GPA Scale Conversion: 4.0, 5.0, Percentage, and Letter Grades Explained
Quick Answer: The most common GPA scale is the unweighted 4.0 scale, where an A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0. A 5.0 scale is a weighted scale that awards extra points for Honors or AP courses. A 4.0 GPA generally corresponds to a 93-100% percentage and an ‘A’ letter grade, though exact conversions vary by school.
GPA scales can be confusing. Is a 4.0 the same everywhere? What does a 5.0 GPA mean? How does a percentage grade translate to a GPA? This guide will clarify the most common grading systems and provide conversion charts to help you translate between them.
Standard Unweighted 4.0 GPA Scale
This is the most common scale used by colleges and high schools. It’s “unweighted,” meaning every class is graded on the same 4.0 scale, regardless of its difficulty.
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range | GPA (4.0 Scale) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 93-100% | 4.0 |
| A- | 90-92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87-89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83-86% | 3.0 |
| C | 73-76% | 2.0 |
| D | 63-66% | 1.0 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
Weighted 5.0 GPA Scale
Many high schools use a weighted scale to reward students for taking more challenging courses like Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Honors. On this scale, an ‘A’ in a standard class is a 4.0, but an ‘A’ in an AP class might be a 5.0. This is how students can graduate with a GPA above 4.0. For a deeper dive, read our guide on weighted vs. unweighted GPA.
General GPA to Percentage Conversion Chart
Converting a final GPA to a single percentage is an estimation, as it depends on the grades that went into the average. However, this chart provides a generally accepted conversion.
| GPA (4.0 Scale) | Estimated Percentage | Letter Grade Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 93-100% | A |
| 3.7 | 90-92% | A- |
| 3.3 | 87-89% | B+ |
| 3.0 | 83-86% | B |
| 2.7 | 80-82% | B- |
| 2.3 | 77-79% | C+ |
| 2.0 | 73-76% | C |
| 1.0 | 63-66% | D |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do colleges use a 4.0 or 5.0 scale?
Most colleges use an unweighted 4.0 scale for their own courses. When they receive high school transcripts, they often recalculate an applicant’s GPA on a standard 4.0 scale to compare all students fairly. However, they still take note of the weighted GPA and the challenging courses a student took.
What about other scales, like a 12-point scale?
Some institutions, particularly in Canada, use other scales like a 12-point system. We have a dedicated 12-point GPA converter and calculator to help with those conversions.
How do I calculate my GPA if my transcript only shows percentages?
You would need to convert each percentage grade to a grade point using your school’s official scale (e.g., 95% = 4.0, 85% = 3.0). Then, you would follow the standard steps outlined in our guide to calculating GPA.
Last Updated: April 2025