A semester grade is a weighted average of your grading categories. Each category score is multiplied by its weight, all products are summed, and the result is divided by the total weight.
Normalization: If your weights sum to less than 100, the calculator divides by the actual total weight instead of 100. This keeps mid-semester estimates accurate before all categories have been graded.
The same formula applies whenever different items carry different levels of importance. The Weighted Average Calculator applies this formula to any dataset, not just grades, and shows a per-item contribution breakdown.
The standard 10-point scale converts percentage grades to letter grades and GPA points. Some professors use a 7-point scale where cutoffs are shifted by 3 points. Always verify your institution's exact scale.
| Letter | Range | GPA Points | 7-pt Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97-100% | 4.0 | 100% |
| A | 93-96% | 4.0 | 93-100% |
| A- | 90-92% | 3.7 | 90-92% |
| B+ | 87-89% | 3.3 | 87-89% |
| B | 83-86% | 3.0 | 80-86% |
| B- | 80-82% | 2.7 | 77-79% |
| C+ | 77-79% | 2.3 | 73-76% |
| C | 73-76% | 2.0 | 70-72% |
Semester GPA is calculated by converting each course grade to GPA points and weighting by credit hours. A single semester B- (2.7) in a 4-credit course pulls a cumulative GPA down more than a B- in a 2-credit elective.
To see how this semester affects your overall standing, the Cumulative GPA Calculator combines your semester results with your prior GPA and credit hours to give an updated cumulative GPA.