Letter Grade Calculator

Convert a score into a letter grade, a percentage and 4.0 GPA points. Enter points earned and points possible, choose a grading scale, and see your letter, how far you are from the next grade up and the number of points each grade needs. Example: 43 out of 50 is 86%, a B on the plus/minus scale (3.0 GPA points), and 44 out of 50 would move it to a B+ at 87%.

How to use the Letter Grade Calculator

1. Enter the points you earned and the points possible (for example 43 and 50).
2. Pick the grading scale your school or instructor uses.
3. Press Calculate to see the percentage, the letter and the 4.0 GPA points.
4. Check the table for the number of points each letter grade needs on this assignment.

Formula and method

Percentage = points earned ÷ points possible × 100

The percentage is then matched to a band on the scale. On the common US plus/minus scale, 93 to 96.99 is an A, 90 to 92.99 is an A-, 87 to 89.99 is a B+, and so on down to 60 for a D-. Below 60 is an F.

Example: 43 ÷ 50 × 100 = 86%. That falls in the B band (83 to 86.99). A B+ needs 87% of 50 = 43.5 points, so the student is 0.5 point away.

US plus/minus grade scale

This is the most common college scale, but it is not a standard. Many schools do not award an A+ with extra GPA value, and some high schools use 90/80/70/65 cutoffs.

Plain scale (no plus or minus)

Used by many K-12 schools and some college courses. A 79.9% is a C here but a C+ on the plus/minus scale.

How to convert points to a letter grade

First divide points earned by points possible. Multiply by 100 to get a percent. Then find the band the percent falls in. For a quick check without a calculator: 90% of the points is an A- on the plus/minus scale, 80% a B-, 70% a C-, and 60% a D-.

Worked examples

The plain scale hides the difference between a high B and a low B; the plus/minus scale separates them into B+, B and B-.

Letter grade vs GPA

A letter grade describes one class. GPA turns letter grades into points (A = 4.0, B = 3.0, and so on) and averages them, weighted by credit hours. Use the GPA calculator for a semester or the CGPA calculator for many semesters.

Can the percent be over 100?

Yes, with extra credit. The calculator accepts earned points above the total and still reports the top grade, along with the percentage.

International grade scales

Other countries use different systems: letter grades in some, 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 numeric scales, or honours classes. The US scale in this calculator should not be applied to those systems; see the grading systems page in Sources for a country-by-country overview.

Accuracy and limits

The conversion is exact. The grade you receive is the instructor’s decision, and rounding, curves and dropped scores can change it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate a letter grade?

Divide points earned by points possible and multiply by 100. Then find the percent on your scale. For example, 43 / 50 = 86%, which is a B on the plus/minus scale.

What percentage is an A?

On the plain scale, 90% and up. On the plus/minus scale, 93% for an A, 90% for an A-, and 97% for an A+.

What is a 3.0 GPA in letters?

A 3.0 corresponds to a B on the 4.0 scale. B+ is 3.3 and B- is 2.7.

Do all schools use the same scale?

No. Cutoffs vary between schools and instructors. Use your syllabus.

What percent is a passing grade?

Most US courses treat 60% (D-) or 70% (C-) as passing, but many majors and programs require a C or better.

Sources

• Academic grading in the United States (Wikipedia)
• Grade point average (Wikipedia)
• Grading systems by country (Wikipedia)

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