Pick any one. The other two follow.
On this page · 6 sections
| Band | Letter grade | % range | Grade points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 | |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 | |
| Good | B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 | |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 | |
| Average | C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 | |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 | |
| Low pass | D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 | |
| D− | 60–62% | 0.7 | |
| Fail | F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
What do you need to keep your A?
Only the final exam left?
Use your current course percentage, the final exam’s weight and your target to find the exam score you need. This is for a course still in progress.
If the final is the only work left, enter your exact current percentage, the exam’s weight and your target. Choose A (93%) for the example scale, or Exact % for your course’s actual A cutoff.
Check your current average
Enter the percentage before the final. Leave the ungraded final out of that average.
Find the final’s weight
Use the percentage in your syllabus. For an exam worth 20% of the course, enter 20.
Set your A cutoff
Choose A at 93%, or Exact % if your course starts A at a different percentage.
Mid-semester: assignments still left?
Calculate your current average or try possible homework, quiz and project scores before planning your final.
Have a 95%? Here is what keeps your A
You have 95% and your final counts for 20%. With A starting at 93%, you need 85% on the final.
| Goal | Course cutoff | Final score needed |
|---|---|---|
| Finish with at least A− | 90% | 70% |
| Keep an A | 93% | 85% |
| Reach A+, if awarded | 97% | 105% — above a 100% maximum |
How the calculation works
Your current work contributes 76 points: 95 × 0.80. You need another 17 points to reach 93. Divide by the final’s 0.20 weight: 17 ÷ 0.20 = 85%.
The linked Final Grade Calculator lets you change the current grade, exam weight and goal. A result above 100% is out of reach on an exam capped at 100%, unless a published policy changes the calculation.
What percentage is an A?
On the example plus/minus scale here, A runs from 93% to less than 97%, with A+ starting at 97%. A course without A+ may keep A as its highest grade through 100%. Your syllabus sets the boundaries.
Check the rounding rule
A 92.5% reaches a 93% cutoff only if the course rounds to the nearest whole percent. If the instructor keeps decimals, it is below the cutoff. Use the published rule rather than assuming a round-up.
See the full grade chart for neighboring grades.
How many GPA points is an A?
An A is 4.00 on the familiar 4.0 scale, but not every university uses that scale. MIT’s 5.00 is a different grading system, not an AP bonus.
| School | Grade-point value |
|---|---|
| Stanford — general scale | 4.00 |
| University of Iowa | 4.00 |
| UC Berkeley | 4.00 |
| MIT | 5.00 on its 5.0 scale |
How much will an A raise your GPA?
Starting from a 3.40 GPA over 30 GPA credits, one 4-credit A worth 4.00 raises your cumulative GPA to 3.47.
| Step | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Existing grade points | 3.40 × 30 = 102 |
| Add the A course | 4.00 × 4 = 16 |
| Divide by all GPA credits | 118 ÷ 34 = 3.4706 → 3.47 |
Use credits already included in your GPA, and add only new courses. Keep credit units consistent; do not mix semester and quarter credits without converting them.
Already received your final course grade?
Use the GPA Calculator to combine this grade with your other course grades and credits. It calculates your semester or cumulative GPA—not the percentage within this one class. If your starting GPA already includes this course, do not add it again.
How to protect your A while balancing other classes
Start by comparing the final scores you need across your classes. If one course needs 85% and another needs 98%, that gives you a concrete starting point for planning your study time. Consider the exam topics and how prepared you feel too.
Keep a margin above the minimum
An 85% target is the mathematical minimum in this example. Aim higher when you can, especially if your current grade may change or your course has a separate minimum exam score.
If homework or projects are still ungraded, update those first in the Grade Calculator. A final-exam estimate is only as reliable as the starting average.
For a goal across your whole transcript, use the Target GPA Calculator. Read what a 4.0 cumulative GPA means for the broader picture.
A grade questions
Is 90% an A?
It can be if your syllabus sets the A cutoff at 90%. On the example plus/minus scale here, 90% is A− and A starts at 93%.
Do I need an A on the final to keep an A?
Not necessarily. With 95% before a final worth 20%, an 85% exam score gives a 93% course grade.
Does an A always raise my GPA?
An A worth 4.00 raises a GPA below 4.00 and leaves a 4.00 unchanged. On a scale that allows a GPA above 4.00, adding a 4.00 A can lower that higher average.
How many A credits raise a 3.40 to 3.50?
If your 3.40 covers 30 GPA credits and A is worth 4.00, six additional credits of A produce exactly 3.50: (102 + 24) ÷ 36.
Is an honors A a 4.5 or 5.0?
That depends on your high school. If it adds 0.5 to a 4.00 A, the weighted value is 4.50; a 1.0 bonus gives 5.00. Check course eligibility and the school’s weighting rules.