What Is GPA (Grade Point Average)?
GPA converts letter grades into numbers (typically A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) and averages them, often weighted by how many credit hours each course is worth. A 4.0 GPA usually means straight A's, though some schools use a weighted scale above 4.0 for honors or AP courses.
Example
A student with a 4.0 in a 3-credit class and a 3.0 in a 4-credit class has a GPA of (4.0×3 + 3.0×4) / (3+4) = 24/7 ≈ 3.43, weighted by credit hours rather than a plain average of 3.5.