Your grade point average (GPA) sums up your academic performance in one number. Scholarships, co-op placements, exchanges and graduate programs all look at it. Here is how to calculate it, and why Canadian schools do not all agree. To skip the math, use our GPA calculator.
Step 1: convert each grade to points
On the common 4.0 scale, A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, D = 1.0 and F = 0. Some schools give A+ a value of 4.3.
Step 2: multiply by credits
Multiply each course’s points by its credit weight. A 3-credit B+ gives 3 x 3.3 = 9.9 grade points.
Step 3: divide by total credits
Add all grade points, then divide by total credits. Example:
| Course | Grade | Credits | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus | A (4.0) | 3 | 12.0 |
| English | B+ (3.3) | 3 | 9.9 |
| Biology | A- (3.7) | 4 | 14.8 |
| History | B (3.0) | 3 | 9.0 |
Total: 45.7 points / 13 credits = 3.52 GPA.
Canadian scales are not all the same
- 4.0 or 4.33 scale: used by many universities, including UBC (for some purposes), University of Toronto (4.0) and McGill (4.0).
- 9-point scale: York University (A+ = 9).
- 12-point scale: McMaster University (A+ = 12).
- Percentages: many high schools and some universities report averages in percent.
- R score: Quebec CEGEPs use the R score for university admission.
Always use your school’s official conversion table, especially when applying to graduate school or abroad.
Cumulative vs. term GPA
Term GPA covers one semester. Cumulative GPA (CGPA) covers all courses so far. To update your CGPA, add the new grade points and credits to your previous totals, not the two GPAs.
How to raise your GPA
- Prioritize courses with more credits: they weigh more.
- Check if your school allows course repeats to replace a low grade.
- Use our final grade calculator to see what you need on upcoming exams.