GPA Scale Chart
Complete reference charts for the standard 4.0 GPA scale and the weighted 5.0 scale used for AP, Honors, and IB courses.
Standard 4.0 GPA Scale
| Grade | GPA | Percentage | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97–100% | Excellent |
| A | 4.0 | 93–96% | Excellent |
| A- | 3.7 | 90–92% | Excellent |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89% | Good |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86% | Good |
| B- | 2.7 | 80–82% | Good |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79% | Average |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76% | Average |
| C- | 1.7 | 70–72% | Average |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67–69% | Below Avg |
| D | 1.0 | 63–66% | Below Avg |
| D- | 0.7 | 60–62% | Below Avg |
| F | 0.0 | < 60% | Failing |
Note: P (Pass), W (Withdrawal), I (Incomplete) excluded from GPA calculation.
Weighted 5.0 GPA Scale
| Grade | Regular | Honors | AP/IB |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+/A | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A- | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| B- | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| C- | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Honors adds +0.5, AP and IB add +1.0 to base grade points.
Understanding the GPA Scale
The Grade Point Average (GPA) scale converts letter grades into numerical values, allowing academic performance to be summarized as a single number. In the United States, the standard scale runs from 0.0 to 4.0, with 4.0 representing the highest possible GPA.
Each letter grade corresponds to a specific point value. An A or A+ equals 4.0 points — the maximum. Minus grades slightly lower the value (A- = 3.7), and plus grades slightly raise it (B+ = 3.3). The F grade equals 0.0 points.
Plus and Minus Grades
Most colleges and high schools use a plus/minus system that creates 13 distinct grade levels between A+ and F. Not all institutions use plus/minus grades — some schools only use A, B, C, D, and F (a 5-point scale). Always check your school's grading policy.
GPA Thresholds That Matter
- 4.0 — Perfect GPA, Summa Cum Laude at many schools
- 3.9+ — Summa Cum Laude at most universities
- 3.7+ — Magna Cum Laude, competitive for top graduate programs
- 3.5+ — Dean's List at most colleges, Cum Laude at many schools
- 3.0+ — Good academic standing, required for most scholarships
- 2.0+ — Minimum for good academic standing at most colleges
- Below 2.0 — Academic probation risk at most institutions
The Weighted 5.0 Scale
Many high schools use a weighted GPA scale to reward students who take rigorous coursework. On this scale, Honors courses add +0.5 bonus points and AP/IB courses add +1.0 bonus points to grade values. This means an A in an AP course equals 5.0 on the weighted scale (vs. 4.0 unweighted).
Weighted GPA allows the scale to exceed 4.0. A student who earns straight A's in all AP courses would have a perfect weighted GPA of 5.0. Colleges often recalculate GPAs on an unweighted basis for fair comparison between students from different school systems.