Grade-Point Average
What is a grade-point average?
The grade-point average (or GPA) gives a measure of a student's average
performance in letter-graded courses.
How do I calculate my Grade-Point Average (GPA)?
You use all courses completed on a letter-grade basis (A+ through
F). You do NOT use courses graded P, NP, IP, W, or I. The grade you
receive in a course determines how many grade points you receive for
that course. For each unit in the course, you earn the grade points
as shown in Table 1, below.
Table 1: Grades and Grade-point Values
|
A+
|
4.0
|
|
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
|
Therefore, if you earn a B+ in a 4-unit course, you earn 4 x 3.3 grade points, or 13.2 grade points. If you earn a D in a 5-unit course, you earn 5 x 1.0 grade points, or 5 grade points.
Calculating your grade-point average requires relating the grade points you have earned in courses to the unit value of those courses. For example, suppose that in a quarter you receive the following grades and units:
|
Units |
Grade |
|
|
Course#1 |
4 |
B+ |
|
Course#2 |
3 |
A |
|
Course#3 |
4 |
C |
|
Course#4 |
2 |
P |
The grade points you have earned are calculated as follows:
|
Units |
Grade |
Grade Points per Unit |
Grade Points for course |
|
|
Course#1 |
4 |
B+ |
3.3 |
13.2 |
|
Course#2 |
3 |
A |
4.0 |
12.0 |
|
Course#3 |
4 |
C |
2.0 |
8.0 |
|
Course#4 |
2 |
P |
0.0 |
0.0 |
To calculate your GPA, you must divide the total number of grade points earned in your letter-graded courses by the number of letter-graded units you have attempted. Note that Course #4 does not apply to the calculation because you chose P/NP grading.
To calculate your GPA, we extract the following information from Courses
1 through 3:
|
Units |
Grade |
Grade Points per Unit |
Grade Points for course |
|
|
Course#1 |
4 |
B+ |
3.3 |
13.2 |
|
Course#2 |
3 |
A |
4.0 |
12.0 |
|
Course#3 |
4 |
C |
2.0 |
8.0 |
|
Course#4 |
2 |
P |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Total |
13 (11 letter-graded units) |
33.2 |
||
|
GPA
|
=
|
Total Grade points
|
=
|
33.2
|
=
|
3.01
|
|
Letter Graded Units
|
11
|
If you would like more practice in this click here.
Grade-Point Balance
What is a grade-point balance?
The grade-point balance is a measure in grade points of how far you
are over or under the minimum standard (2.0 GPA). A negative balance
is often called a deficit.
How do I calculate my grade-point balance?
Each letter grade, except C, has an impact on the grade-point balance.
For each unit of letter-graded courses, the grade-point balance impact
of the letter grade is found by subtracting 2.0 from the grade points
you have actually earned. Table 2 summarizes this for each letter grade.
Table 2: How Grades Affect Your Grade-Point Balance
|
Grades |
Per Unit Contribution to
Grade-Point Balance |
|
A+ |
2.0 |
|
A |
2.0 |
|
A- |
1.7 |
|
B+ |
1.3 |
|
B |
1.0 |
|
B- |
0.7 |
|
C+ |
0.3 |
|
C |
0.0 |
|
C- |
-0.3 |
|
D+ |
-0.7 |
|
D |
-1.0 |
|
D- |
-1.3 |
|
F |
-2.0 |
Note that that each grade above C improves the grade-point balance, each grade below C reduces it, and grades of C have no effect on the grade-point balance. Table 3 summarizes the impact on grade-point balance of courses with different unit values for each grade.
Table 3: Summary of Grade-Point
Balance by Grade and Unit Value
|
Grade
|
1 Unit
|
2 Units
|
3 Units
|
4 Units
|
5 Units
|
|
A or A+
|
+2.0
|
+4.0
|
+6.0
|
+8.0
|
+10.0
|
|
A-
|
+1.7
|
+3.4
|
+5.1
|
+6.8
|
+8.5
|
|
B+
|
+1.3
|
+2.6
|
+3.9
|
+5.2
|
+6.5
|
|
B
|
+1.0
|
+2.0
|
+3.0
|
+4.0
|
+5.0
|
|
B-
|
+0.7
|
+1.4
|
+2.1
|
+2.8
|
+3.5
|
|
C+
|
+0.3
|
+0.6
|
+0.9
|
+1.2
|
+1.5
|
|
C
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
C-
|
-0.3
|
-0.6
|
-0.9
|
-1.2
|
-1.5
|
|
D+
|
-0.7
|
-1.4
|
-2.1
|
-2.8
|
-3.5
|
|
D
|
-1.0
|
-2.0
|
-3.0
|
-4.0
|
-5.0
|
|
D-
|
-1.3
|
-2.6
|
-3.9
|
-5.2
|
-6.5
|
|
F
|
-2.0
|
-4.0
|
-6.0
|
-8.0
|
-10.0
|
Using the example above:
Units |
Grade |
Grade Points per Unit |
Grade Point Balance for Course |
|
|
Course#1 |
4 |
B+ |
3.3 |
5.2 |
|
Course#2 |
3 |
A |
4.0 |
6.0 |
|
Course#3 |
4 |
C |
2.0 |
0.0 |
|
Course#4 |
2 |
P |
0.0 |
0.0 |
|
Total |
13 (11 letter-graded units) |
11.2 |
||
Again, each grade above C improves your grade-point balance, each grade
below C damages it, and C grades have no effect.
The grade-point balance is particularly useful if your GPA is below 2.0, since it gives you insight into what you have to do to get into good academic standing. For example, if you have a grade-point balance of -16 (deficit of 16 grade points), you must improve your grade-point balance by achieving grades above C in an appropriate number of units. In this case, you could eliminate this negative balance (or deficit) by earning grades of B in 16 units or A in 8 units. Use Table 3 to find other combinations of grades that would eliminate this deficit.
If you would like more practice in calculating grade-point balances, click here.
