Grade Scale Reference

Grading scales are not federally standardized in the United States. Many colleges and high schools use plus/minus grading to provide more granular grade distinctions. This system rewards students who are close to the next letter grade. For example, an 89% B+ is mathematically worth more (usually 3.3) than an 81% B- (usually 2.7).

However, some districts use a flat scale where an 89% and an 81% both equal a flat 3.0. By adjusting the values in the editor above, you ensure all calculators across GPAtally use your exact local rules. If your school uses a flat scale, simply change the B+ and B- values to equal 3.0.

Consider a student who earns exactly an 88% in three different classes. Their final GPA depends entirely on the school's scale:

• School 1 (Strict Flat Scale): 88% falls into the 'B' bracket. Grade = 3.0.
• School 2 (Standard Plus/Minus): 88% falls into the 'B+' bracket. Grade = 3.3.
• School 3 (Generous Plus/Minus): 88% falls into an 'A-' bracket at this specific school. Grade = 3.7.

This massive discrepancy highlights why it is vital to check your specific student handbook before calculating your GPA.

When you customize the grade scale above and click save, every calculator on GPAtally will respect those new boundaries. This means your High School GPA Calculator and Semester GPA Calculator will produce mathematically accurate results tailored specifically to your transcript. If you are comparing your GPA against national averages or university standards, remember that admissions officers will standardize your grades to their internal formulas.

• Check the Syllabus: Always read the syllabus on the first day of class. Even within the same university, one professor might make a 90% an A, while another requires a 94%.
• A+ Does Not Equal 4.3: Even if your school offers an A+, it is almost universally capped at a 4.0 on an unweighted scale to prevent artificial inflation.
• Colleges Standardize Scales: Do not stress if your high school grades harshly. Colleges look at your "School Profile" to understand your district's specific scale and evaluate you fairly against others.
• Save Your Scale: Once you find your school's exact decimal values, save them in the editor above so you don't have to re-enter them every time you use a calculator.