Where does my GPA stand, and what do I need next?

Combine earlier grades with current courses. See your new grade point average and the future average needed for a goal.

Cumulative GPA on selected unweighted scale

Across 59 modeled graded credits. These courses average 3.45 unweighted and 3.88 under the configured weights.

This term: 3.45; 14 graded credits
To reach / retain target: 3.97; over 30 credits
Best possible: 3.51; highest allowed future average 4.00

See the full calculationFollow each number from the inputs to the answer.

Calculation 1

Find the cumulative grade point average

What are we finding?

We are finding the grade point average, often shortened to GPA, after combining the earlier record with the entered courses.

What do these numbers mean?

Earlier GPA: 3.20: The grade point average before the courses below.
Earlier graded credits: 45: Credits already included in the earlier GPA.
New graded credits: 14: Entered credits with letter grades. Pass credits are not included in the GPA division.
Selected scale: Unweighted: No course level bonus is included.

How do we calculate it?

For each course, multiply grade points by credits. Add those points to the earlier GPA times earlier credits. Divide all grade points by all graded credits.

cumulative GPA = (earlier GPA × earlier credits + new course points) ÷ total graded credits

(3.20 × 45 + 48.30) ÷ 59

3.20 times 45 earlier credits gives 144.00 earlier grade points.
The entered courses add 48.30 grade points across 14 graded credits.
144.00 plus 48.30 equals 192.30 total grade points.
192.30 divided by 59 total graded credits equals 3.26.

Final answer

3.26 cumulative GPA

What does the answer mean?

This is the result under the visible example grading policy. Your school may use different grade points, bonuses, repeat rules, or Pass and Fail rules.

Your record

Earlier grade point average (GPA)

Enter the transcript GPA already calculated on the unweighted scale

Previously graded credits

Everything before the courses below

Target is on which scale

Prior GPA, target and future projections must all use this same scale. StepShown does not convert between policies.

Grade point average goal

Future graded credits

Only credits that will carry grade points in this model

Checking which numbers are included in this page address…

“Copy result summary” includes the main answer and three important results. An answer can still reveal something about a number you removed from the link.

Opening a link sends its full page address to the company that hosts StepShown. Never put private information in a shared StepShown link.

This term's courses

Illustrative rows. Replace every value with the institution's counted courses, credits and grade policy.

CourseCreditsGradeLevel

What each course is doing

Bar length is the grade, bar thickness is the credits behind it. Shown on the unweighted scale.

Course 1

A minus · 3cr

Course 2

B · 4cr

Course 3

B+ · 4cr

Course 4

A · 3cr

Term average, 3.45RegularHonorsAP / IB

What this means

Calculated from the entered courses and the visible example policy.

How to read this

These courses have a 3.45 grade point average without bonuses and 3.88 with the entered bonuses

Each grade value is multiplied by its course credits. Those results are added and divided by 14 graded credits. After adding 45 earlier graded credits, the overall grade point average, called GPA, is 3.26.

Check this carefully

The result uses the 4.0 example scale shown here

This example gives A+ and A a value of 4.0, A minus 3.7, B+ 3.3, and continues to F at 0. A Pass is left out of the division. Schools can use other values and repeat rules, so check the official school policy.

Check this carefully

The target requires 3.97 across the next 30 credits

That moves the estimated overall GPA from 3.26 to 3.50. The highest future average allowed by the rules you entered is 4.00.

How to read this

The best modeled result after 30 more credits is 3.51

This assumes every future graded credit earns the highest allowed average of 4.00. Earlier grades stay in the math, so a long school record changes more slowly than a short one.

Where 30 more credits would leave you

Selected unweighted scale against a target of 3.50.

What you are looking at: Resulting cumulative GPA at each level of future performance. Each row changes one choice while the other entered numbers stay the same.

Resulting cumulative GPA at each level of future performance
Choice	Future average	New cumulative	Hits target
Straight AYour planClears 3.50	4.00	3.51	Yes
A / A minus rangeFalls short	3.70	3.41	No
B+ / A minus rangeFalls short	3.30	3.27	No
Straight BFalls short	3.00	3.17	No
B / C rangeFalls short	2.50	3.00	No
Straight CFalls short	2.00	2.83	No

Main takeaway: the shaded row is your plan now. Read across another row to see what one change would do.

Take it with you

Your courses are already saved in this page's URL.

Checking which numbers are included in this page address…

“Copy result summary” includes the main answer and three important results. An answer can still reveal something about a number you removed from the link.

Opening a link sends its full page address to the company that hosts StepShown. Never put private information in a shared StepShown link.

How this tool was checked

Sources and review

Code and tests checked

StepShown checked the calculation code and its tests. The answer is still an estimate, not professional advice. Rules can also be different where you live.

Calculation version: Version 1.1
Last updated: Jul 29, 2026
Person responsible: StepShown engineering

How to Calculate Your GPA on a 4.0 Scale
Published by College Board BigFuture. Area covered: United States. StepShown owner: StepShown editorial. Checked Jul 29, 2026. Check again by Jan 25, 2027. The 4.0 scale as one common example, credit or course averaging, weighted GPA variation, and the need to confirm the receiving institution's calculation. Reference guidance; no date specific value is ingested.
Grade Definitions
Published by UC Berkeley Office of the Registrar. Area covered: California, United States. StepShown owner: StepShown editorial. Checked Jul 29, 2026. Check again by Jan 25, 2027. The displayed plus/minus example mapping, A+ at 4.0, F at zero in GPA, and Pass excluded from grade point computation. Reference guidance; no date specific value is ingested.
Admissions index instructions
Published by University of California Admissions. Area covered: California, United States. StepShown owner: StepShown editorial. Checked Jul 29, 2026. Check again by Jan 25, 2027. An official example of materially different plus/minus treatment, eligible honors weighting, bonus caps, and pass grade exclusion. Reference guidance; no date specific value is ingested.

Read the StepShown calculation and writing rules, or report a problem.

Learn more

How the calculation works

Each counted letter grade becomes a number, the number is multiplied by the credits behind it, and those products are divided by the credits that carried a grade.

GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ(credits)

A four credit course therefore contributes four times the weight of a one credit course with the same grade.

The displayed unweighted example maps A+ and A to 4.0, A minus to 3.7, B+ to 3.3, and continues through F at 0. That resembles UC Berkeley's published grade point table, but it is not a universal conversion. Some institutions omit plus/minus grades, value A+ differently, or use another scale.

The optional weighted policy adds the bonuses you enter to passing honors and AP / IB course points. No bonus is added to F. Prior GPA must already use the selected policy; StepShown cannot reconstruct a weighted prior record from one cumulative number. The average bonus entered for future credits sets the highest future average used when checking a goal.

In this example, Pass is counted as earned credit and excluded from GPA. F is included in graded credits at zero points and is not counted as earned credit. Those treatments match one published university policy and still require confirmation against the institution responsible for the transcript.

Solving for a future target

StepShown solves the selected scale average required across the entered future graded credits. When that result is above the entered future highest possible average, StepShown says the goal cannot be reached during that time. It also shows the best possible overall result and, when possible, how many more credits would be needed at the highest average.

Existing quality points stay in the numerator and existing graded credits stay in the denominator. More completed credits therefore reduce how far a fixed number of future credits can move the cumulative average.

StepShown does not model repeated course replacement, transfer credit rules, academic renewal, subject exclusions, term or annual weighting caps, percentage to letter conversion, incomplete or withdrawal grades, or other local transcript rules. Compare the visible assumptions and result with the official policy for the school or program making the decision.

Common questions

What grading scale does StepShown use?

The unweighted example maps A+ and A to 4.0, A minus to 3.7, B+ to 3.3, and continues through F at 0. Pass is excluded from the GPA divisor. That resembles one published university policy, not a universal scale. Schools can omit plus/minus grades, value A+ differently, or apply other rules.

How does credit weighting work?

Multiply each grade value by its course credits. Add those answers. Divide by all graded credits. A four credit course therefore affects the GPA more than a three credit course with the same grade.

How should I use the weighted option?

Enter a prior GPA that was already calculated under the same weighted policy, then set the honors, AP/IB, and average future bonuses to match the local rule. StepShown does not convert an unweighted prior GPA into a weighted one.

Why can my school's GPA differ?

Grade-point maps, plus/minus treatment, eligible weighted courses, bonus caps, repeated courses, transfer work, pass/fail treatment, and which subjects count can all differ. Use the official transcript or admissions policy when the result matters.

What does the required future average mean?

It is the selected scale grade point average needed across the entered future graded credits to reach the target. If it exceeds the entered future ceiling, the target is not reachable within that window.

What is the future bonus?

It is the average extra grade points expected per future graded credit on the weighted scale. Use zero for no weighting. A mixed schedule needs a credit weighted average of the bonuses actually allowed by the institution.

How are Pass and F treated?

In this example, Pass is modeled as earned credit but excluded from GPA. F is included in graded credits at zero points and is not counted as earned credit. Institutional rules can differ.

What is not modeled?

Repeated-course replacement, transfer credit rules, academic renewal policies, subject exclusions, term or annual weighting caps, percentage to letter conversion, incomplete or withdrawal grades, and any institution specific rule not represented by the visible inputs.

Other decisions where the arithmetic sets a limit worth knowing early.

Or browse everything in Education.

Where does my GPA stand, and what do I need next?

Find the cumulative grade point average

What are we finding?

What do these numbers mean?

How do we calculate it?

What does the answer mean?

These courses have a 3.45 grade point average without bonuses and 3.88 with the entered bonuses

The result uses the 4.0 example scale shown here

The target requires 3.97 across the next 30 credits

The best modeled result after 30 more credits is 3.51

Sources and review

How the calculation works

Solving for a future target

Common questions

Where to go next

Find the cumulative grade point average

What are we finding?

What do these numbers mean?

How do we calculate it?

What does the answer mean?

These courses have a 3.45 grade point average without bonuses and 3.88 with the entered bonuses

The result uses the 4.0 example scale shown here

The target requires 3.97 across the next 30 credits

The best modeled result after 30 more credits is 3.51