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GPA to letter grade
Enter a GPA and pick your school’s scale. The letter is assigned by midpoints between grade-point values — so 3.50 lands on the A− boundary and rounds up to A−, not down to B+.
CONVERTER · SCHOOL · GRADES
GPA to Letter Grade Converter: 4.0, 4.3, 5.0 Scales
What letter is a 3.5 GPA? On the standard 4.0 scale it’s an A− (3.7 grade points, roughly 90–92%). Convert GPA to letter, letter to GPA, or percent to GPA on 4.0, 4.3, 5.0, and 4.5 scales — with the exact bands for every letter below.
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Letter grade to GPA
Pick a letter and a scale to get its grade-point value and percent range. On the 4.0 scale A+ counts as a 4.0 A; on weighted scales the same letter is worth more.
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Percent to GPA
Enter a percentage score to get the letter and its grade points on your scale. Percent bands are the same on every scale — only the grade points change.
The 60-second rule
A GPA converts to a letter by the midpoints between grade-point values — boundary scores round up. On the standard 4.0 scale the grade points are A 4.0, A− 3.7, B+ 3.3, B 3.0, B− 2.7, C+ 2.3, C 2.0, C− 1.7, D+ 1.3, D 1.0, D− 0.7, F 0.0. The A/A− midpoint is 3.85 and the A−/B+ midpoint is 3.50, so a 3.5 GPA is an A− (3.7 points, roughly 90–92%). The same letter is worth different points on other scales: a B+ is 3.3 on 4.0, 4.3 on 5.0 weighted.
The 4.0 scale, band by band
| Letter | Percent | Grade points | GPA band |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 93–96 | 4.0 | 3.85–4.00 |
| A− | 90–92 | 3.7 | 3.50–3.84 |
| B+ | 87–89 | 3.3 | 3.15–3.49 |
| B | 83–86 | 3.0 | 2.85–3.14 |
| B− | 80–82 | 2.7 | 2.50–2.84 |
| C+ | 77–79 | 2.3 | 2.15–2.49 |
| C | 73–76 | 2.0 | 1.85–2.14 |
| C− | 70–72 | 1.7 | 1.50–1.84 |
| D+ | 67–69 | 1.3 | 1.15–1.49 |
| D | 65–66 | 1.0 | 0.85–1.14 |
| D− | 60–64 | 0.7 | 0.35–0.84 |
| F | 0–59 | 0.0 | 0.00–0.34 |
Other scales, same letters
| Letter | 4.0 standard | 4.3 scale | 5.0 weighted | 4.5 weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 (as A) | 4.3 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| A | 4.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| A− | 3.7 | 3.7 | 4.7 | 4.2 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 3.8 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| B− | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 3.2 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| C− | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.7 | 2.2 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.8 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| D− | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.2 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
The worked example, line by line
Setup: a 3.5 GPA on the 4.0 standard scale.
Step 1 — the neighbor grade points. The letters around 3.5 are A− (3.7) and B+ (3.3). The midpoint between them is (3.7 + 3.3) ÷ 2 = 3.50.
Step 2 — the boundary rule. A score exactly on a boundary goes to the higher letter. 3.50 ≥ 3.50, so 3.5 is an A−, not a B+.
Step 3 — read the row. A− = 3.7 grade points, percent band 90–92%. So a 3.5 GPA reads as A− (3.7, 90–92%).
Branch — same GPA, 5.0 weighted scale. The 5.0 table is A+ 5.0, A− 4.7, B+ 4.3 — the A−/B+ midpoint is 4.50. A 3.5 falls in the B band (B 4.0, band 3.75–4.49): on a weighted scale, 3.5 is a B. Same number, different letter — always convert on the right scale.
Branch — reverse: B+ to GPA. Pick B+ on the 4.0 scale → 3.3 grade points, percent band 87–89%. On 5.0 weighted the same B+ is 4.3.
Branch — percent in: 91%. 91 falls in the 90–92% A− band → 3.7 on the 4.0 scale, 4.7 on the 5.0 weighted scale.
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Letter grade | midpoint bands between grade points | A− for 3.5 on 4.0 — the letter your GPA reads as. |
| Grade points | letter → scale table | 3.7 for A− on 4.0 — the number behind the letter. |
| Percent range | letter → percent band | 90–92% for A− — scale-independent, same on every scale. |
| Scale note | A+ handling per scale | On 4.0, A+ counts as 4.0; weighted scales add +1.0 / +0.5. |
Who uses this
- The junior checking college cutoffs: a 3.5 GPA reads as A− — good news if the target school wants “mostly A’s and B’s,” and now they know the exact boundary they’re sitting on.
- The transfer student switching scales: their old school’s 5.0-weighted 4.3 converts to a B+ letter, which is 3.3 on the new school’s 4.0 scale — no more guessing.
- The parent reading a report card: 91% in chemistry = A− (3.7), and they can see it’s two points from an A.
- The scholarship applicant: checks whether their 3.84 rounds to an A band — it doesn’t (A starts at 3.85), so they know exactly how close the cutoff is.
Accuracy & limitations
Grading scales are not universal — this page implements the most common U.S. conventions, but individual schools move boundaries (some set A at 90%, some don’t use plus/minus at all, some weight AP at +1.0 and honors at +0.5). The midpoint-boundary rule is the standard mathematical convention, yet some schools round differently or truncate. Weighted scales here add a flat +1.0 (5.0) or +0.5 (4.5) per letter above F; your school’s actual weighting may differ by course type. Always confirm against your school’s published scale before making decisions.
Cite this calculator Bright Side Kit. “GPA to Letter Grade Converter: 4.0, 4.3, 5.0 Scales.” brightoolbox.com, 2026.
Bright Side Kit. "GPA to Letter Grade Converter: 4.0, 4.3, 5.0 Scales." https://brightoolbox.com/gpa-to-letter-grade/ Accessed October 23, 2026.Data sources- Standard U.S. 4.0 grading scale conventions (A 93–96%, A− 90–92%, B+ 87–89%, etc.) as used across American high schools and colleges; weighted-scale conventions (+1.0 for 5.0, +0.5 for 4.5) per common district policies.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.5 GPA an A− or a B+?
A−. On the 4.0 scale the A−/B+ midpoint is exactly 3.50, and boundary scores round up to the higher letter. A 3.5 reads as A− (3.7 grade points, 90–92%). Drop to 3.49 and it becomes a B+.
What’s the difference between 4.0, 4.3, and 5.0 scales?
How high the top goes. The 4.0 standard caps at 4.0 (an A+ still counts 4.0). The 4.3 scale gives A+ a 4.3. Weighted scales reward advanced courses: the 5.0 scale adds +1.0 per letter (an A in AP = 5.0) and the 4.5 scale adds +0.5. The same letter means different points on each — a B+ is 3.3, 3.3, 4.3, and 3.8 respectively.
Can my GPA be higher than 4.0?
Yes, on weighted or 4.3 scales. A student with straight A’s in AP courses can post a 4.7+ on a 5.0 weighted scale, and a 4.3-scale school can award above 4.0 for A+ grades. On a strict unweighted 4.0 scale, 4.0 is the ceiling — that’s why colleges often ask for both weighted and unweighted GPAs.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Both, but they often recalculate. Many admissions offices strip the weighting and recompute your GPA on their own 4.0 scale so applicants from different high schools compare fairly. A 4.6 weighted GPA might recalculate to a 3.8 unweighted — the letter breakdown matters more than the headline number.
Why do percent bands stay the same on every scale?
Because a 91% is a 91%. Percent bands describe the classroom score; the scale only changes how many grade points that score is worth. 91% is an A− everywhere, worth 3.7 points on a 4.0 scale and 4.7 on a 5.0 weighted scale.
What GPA do I need for an A average?
3.85 or higher on the 4.0 scale — the A band starts at the 3.85 midpoint. A 3.84 is still an A− average. On a 4.3 scale the bar is the same 3.85; on weighted scales the bands shift upward with the table.
My school doesn’t use plus/minus grades. Does this still work?
Approximately. Without plus/minus, schools typically map wider percent bands straight to A/B/C/D/F (often 90/80/70/60). Use the letter-to-GPA panel with the base letters and treat the plus/minus rows as informational — or check your school’s published scale for its exact cutoffs.