How is grade point average determined

Besides 8-track tapes, the other archaic thing your parents used when they were young was the good old fashioned letter grade system, also known as a simple GPA. For each class you have, you assign the correct number to the letter grade, add all of your grades together and divide by the number of classes you have taken. This means, you might need to whip out a calculator. Using this scale, a perfect GPA would equal 4. Some schools choose to really amp things up with a weighted GPA.

The next curve ball in the GPA game is the idea that the number of credits each course is worth, will determine how heavily it affects your GPA. Many schools factor in the number of credits each course is worth, meaning a 4-credit class more value than a 2-credit class. For those among you that are overachievers, and will be adding AP, Honors, or IB classes to your schedule, first off bravo on the ambition.

Some grades are not included in your GPA calculation. Your total grade points for each individual class is calculated by multiplying the grade point value for your grade by the number of credits for the class. The class was three credits. Your total number of grade points for each term is calculated by adding up all of the grade points earned for each class that counts in your GPA. You took four classes that were three credits each and earned a grade of B in all of them.

Your term or semester GPA is calculated by taking your total number of grade points for that term and dividing that by the number of credits you took in classes that are included in your GPA for that term.

Your cumulative GPA is calculated by adding up the total number of grade points for every class you have taken that has a grade included in your GPA and dividing it by the total number of credits for those classes. You have been at Salem State for two semesters and have taken a total of 30 credits.

There are a number of online GPA calculators that you can use to help you figure this out. From your Navigator home page, select the Academic Records tile. There are two places where you can see this information, your unofficial transcript, or your grades.

We receive data from schools every year, and from that we know there are two factors that weigh most heavily in college admission:. Since GPA is so important, here's a quick breakdown of how to calculate yours. Your grade point average GPA is the sum of all your course grades throughout your high school career divided by the total number of credits. Most high schools and colleges report grades on a 4. The top grade, an A, equals a 4. Some high schools use a weighted GPA scale, which gives more points greater "weight" to grades in accelerated courses like Honors Biology or AP French.

So, while a B might normally equal a 3. The answer to this depends on where you want to go to college. Check out the GPA ranges for accepted students to the schools on your wish list, and see how your grades compare. Use our college search to research schools that interest you or grab a copy of our book Best Colleges to help you find your best-fit school.

Colleges will also consider the rigor of your high school schedule. Did you take Honors and AP courses when they were available? Besides doing well in the courses you took, colleges want to see that you are challenging yourself academically. Your GPA will help you get in, but in these budget-tight times, great grades can also translate directly into dollars and cents.