How GPA Works
Grade point averages explained — calculation, credit weighting, scales, and conversion to percentage.
5 min read · Last updated: July 13, 2026
How GPA is calculated
GPA = Σ(grade points × credit hours) ÷ Σ(credit hours). Each letter grade maps to grade points (A=4.0, B=3.0, etc.). A 4-credit A impacts GPA twice as much as a 2-credit A because credits weight the average.
Grading scales
The 4.0 scale is standard in the US. Some schools use 5.0 for AP/honors weighting. Indian and many international institutions use 10.0 scales. Always confirm which scale your transcript uses before converting.
Semester vs cumulative GPA
Semester GPA covers one term. Cumulative GPA averages all completed semesters. Improving cumulative GPA becomes harder as more credits accumulate — early strong semesters have lasting impact.
GPA to percentage
Conversion formulas vary: US 4.0 scale often uses (GPA ÷ 4.0) × 100. Indian UGC commonly uses CGPA × 9.5. Use our GPA to Percentage Calculator for bidirectional conversion on multiple scales.