted system.
* GPA Calculators: Many online GPA calculators are available. Simply search "GPA calculator" on the internet. These calculators can save you time and reduce the chance of errors.
Remember to use the grading system specific to your institution for accurate results.