How to Calculate Grade Point Average (GPA)

Grade point average (GPA) reflects the general quality of a student's work. The GPA is a weighted-average based on the total number of credits taken in which grades of A through F are received. The highest possible GPA is 4.0, representing A grades in every course; the lowest possible is 0.0.

STEP 1. Identify the classes to include in your calculation.

For a semester GPA use all regularly graded courses in that semester and for the cumulative GPA use all courses.

STEP 2. Calculate grade points for each of the included classes.

Multiply the number of course credits for each course by the grade point values associated with the grade received in that course

The following grades are included in computing the GPA:

Grade

Points Per Credit

A (Excellent)

4

AB (Intermediate grade)

3.5

B (Good) 

3

BC (Intermediate grade)

2.5

C (Fair)

2

D (Poor)

1

F (Failure, see section below)

0

*Plus and minus signs are not used.

STEP 3. Calculate the GPA.

Add all of course points together and then divide that sum by the total number of credits

 GPA= Total grade points earned /Total credits taken toward GPA

Example                           

Course

Credit/Unit

Grade

Grade Points

ENGLISH  100

3

A

12

ECON 101

4

AB

16

MATH 221

5

B

15

Total

12

 

43

GPA

 

 

3.58

 

*GPA calculator from the Cross-College Advising Service: http://www.ccas.wisc.edu/calculator.html.

 

The following are items excluded from the GPA calculation:

-          S or U (Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory) in courses taken on the Pass/Fail basis.

-          Cr or N (Credit or No Credit) in courses offered on a Credit/No Credit basis

-          Def (Deferred), Ex (Excused), PE (Permanently Excused), formerly used only for required Physical Education. The Physical Education requirement was discontinued effective August 30, 1976.

-          DR (Dropped), indicates the course was dropped.

-          I (IN for Cr/N Courses) (Incomplete), a temporary grade used when work is not completed during a term.

-          EI (Extended Incomplete), a temporary grade for an extended time limit to remove an Incomplete.

-          PI (Permanent Incomplete), a permanent grade replacing an Incomplete incurred in a student's last semester in residence and not removed within five years.

-          NR (No Report), indicates that a grade was not submitted by the instructor. Has no net effect on GPA. Effective Summer 1999.

-          NW (No Work)..."should be used for students who enroll in a course and then never attend. 'No Work' in this context means that the instructor has no evidence that the student ever attended, in that no course work was ever submitted. Any student who does attend for part of the semester, and then stops participating should be given a grade of 'F' unless there are grounds for assignment of a grade of 'I'(Incomplete)." Fac. Doc. 1028; effective 9/94.

-          P (Progress), a temporary grade used for courses extending beyond one term. The final grade determines the grade for each term and replaces P grades for the course.

-          Q (Question on Credits), a temporary grade used during grade reporting to indicate a credit problem. A Q grade may be represented on a grade report as "?."

-          R (Registered), not used after the Summer 1974.

-          W (Withdrew), indicates the student withdrew from the University while enrolled in the course.

-          Audited courses, denoted as such by 'AU



KeywordsGPA, calculating GPA, grades   Doc ID29112
OwnerDJ M.GroupWisconsin BBA Advising Center
Created2013-03-14 15:24:08Updated2019-02-11 10:36:30
SitesWisconsin BBA Advising Center
Feedback  0   0