Grade Calculation Rules
The calculation scale in the United States is based on 4.0 scale. Different with some other countries, the grading in the U.S is based on points, grade letters, grade points, and GPA.
PointsEach time you turn in your assignment in class, the teacher will give you a point for that assignment. For example: 10/10 or 8/10 points. Sometimes, they give you the percentage instead of points, but they all mean the same.
Grade LettersAt the end of the semester, the teacher will add all of the points that you have earned during the semester, and divide them with the maximum points that can be achieved. That will give the teacher the percent that you accomplished in the class. For example, if I earn 890 points during the semester, and the maximum points for the class is 1000 points, then it means I have accomplished or earned an 89%.
Based on that percentage, the teacher will convert it into your letter grade. The scale is slightly different depending on the teacher, but in most of the cases, it will be like:
| 93.3% - 100.0% = A | 73.3% - 76.0% = C |
| 90.0% - 93.0% = A- | 70.0% - 73.0% = C- |
| 86.6% - 89.0% = B+ | 66.6% - 69.0% = D+ |
| 83.3% - 86.0% = B | 63.3% - 66.0% = D |
| 80.0% - 83.0% = B- | 60.0% - 63.0% = D- |
| 76.6% - 79.0% = C+ | BELOW 60% = F |
For each grade you receive, you need to convert it back to the grade points. The scale is below:
| A = 4.0 | C- = 1.7 |
| A- = 3.7 | D+ = 1.4 |
| B+ = 3.4 | D = 1.0 |
| B = 3.0 | D- = 0.7 |
| B- = 2.7 | F = 0.0 |
| C+ = 2.4 | UW = 0.0 |
| C = 2.0 | WF = 0.0 |
Then, you take the grade points and multiply it with the credit hours of the class. For example, if I have a C+ in a 2 credit class, I will receive 2 x 2.4 = 4.8 points for that class. Easy?? After you have added all of the grade points together, divide it with the total credit hours of the semester, then you have the Grade Point Average (GPA) for that semester. If you do the same calculation with all your classes that you have taken up to the present time, you will have a Culmulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), which is the grade that will be used to evaluate your studying. You will need the CGPA in a lot of cases, like job hunting, scholarship applications, or grade warning (Please check out our Grade Warning Policies here).
