Calculate your term GPA from the classes, credit hours, and letter grades in one semester.
A semester with A in 3 credits, B+ in 4 credits, A- in 3 credits, and B in 3 credits gives about a 3.45 semester GPA.
How to use the semester GPA calculator
Use this calculator when you want the GPA for one term, quarter, trimester, or semester. Enter each course name, its credit hours, and the letter grade earned in that course. The calculator converts each letter grade to grade points, multiplies by credits, and divides the total quality points by total attempted credits.
Semester GPA is different from cumulative GPA. Semester GPA measures one academic period only. Cumulative GPA combines all completed periods on your transcript. If you already know your previous GPA and want to project your new overall GPA, use the Cumulative GPA Calculator.
Semester GPA Calculator formula
Semester GPA = total quality points ÷ total credits. Quality points are calculated as course credits × grade points.
For example, an A in a 3-credit course contributes 3 × 4.00 = 12 quality points. A B+ in a 4-credit course contributes 4 × 3.33 = 13.32 quality points. The term GPA is the sum of quality points divided by the sum of credits.
Semester GPA worked example
Suppose a student takes four courses in one semester:
Example calculation
- English: 3 credits × A, or 4.00 grade points = 12.00 quality points.
- Algebra: 4 credits × B+, or 3.33 grade points = 13.32 quality points.
- Biology: 3 credits × A-, or 3.67 grade points = 11.01 quality points.
- History: 3 credits × B, or 3.00 grade points = 9.00 quality points.
- Total credits = 13.
- Total quality points = 45.33.
- Semester GPA = 45.33 ÷ 13 = 3.49.
The credit weight matters. A 4-credit class affects GPA more than a 1-credit lab, even if both receive the same letter grade.
What grade scale does this semester GPA calculator use?
The calculator uses a common 4.0-style plus/minus scale: A = 4.00, A- = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3.00, B- = 2.67, C+ = 2.33, C = 2.00, C- = 1.67, D+ = 1.33, D = 1.00, D- = 0.67, and F = 0. Some schools cap A+ at 4.00 instead of 4.33, while others do not use plus/minus grades at all.
If your institution uses a different scale, treat this result as a planning estimate and compare it with your school handbook or registrar’s GPA policy.
What should I include in semester GPA?
Include graded credit courses
Include courses that earn credits and receive a letter grade that counts toward GPA. Use the credit hours listed in your schedule, transcript, or degree audit.
Be careful with pass/fail courses
Pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory classes often earn credit but may not affect GPA. If a pass/fail course does not count toward GPA at your school, leave it out of this calculator.
Handle withdrawals separately
Withdrawn courses usually do not count in GPA if they appear as W, but failing withdrawals may count at some institutions. Check your transcript policy before entering a withdrawn course.
Retakes can be different
Some schools replace the old grade, while others average both attempts or keep both on the transcript. Use the exact retake policy from your institution.
Common semester GPA mistakes
Using percent scores instead of letter grades
This calculator expects letter grades such as A, B+, C-, or F. If you only have assignment points, first calculate the course percentage and convert it using your syllabus scale.
Forgetting credit hours
Do not average letter grades directly. GPA is credit-weighted, so a 4-credit course has more influence than a 1-credit course.
Including courses that do not affect GPA
Some labs, pass/fail electives, transfer credits, or audited courses may appear on a record without changing GPA. Leave those out unless your school counts them.
Mixing semester GPA and cumulative GPA
Semester GPA is one term only. Cumulative GPA uses all GPA-bearing credits across terms.
Semester GPA Calculator FAQs
Is this result official?
No. Use it for planning and compare it with your teacher, registrar, LMS, or school handbook. Official transcripts may use a different scale, rounding rule, repeat policy, or credit rule.
How do I calculate semester GPA manually?
Multiply each course’s credits by its grade points, add all quality points, then divide by total GPA-bearing credits.
Can I use this for quarter GPA?
Yes. The math is the same for a quarter, trimester, or summer term as long as you enter only courses from that period.
Does an A+ count as 4.33 or 4.00?
It depends on the school. This calculator supports A+ as 4.33 in its default scale, but some institutions cap all A grades at 4.00.
Should I include transfer credits?
Usually transfer credits count toward degree progress but may not affect institutional GPA. Check your school’s transfer-credit policy.
Why is my LMS GPA different?
Your LMS may use unpublished category rules, temporary grades, incomplete grades, pass/fail settings, grade replacement, or a different plus/minus scale.
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Reviewer
This educational math content is reviewed under the SolverCalc reviewer rule by Prof. Dr. Khalil Mudassar. WordPress adds the author bio automatically, so this page does not include a duplicate author box.
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Compare this result with your course requirements, final exam target, or GPA goal before making academic decisions.
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