How to Figure Cumulative Grade Point Average

Grade point averages (GPAs) are used by colleges to rank students for acceptance into graduate programs and to determine eligibly for scholarships, and sometimes by employers. This simple number becomes very important for students throughout their college career. Colleges use a cumulative GPA system that includes the units of a course and the grade received as part of the calculation.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator
• Final grades
• Class credits or units

Instructions

1. Change each letter grade that you received to its corresponding points. A = 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points, D = 1 point, and F = 0 points.

2. Multiply each grade point by the number of units that class was worth. For example, if you got an A in a 4-unit math class, the result is 16 (4 x 4 = 16).

3. Add together all of the results from step 2. Write this number down to use later.

4. Add together all of the class units that you took. If you took 3 classes, each at 3 units, then the total is 9 (3 + 3 + 3 = 9).

5. Divide the total from step 3 by the total number of units from step 4. This is your cumulative grade point average.

6. Use this example as a guide if you are having trouble with the math. Johnny took 3 classes. He got an A in math, which was 4 units; a C in history, which was 3 units; and a B in biology, which was 4 units. To calculate grade points: math = 4 x 4, history = 2 x 3, and biology = 3 x 4. Total grade points added together is 16 + 6 + 12 = 34. Total units are 4 + 3 + 4 = 11. Divide grade points by units: 34 / 11 to get a cumulative GPA of 3.09.

Resources

• GPA Calculator