Percentage to GPA Converter
Percentage to GPA: what this converter does
A percentage grade (like 85%) is a common way to report performance, but many schools, scholarship applications, and credential evaluators ask for a GPA or classification instead. This converter maps a single percentage score to an equivalent value on the grading system you select (for example, a US 4.0 scale, a plus/minus 4.0 scale, Indian CGPA out of 10, UK degree classification bands, or a Canadian 4.0-style scale).
Because GPA systems are usually based on grade bands (ranges of percentages), percentage-to-GPA conversion is typically a lookup/mapping rather than one universal mathematical formula. The goal is to give you a reasonable, commonly used equivalence you can use for planning and comparison.
How the conversion works (mapping vs formula)
There are two related tasks people often mean by “percentage to GPA”:
- Single-score conversion: Convert one overall percentage (e.g., 85%) to the selected system’s GPA/level by mapping it into a defined percentage range.
- Course-by-course GPA calculation: Convert each course grade to grade points, then compute a credit-weighted GPA.
This page focuses on the first task: mapping one percentage to one GPA/level. If you need the second task, you can still use the standard weighted GPA formula below—just note that you must first convert each course’s percentage to a grade point using your institution’s table.
Weighted GPA formula (for multiple courses)
If you have multiple courses with credit hours, a common definition of GPA is:
Where Gi is the grade point for course i and Ci is the credit hours (or weight) for course i.
Interpreting your results
- US Standard (4.0) typically reports whole-letter grade points (A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0.0) based on percentage bands.
- US Plus/Minus (4.0) refines the mapping (e.g., B+ vs B vs B-) so the same percentage may yield a different GPA than the “standard” table.
- Indian CGPA (10-point) usually reports CGPA/SGPA bands such as 10, 9, 8, etc., and the percentage-to-CGPA mapping can vary by board/university.
- UK Degree Classification is not a GPA. It’s typically a classification band (First, Upper Second/2:1, Lower Second/2:2, Third, Fail) based on overall marks.
- Canadian (4.0) often resembles the US 4.0 scale but cutoffs and letter definitions can differ by province/institution.
Use the output as a quick equivalence for comparison. For official reporting, always defer to the table used by your institution or evaluator.
Worked example
Example: Convert 85% using two different US systems.
- Pick the grading system. Start with US Standard (4.0).
- Find the band. In many standard US tables, 83–86% maps to a B.
- Read the grade points. A B typically equals 3.0.
Result (US Standard): 85% → 3.0 GPA (B).
Now switch to US Plus/Minus (4.0). In many plus/minus tables, 87–89% may be B+ and 83–86% may be B, but other schools place B+ at 85–89. That’s why the same 85% can produce 3.0 or 3.3 depending on the policy.
Quick comparison of common bands (high-level)
The table below summarizes typical ranges used in many institutions. Treat it as a reference for what this converter is approximating, not a universal standard.
| Percentage range | US Standard (4.0) | US Plus/Minus (4.0) | Indian CGPA (10) | UK classification | Canada (4.0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90–100% | A (4.0) | A-/A/A+ (≈3.7–4.0) | O/10 (≈10) | First (1st) | A/A+ (often 4.0) |
| 80–89% | B (3.0) | B- to A- (≈2.7–3.7) | A/9 (≈9) | Upper Second (2:1) | B+/A- (often 3.3–3.7) |
| 70–79% | C (2.0) | C- to B- (≈1.7–2.7) | B/8 (≈8) | Lower Second (2:2) | B/B- (often 2.7–3.0) |
| 60–69% | D (1.0) | D to C- (≈1.0–1.7) | C/7 (≈7) | Third (3rd) | C+/C (often 2.0–2.3) |
| < 60% | F (0.0) | F (0.0) | Varies (often ≤6) | Fail | D/F (often 0.0–1.0) |
System-by-system notes (what commonly differs)
US Standard (4.0 scale)
This is the simplest mapping: letter bands (A/B/C/D/F) each correspond to a single grade point. It’s common in older reporting or in contexts where plus/minus isn’t used.
US Plus/Minus (4.0 scale)
Plus/minus adds more resolution (A-, B+, etc.). Two important real-world differences:
- Some institutions cap A+ at 4.0 (no 4.3), while others award 4.3 for A+.
- Cutoffs for “+” and “-” (e.g., whether 85% is B or B+) are not fully standardized.
Indian CGPA (10-point)
Indian universities and boards often publish their own conversion tables. Some use direct banding (e.g., 90–100 → 10), while others use formulas (e.g., CGPA × 9.5 ≈ percentage) for certain contexts. When you use this option, interpret it as a typical band-based equivalence unless your institution specifies a different method.
UK degree classification
UK results are usually expressed as classifications, not GPA. In many programs, bands like 70%+ (First) and 60–69% (2:1) are used, but the official outcome can depend on departmental rules, weighting across years, and borderline criteria.
Canadian (4.0)
Many Canadian institutions use a 4.0-style system, but the percentage cutoffs for A/A-/B+ etc. can differ. Use this as a general estimate unless you have your school’s exact calendar table.
Assumptions & limitations (important)
- No universal standard: There is no single globally accepted percentage-to-GPA conversion. Schools set their own bands and grade point values.
- Single-score approximation: Converting one overall percentage to a GPA is inherently approximate; official GPAs are often computed from course-by-course grade points and credits.
- Different course difficulty/leveling: Honors/AP/IB weighting (e.g., 5.0 scales) is not represented in a plain 4.0 conversion.
- Rounding and cutoffs: Institutions handle rounding (e.g., 89.5%) differently; always check whether your school rounds up, truncates, or uses exact decimals.
- Policy overrides: Pass/fail courses, withdrawals, repeats, and incomplete grades can change official GPA calculations.
FAQs
Is there a universal formula to convert percentage to GPA?
No. Most conversions use institution-defined percentage bands mapped to letter grades and grade points. Any “one-size-fits-all” formula is an approximation.
Why does the same percentage produce different GPAs in different systems?
Because cutoffs (e.g., what counts as A- vs B+) and grade point assignments vary by institution and country. Plus/minus systems also add more categories.
How do I convert multiple courses into a GPA?
Convert each course grade to a grade point using your school’s table, then compute a credit-weighted average using the GPA formula shown above.
What if my school uses a different scale or cutoffs?
Use your institution’s published grading table whenever available. If your cutoffs differ, treat this tool as a planning estimate and adjust based on your official policy.