GPA stands for Grade Point Average which is a calculation of your average grade result. This score is calculated yearly or for the course as a whole chosen by the student. This system is mainly accounted for in high schools and universities in the US. Each result is given a number which is known as the grade point. The higher the result, the higher the grade point.
A student may be required to have a GPA score of 3.5 or higher which is considered promising at universities abroad. Compared to colleges and universities, high schools may have less demanding admission requirements that can enable a student to apply with a GPA score as low as 2.5 or 2.0. Many colleges and universities consider a student’s GPA as one of the factors in determining eligibility for scholarships, financial aid, and support programs. Students with a GPA score lower than 2.0 may lose out on acquiring financial support.
In this blog, we’ll give you a comprehensive guide to converting GPA to percentage. Apart from this, we will also talk about the areas where a GPA score is required, and much more.
When and where is a GPA score required?
A good GPA is relative to the university and the type of study program selected by the international student. A required high GPA score can go up to 3.5 based on the type of program a student wishes to pursue. The student can also continue their studies and apply for a Master’s or PhD with a high GPA score.
GPA is a common evaluation metric used by many universities. The best way to understand its utilisation is through comparing it with the aspect of a percentage.
- GPA is a calculated average of grades received in each course. However, a percentage denotes the total percentage of marks obtained in all courses by a student.
- GPA uses the scale system of 0 to 4. 4 represents an ‘A’ grade whereas 3 represents ‘B’ grade, etc. A percentage uses the grading system designed by the institution, which means that the percentage can vary from one institution to another.
- A GPA uses numerical values as grades which are calculated on an average. A percentage uses the marks obtained, divided by the total marks and multiplied by 100.
Ways to obtain a high GPA score
A GPA score increases or can vary over time depending on your academic performance. So, it is best to work hard to obtain a high GPA score from the beginning. Also, make sure to maintain a good consistency in the marks that you score each year in your study program. If you score lower in your formative years, scoring higher as you move forward can be challenging.
Does this mean that scoring high marks throughout but slipping in the later grade can damage your GPA scores? No, your GPA scores won’t be as affected if you’ve consistently scored well academically.
Therefore, you must keep track of your GPA every year. In doing so, you can get an idea of your academic performance level in your courses. Using your yearly GPA score as an indicator of your performance can help you understand the areas you need to improve, if at all.
Now, it is important to understand your GPA score and convert it to a percentage as most grades are measured percentage-wise. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how to convert a GPA into a percentage.
How to convert a GPA score into a percentage?
The method to convert a GPA score into a percentage is easy. Many grading systems use different point scales, based upon which the percentage is calculated.
Let’s consider a 10-point scale where for every 10 points on a percentage scale (100/10), there is one point on the 10-point scale.
Formula: –
GPA = (percentage/100) x 10, or GPA = percentage divided by 10
Example: –
GPA is 5.5 on a scale of 10, the percentage would be 10 x 5.5 = 55%
Different points pertain to their calculation accordingly,
| GPA | Formula | Example |
| GPA score to percentage (%) in a 4.3 Scale | % = (GPA score /4.3) x 100 | If your GPA score is 3.0 on a 4.3 scale, the calculation is as follows:% = (3.0/4.3) x 100 = 69.76% |
| GPA score to % out of a 5.0 Scale | % = (GPA score /5) x 100 | If your GPA score is 3.5 on a 5.0 scale, the calculation is as follows:
% = (3.5/5) x 100 = 70% |
| % out of a 4.0 scale | % = GPA score x 20 | If your GPA is 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, the calculation is as follows:
% = 2.5 x 20 = 50% |
| 3.5 GPA score as a % | % = GPA score x 20 | If your GPA is 4.0 on a 4.0 scale, the calculation is as follows:
% = 4.0 x 20 = 80% |
Here is a table that showcases the GPA scores based on grades and percentage:
| GPA | Percentage | Grade |
| 0 | 0-39 | F |
| 1.3 | 45-49 | D |
| 1 | 40-44 | D |
| 2.3 | 60-64 | C+ |
| 2 | 55-59 | C |
| 1.7 | 50-54 | C- |
| 3.3 | 75-79 | B+ |
| 2.7 | 65-69 | B- |
| 3 | 70-74 | B |
| 4 | 85-100 | A+ |
| 3.7 | 80-84 | A+ |
Calculating GPA to Percentage in the USA
The GPA scoring system is based on a scale of 0 to 4.0. The conversion for GPA to percentage is based on the following:
- Multiply your GPA score by 25, which will give you a number on a scale of 0 to 100. For instance, 3.0 GPA x 25 = 75.0
- You can round the number or not based on the result obtained. After this, add a percentage symbol (%) to indicate its unit. In this example, it would be 75%.
The formula and example stated indicate that a 3.0 GPA score is equivalent to 75%.
It’s easy to calculate your GPA score. There are various online GPA to Percentage calculators available that you can use for free. The overwhelming part is not the calculation but the effort you have to put in as a student to get a high GPA score.
Calculating GPA to Percentage in the UK
It is important to understand the grading system in the UK before calculating your GPA score. For instance, the GCSE exam results are graded on a scale of 1 to 9. On the other hand, universities across the rest of the UK use an A-F grading style to assess a student’s academic performance.
Steps to calculate your GPA score in the UK:
- Firstly, find out the GPA scale score used at your university. Unlike the US, the GPA scale ranges from 0 to 5 in the UK. It can even be 7 depending on the educational institution.
- Once you are aware of your GPA scale range, convert the score to a scale of 100 by multiplying it by 25. So, if your GPA score is 3.5 on a 4.0 scale then your GPA would be equivalent to a percentage of 3.5 x 25 = 87.5%.
Calculating GPA to Percentage in Australia
GPA is not a popular grading method in Australia, but universities that do use it do so in the following way:
Universities in Australia using the GPA scoring system have either a 7-point GPA scale or 4 4-point GPA scale.
| 4-point GPA Scale | 7-point GPA Scale | Grade scale (%) |
| 4 | 7 | 85 – 100 |
| 3 | 6 – 6.99 | 75 – 84 |
| 2 | 5 – 5.99 | 65 – 74 |
| 1 | 4 – 4.99 | 50 – 64 |
| 0 | 0 – 3.99 | 0 – 49 |
Calculating GPA to Percentage in Canada
The GPA system in Canada varies depending on the province chosen by the international student. Let’s look at the following provinces and their grading system.
| Province-based | Scoring Style | ||
| Alberta Grading System | Letter Grade | Grade Points | |
| A+ | 4.3 | ||
| A | 4 | ||
| A- | 3.7 | ||
| B+ | 3.3 | ||
| B | 3 | ||
| B- | 2.7 | ||
| C+ | 2.3 | ||
| C | 2 | ||
| C- | 1.7 | ||
| D | 1.3 | ||
| Ontario Grading System | Letter Grade | Percentage % | Numerical Grade |
| A+ | 95-100 | 10 | |
| A | 87-94 | 9 | |
| A- | 80-86 | 8 | |
| B+ | 77-79 | 7 | |
| B | 73-76 | 6 | |
| B- | 70-72 | 6 | |
| C+ | 67-69 | 5 | |
| C | 63-66 | 4 | |
| C- | 60-62 | 4 | |
| D+ | 57-59 | 3 | |
| D | 53-56 | 2 | |
| E | 50-52 | 1 | |
| F | 0-49 | 0 | |
| British Columbia Grading System | Letter Grade | Percentage % | |
| A | 86-100 | ||
| B | 73-85 | ||
| C+ | 67-72 | ||
| C | 60-66 | ||
| C- | 50-59 | ||
| F | 0-49 | ||
| I (Incomplete assignments) | 0-49 | ||
| W | Student has withdrawn or is no longer pursuing the course | ||
| P | Student has passed but the grade is not available | ||
| Saskatchewan Grading System | Letter Grade | Percentage % | Interpretation |
| A+ | 90-100 | Exceptional | |
| A | 80-89 | Excellent | |
| B | 70-79 | Good | |
| C | 60-69 | Satisfactory | |
| D | 50-59 | Barely acceptable | |
| F | 0-49 | Unacceptable | |
If you want to know more about your chances of studying abroad and maintaining a high GPA score, connect with our Experts today.
FAQs
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What is considered the best GPA score?
This varies among universities and the country you choose to study abroad. However, top-rated universities usually consider a GPA score above 3.5 as a good score.
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What is the full form of GPA?
GPA refers to Grade Point Average which is an indicator of your academic performance in the course you chose to study abroad.
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Is it possible to calculate GPA from a percentage?
Yes, it’s possible by using this formula.
GPA = (Percentage/100) x 4. (4 is based on the range of the scale. In this case, there are 4 points on the scale.)
For instance, if you’ve scored 65% then your GPA will be:
GPA = (80/100) X 4 = 3.2
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What is CGPA?
CGPA is the Cumulative Grade Point Average that represents the overall GPA score a student has obtained throughout all their academic courses.