ToolsOrigin
Search
Theme: Obsidian
Choose a theme

Education

GPA calculator

Calculate a credit-weighted term GPA from numeric points or an editable grade scale. Add your previous GPA and credits to estimate an updated cumulative GPA.

Works locally in your browser

How this tool works

A grade point average weights every course by how many credits it carries, so a heavier course counts for more than a light one. This tool calculates that weighted average for a single term, and optionally folds it into an existing cumulative record.

Inputs and definitions

  • Grade points is the value assigned by your institution. Enter it directly, or choose grade-symbol entry and check the editable example or custom scale.
  • Credits is the credit or unit weight of the course. Decimal credit values are supported.
  • Existing cumulative credits and GPA are optional. Enter both to combine this term with your prior record; leave both blank to see only the term GPA.
  • Course list and display support up to fifty courses, optional local names, reordering and two or three GPA decimal places. Exclude non-GPA courses explicitly. The quality-point table shows each course’s contribution; edit grades or credits to compare a what-if result.

Methodology

Each included course contributes quality points equal to its grade points times its credits. The term GPA is the sum of those quality points divided by the sum of included credits.

term GPA = (sum of grade points times credits) / (sum of credits), over included courses
The term GPA equals the sum of each included course's grade points times its credits, divided by the sum of the included credits.

When an existing cumulative GPA and credit total are entered, the term's quality points are added to the existing GPA's implied quality points, and the combined total is divided by the combined credits. This reconciles the two records exactly rather than averaging the two GPA figures directly, which would overweight a term with fewer credits than the prior record.

Assumptions

  • Choose numeric grade points or symbols from an editable scale. The 4.0 and plus/minus scales are examples, not universal rules. Confirm or customize every point value against your institution’s published scale; point values must be between 0 and 20. Percentage grades are not converted automatically.
  • A course excluded from the calculation, such as a pass/fail or withdrawn course your institution does not count toward GPA, is kept in the list but contributes no credits or quality points.
  • Retake and grade-replacement policies are not applied automatically; remove or adjust a retaken course yourself according to your institution's rule.

Worked examples

Combine three courses into one term GPA

Enter three courses: 4.0 grade points with 3 credits, 3.3 grade points with 4 credits, and 3.7 grade points with 3 credits, all included.

  1. Find each course's quality points

    The three courses contribute 12, 13.2, and 11.1 quality points, for a total of 36.3 quality points across 10 credits.

  2. Divide by total credits

    36.3 quality points divided by 10 credits gives the term GPA.

The term GPA is 3.63 across 10 credits.

Fold a new term into an existing cumulative GPA

Enter two courses worth 3 credits each, at 3.0 and 4.0 grade points, and provide an existing cumulative record of 60 credits at a 3.2 GPA.

  1. Find the term's quality points

    The two courses contribute 9 and 12 quality points, for a term total of 21 quality points across 6 credits, a term GPA of 3.50.

  2. Combine with the existing record

    The existing record implies 60 times 3.2, or 192 quality points. Adding the term's 21 quality points gives 213 quality points across 66 combined credits.

The updated cumulative GPA is 3.23 across 66 credits.

Limitations and common mistakes

This tool performs arithmetic only. It cannot know your institution's specific rounding convention, grade-replacement policy, or which courses are excluded from GPA by rule.

Frequently asked questions

Why does averaging two GPA figures directly give the wrong answer?

Averaging a term GPA and a cumulative GPA directly treats both records as equally sized, even when one covers far more credits than the other. Reconciling through quality points instead correctly weights each record by its own credit total.

What grade points should I use for a plus or minus grade?

Use the value your institution assigns. The editable plus/minus example uses 3.3 for B+, but that is only a starting point. Check your syllabus or registrar and adjust the scale when needed.

How do I exclude a pass/fail or withdrawn course?

Turn off the included toggle for that course. It stays visible in your list but contributes no credits or quality points to either the term or cumulative calculation.

Can I use this for an international grading scale?

Yes. Enter the grade points your scale uses, up to 20 points per course, and the same credit-weighted formula applies regardless of the scale's range.

Sources

  • Weighted Mean — National Institute of Standards and Technology (accessed )

Method and content record

The method, examples and limitations describe how this tool works. Recorded checks do not establish independent professional review.

Record attribution, date and versions

Record attribution: ToolsOrigin calculation review; configurable-scale and introduction guidance checked by Codex.

Record date: .

Content version 1.0.2. Engine version 1.0.0.