How to convert GPA into percentage
Hey, you!
Have you been trying to figure out how to translate GPA into a percentage?
Whether you want to know what GPA is, how to calculate it, or the different grading scales under the GPA, this blog has got you all covered!
It's important to note that regardless of whether you're going for further education or work opportunities abroad, converting your high school percentage to GPA is an essential requirement for all students from Nepal.
Table of Contents
- What is GPA?
- What is CGPA?
- GPA, percentage, and letter grade
- Different grading scales
- Understanding GPA and its calculation
- GPA v/s Percentage
- How to calculate GPA to percentage on a 10 scale?
- How do you convert GPA to percentage in the UK?
- How do you convert GPA to percentage in the USA?
- Frequently asked questions
What is GPA?
Grade point average, or GPA, is a measure of a student's overall academic success over the course of a degree programme or a particular semester. The calculation of GPA involves allocating numerical values to grades received in individual courses, and then averaging those numbers. GPAs are calculated at most educational institutions on a scale of 0 to 4.0, with 4.0 denoting a student's achievement of all As (or equivalent). Although GPA is frequently employed in the US and Canada, other nations could employ a different grading scheme.
What is CGPA?
Cumulative Grade Point Average, or CGPA, refers to the overall GPA a student has achieved throughout the course of their academic programme. It considers every course a student has taken as well as their grades in each of those courses. In most educational institutions in the United States and Canada, the CGPA is often calculated on a scale of 0 to 4.0, with 4.0 being the highest CGPA that is possible. Employers and graduate schools frequently utilise the cumulative grade point average (CGPA) as a gauge of a student's likelihood of success. It is a significant predictor of a student's academic performance throughout their academic degree.
GPA, percentage, and letter grade:
It is essential for academic institutions to have a method of recording student performance. And so, the three most popular grading systems used worldwide are letter grade, percentage, and GPA. To understand each system better, let's take a closer look at each one:
GPA: The grade point average (GPA), which is used to measure academic performance, is calculated by averaging the numerical scores associated with each course grade. Typically, it is graded on a scale of 0 to 4, with 4.0 representing the highest possible rating.
Percentage: Another method of expressing a student's academic performance is by a percentage. It is calculated by multiplying the total number of points a student received in a course by the maximum number of points, then multiplying that number by 100 to get the % value.
Letter grade: A letter grade on the renowned scale of A to F is assigned to each student in order to assess their level of performance in a certain course. An A is the best possible grade, whereas an F denotes failure.
A+ (97-100), A (93-96), A- (90-92), B+ (88-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (65-66), and D- are typical examples of grade conversion (below 65).
| Grading System | Scale | Range |
| GPA | 0 to 4 | 4.0 (highest) to 0 (lowest) |
| Percentage | 0 to 100 | 100 (highest) to 0 (lowest) |
| Letter Grade | A to F | A (best) to F (fail) |
Different grading scales:
Pass/fail grading scale: This scale is used when a student's performance is assessed by whether they pass or fail a course or assignment rather than on the basis of a typical letter or number scale.
Numerical grading system: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest grade, the numerical grading system provides numerical values to each grade. The European Union often uses this system to grade its educational programmes.
Here is the list of how countries around the world are calculating grades:
- A-F: in the US, Canada, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, etc.
- 1-10: in the Netherlands, Colombia, Latvia, Israel, etc.
- 1-5: in Germany, Austria, Russia, Slovakia, Paraguay, etc.
- Percentage: in Kuwait, Belgium, Hungary, Poland, etc.
Understanding GPA and its calculation:
Now that you know about the different grading systems around the world, let’s get into the basics of GPA and how to calculate it. Here's what you need to know for successfully calculating your GPA:
- Determine the number of courses for which you want to calculate the GPA.
- Assign a numerical value to each letter grade you received in those courses. Most institutions use a 4.0 scale, where an A is worth 4.0, a B is worth 3.0, a C is worth 2.0, a D is worth 1.0, and an F is worth 0.0. Some institutions may use different values, such as a 5.0 scale or a 100-point scale.
- Multiply the numerical value of each letter grade by the number of credits for each course. For example, if you received an A in a 3-credit course, you would multiply 4.0 (the numerical value of an A) by 3, giving you 12.0.
- Add up all of the weighted numerical values for each course.
Divide the total weighted numerical value by the total number of credits for all of the courses. This will give you your average GPA.
For example, if you received the following grades in three 3-credit courses:
- A (4.0) in Course 1
- B+ (3.3) in Course 2
- C- (1.7) in Course 3
You would calculate your average GPA as follows:
- Course 1: 4.0 x 3 = 12.0
- Course 2: 3.3 x 3 = 9.9
- Course 3: 1.7 x 3 = 5.1
- Total weighted numerical value: 12.0 + 9.9 + 5.1 = 27.0
- Total number of credits: 3 + 3 + 3 = 9
- Average GPA: 27.0 ÷ 9 = 3.0
Therefore, your average GPA for these courses would be 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
GPA v/s Percentage:
When it comes to evaluating students' academic performance, two metrics are typically used: grade point average (GPA) and percentage. But what separates these two measures? Which one is the most accurate representation of a student's scholastic achievement?
It's crucial to recognise that GPA and percentage are two quite different assessment systems when thinking about how successes are reported. While the percentage is a far more relative method that can change based on how an institution grades its results, GPA is a common evaluation metric utilised by many educational institutions.
| Aspect | GPA | Percentage |
| Definition | A calculated average of the grades received in each course taken by a student. | The total percentage of marks obtained by a student in all the courses. |
| Calculation | Grades are assigned a numerical value, and the average of these numerical values is calculated. | Total marks obtained in each course are divided by the maximum mark and multiplied by 100. |
| Scale | Usually uses a scale of 0-4, where 4 represents an "A," 3 represents a "B," and so on. | Varies depending on the grading system used by the institution. |
| Standardisation | A more standardised system is used by many institutions, making it easier to compare academic performance across different students and programmes. | A relative system may vary depending on the grading system used by the institution. |
| Familiarity | May not be familiar to students from countries that use a different grading system. | More familiar to students from countries where it is widely used. |
| Advantages | Makes it easier for institutions to compare academic performance across different students and programmes. | Easy to understand and calculate. |
| Disadvantages | May not be familiar to students from countries that use a different grading system. | May not be as standardised and may not be as effective in comparing academic performance across different students and programmes. |
How to calculate GPA to percentage on a 10 scale?
Many European countries use a grading system on a 10-point scale. The GPA to percentage conversion will remain the same; for every 10 points on a percentage scale (100/10), there is one point on the 10-point scale.
Hence, the formula remains: GPA = (percentage/100) x 10, or GPA = percentage divided by 10.
Here’s an example: If your GPA is 6.5 on a scale of 10, then your percentage would be 10 x 6.5 = 65%.
| GPA | Formula | Example |
| GPA to percentage in a 4.3 Scale | Percentage = (GPA/4.3) x 100 | If your GPA is 3.5 on a 4.3 scale, you can calculate your percentage as follows: Percentage = (3.5/4.3) x 100 = 81.4% So your GPA of 3.5 on a 4.3 scale is equivalent to 81.4% on a percentage scale. |
| GPA to percentage out of a 5.0 Scale | Percentage = (GPA/5) x 100 | If your GPA is 4.0 on a 5.0 scale, you can calculate your percentage as follows: Percentage = (4.0/5) x 100 = 80% So your GPA of 4.0 on a 5.0 scale is equivalent to 80% on a percentage scale. |
| Percentage out of a 4.0 scale | Percentage = GPA x 20 | If your GPA is 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, you can calculate your percentage as follows: Percentage = 3.5 x 20 = 70% |
| 3.5 GPA as a percentage | Percentage = GPA x 20 | Percentage = 3.5 x 20 = 70% Therefore, a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale is equivalent to a 70% percentage. |
How do you convert GPA to percentage in the UK?
With many Nepali students heading to universities in Great Britain, understanding and familiarising oneself with the UK's grading system is essential. It is necessary to figure out how one's GPA can be converted into a percentage in order to apply for higher education within this rainy country.
In England, GCSE exam results are graded on a scale of 1 to 9. Across the UK, universities use an A-F grading system to assess the academic achievement of their students. This can be a little confusing for students moving there for higher education.
Here are two essential steps to convert GPA to percentage in the UK:
- Find out the scale used for GPA at your institution. In the US, the typical scale is 4.0, while in the UK it may range from 0 to 5—or even 7—depending on the institution.
- Convert the GPA to a scale of 100 by multiplying it by 25. For example, a GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale would be equivalent to a percentage of 87.5 (3.5 x 25).
How do you convert GPA to percentage in the USA?
In the USA, the GPA (grade point average) system is commonly used to assess student performance, and it is based on a scale of 0 to 4.0. To convert a GPA to a percentage, you can use the following steps:
- Multiply the GPA by 25. This will give you a number on a scale of 0 to 100.
- Round the result to the nearest whole number.
- Add a percentage symbol (%) to the end of the number to indicate that it is a percentage.
For example, if your GPA is 3.5, the calculation would be as follows:
3.5 x 25 = 87.5
Rounding 87.5 to the nearest whole number gives 88.
Therefore, a GPA of 3.5 would be equivalent to a percentage of 88%.
Converting GPA into percentage can be an overwhelming task. Especially when you know it holds such high value in your college admissions. But, you have help right here with AECC!
Speak to our expert guidance counsellors and get all the help you need when converting GPA into percentage for college admissions.
Frequently asked questions:
What is the full form of GPA?
The full form of GPA is "grade point average." It is a system used in education to measure and evaluate a student's academic performance based on the grades received in individual courses.
What is considered a good GPA to get into a university?
What is the formula for converting a percentage into a GPA?
What is the easiest way to calculate GPA?
