GPA calculator
Compute GPA from course grades and credits (4.5/4.3 scales).
| Course (optional) | Grade | Credits |
|---|
Transcripts list grades course by course, but the number applications ask for is a single weighted average — and a three-credit course counts more than a one-credit elective. This calculator does that weighting for you.
Pick the scale your school uses, add a row per course with its grade and credit hours, and it returns your GPA. Course names are optional, so you can use it as a quick estimate or as a full semester record.
How it works
How the average is calculated
GPA is credit-weighted, not a plain average of grades. Each grade converts to points, gets multiplied by that course's credit hours, and the total is divided by total credits:
GPA = sum(grade points x credits) / sum(credits)
So an A in a 3-credit course moves your average three times as much as an A in a 1-credit course.
The two scales
| Grade | 4.5 scale | 4.3 scale |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| A | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| B+ | 3.5 | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| C+ | 2.5 | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| D+ | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| F | 0 | 0 |
Both are common at Korean universities and they are not interchangeable — the same transcript yields a different number on each, and the gap is widest for students with many A+ grades. Check which one your institution reports before converting anything.
Using it
Add one row per course, select the grade, enter the credit hours, then calculate. Leaving the course name blank is fine. Pass/fail courses normally sit outside the GPA entirely, so omit them rather than entering a grade for them.
Terms explained
- Credit hours
- The weight assigned to a course, usually 1 to 4. Courses with more credits pull the average harder.
- Grade points
- The numeric value of a letter grade on the selected scale - for example A+ is 4.5 on the 4.5 scale and 4.3 on the 4.3 scale.
- 4.5 scale
- A scale where A+ is worth 4.5, widely used by Korean universities.
- 4.3 scale
- A scale where A+ is worth 4.3 and the plus grades sit 0.3 above the base grade.
- Weighted average
- The GPA method used here: total grade points earned divided by total credits attempted.
- Pass/fail
- A course graded only as passed or failed. It normally carries no grade points and is excluded from GPA.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a 4.5 GPA to a 4.0 scale?
There is no single official conversion, and different institutions and application services apply different rules - some divide proportionally, others map grade by grade. Because the methods produce different results, use the conversion published by the organization receiving your application rather than a generic formula.
Should I include pass/fail courses?
Usually not. Pass/fail courses typically carry credit toward graduation but no grade points, so including them would distort the average. Leave them out unless your school explicitly assigns them a numeric value.
Why does my calculated GPA differ from my official transcript?
Common causes are retaken courses where only one attempt counts, courses excluded from the GPA by policy, credit hours entered incorrectly, or a school that uses a plus/minus system beyond the grades listed here. The transcript is authoritative - use this tool for estimates and planning.
How do I calculate a major GPA instead of an overall GPA?
Enter only the courses that count toward your major and calculate normally. The formula is identical; only the set of courses changes. Check your department's definition of which courses qualify, since it does not always match the obvious list.
Does the calculator handle A- or B- grades?
No. It uses the plus-and-base grade set (A+, A, B+, B and so on) standard on the 4.5 and 4.3 scales. If your school uses minus grades, its scale differs from these two and the result here will not match.
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