GPA calculation

[Rafael Cavalcan]

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Hey guys,
I was just wondering how can I calculate my GPA? Is there some kind of formula that I can use? Cuz the number of credits and the letter grade are the two factors, and I was just curious of how they calculate this.

Thanks

 

[venus0206]

Hey,

You should call your school because different schools have different grading systems. I have found that most schools that kind of information on thier websites too.🙂

 

[PhT]

Generally, the procedure for GPA calculation is fairly simple. You take the number of credits each course is worth (generally 0.5-5) and multiply that number by the corresponding value for the letter grade recieved (D=1, C=2, B=3, A=4). Do this for each course taken, add the numbers up, and divide by the number of credits taken. Sounds strange, I know, but trust me 😉. Minus and plus grades are handled differently by every campus, and some (like mine) don't even use them. Usually, a minus or plus grade will cause a 0.25 point deviation from the standard grade, with the exception of an A+ (i.e. B-=2.75). Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's how it works. Anyways, here's an example calculation as described above, hope it helps!

3 credit course, grade recieved=B
4 credit course, grade recieved=A
5 credit course, grade recieved=A
5 credit course, grade recieved=A

The math: [(3x3) + (4x4) + (5x4) + (5x4)]/[(3 + 4 + 5 + 5)]
= 3.824 GPA

Regards,
Mark

 

[MD-2007-Gal]

An arbitrary set of semester grades:
English, 3 credits, A
Physics (including lab), 5 credits, B+
History, 3 credits, A-
Organic Chem, 5 credits, B
Economics, 3 credits, C+

For my undergrad, A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1. A- is 3.67, B- is 2.67, and so on. B+ is 3.33, C+ is 2.33, and so on. I'm pretty sure AMCAS does the same, as my GPAs that I calculated matched what they calculated when I entered in my grades.
Basically the same mathematical formula as PhT used
English: 3 x 4 = 12
Physics: 5 x 3.33 = 16.67
History: 3 x 3.67 = 11
Organic Chem: 5 x 3 = 15
Economics: 3 x 2.33 = 7
TOTAL = 61.67

The sum of the credits is (3 + 5 + 3 + 5 + 3) = 19
Divide the total above by the sum of credits:

61.67 / 19 = 3.2456

So, when rounding, the GPA for the semester is a 3.25

But luckily, on the AMCAS application, they figure GPA out for you! 😀

 

[vixenell]

I remember reading somewhere that the AMCAS scale is (or atleast was) something like this:



A+= 4.0
A =4.0
A- =3.7
B+ =3.3
B =3.0
B- =2.7
C+ =2.3
C =2.0
C- =1.7
D+ =1.3
D =1.0

(Grade value(s) * credit hours(s))/ total number of attempted credit hours

 

[Rafael Cavalcan]

Thanks everyone. It actually makes a lot of sense, it's a pretty simple calculation, I can't believe I couldn't figure it out by myself. 😕

 

[memoryless]

Originally posted by vixenell
I remember reading somewhere that the AMCAS scale is (or atleast was) something like this:

A+= 4.0
A =4.0
A- =3.7
B+ =3.3
...

It's always seemed unfair to me that B+s get an extra 0.3 over Bs, but A+s get nothing over As. At most colleges A+s are rarely given out, so it seems like such stellar performance should affect your GPA.

 

[Polar girl]

If your school only has plusses, and not minuses, then they are worth more.

B+=3.5
C+=2.5
etc.

 

[jmed]

Originally posted by memoryless
It's always seemed unfair to me that B+s get an extra 0.3 over Bs, but A+s get nothing over As. At most colleges A+s are rarely given out, so it seems like such stellar performance should affect your GPA.

At my school, a major state university, 'A+'s are not available to students- if you completley kick butt in a class, you still get an 'A'.
Grade inflation has become a problem at several excellent schools, maybe the awarding of 'A+'s to the exceptional performance of students is contributing to this?

RC- don't forget that on the AMCAS app, Math, Bio, Chem, and Physics classes are lumped together into a seperate science GPA, in addition to your overall GPA.