{"id":13068,"date":"2024-03-01T13:19:53","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T07:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/?p=13068"},"modified":"2025-05-21T17:09:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T11:39:00","slug":"us-grading-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/admission-guide\/us-grading-system\/","title":{"rendered":"US Grading System 2024: Everything You Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

As one of the hot spot study destinations in the world for international students, the US is in more demand than ever! It offers more than just top-class institutions, but diverse, multicultural experiences and job opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you make a move on those applications to the universities in the US<\/strong><\/a>, understanding the new grading system of the US can help ease the application process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since its inception, it has always been made to be as simple as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was set up as a system and standardized method of evaluating the overall performances of students by universities as an application process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While most countries have their grading system, the US grading system percentage is based on GPA (Grade Point Average) with 4 being the highest point. This American grading system is followed by every educational institution in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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Your US university journey starts with the right place to live.<\/p>\n

Discover top student accommodations across the United States.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n Book Now<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n

What are the kinds of grade systems in the US?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the US, there are two types of grading systems which are letter grades and GPA. They are related and the GPA is derived from the letter grades. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Letter Grades: <\/strong>It\u2019s a very simple grading system based only on grades from A to F and includes a percentage. Grade A <\/strong>represents excellence while Grade F <\/strong>is the lowest and means fail grade.
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  2. GPA (Grade Point Average): <\/strong>GPA definition determines the strength of your candidature and eligibility for financial aid and choice to enroll in your desired institution. The highest US grading point is 4 while the lowest grade is 0.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    In the table below, the letter grade is derived from the numerical percentage, and results in the grading point scale. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Percentile <\/strong><\/td>Letter Grade<\/strong><\/td>Grade Point Scale<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    97-100<\/td>A+<\/td>4.33 or 4<\/td><\/tr>
    93-96<\/td>A<\/td>4.0 <\/td><\/tr>
    90-92<\/td>A\u2013<\/td>3.7 <\/td><\/tr>
    87-89<\/td>B+<\/td>3.3 <\/td><\/tr>
    83-86 <\/td>B<\/td>3.0 <\/td><\/tr>
    80-82 <\/td>C+<\/td>2.7<\/td><\/tr>
    77-79<\/td>C<\/td>2.3 <\/td><\/tr>
    73-76 <\/td>C<\/td>2.0 <\/td><\/tr>
    70-72 <\/td>C\u2013<\/td>1.7 <\/td><\/tr>
    67-69<\/td>D+<\/td>1.3 <\/td><\/tr>
    63-66<\/td>D<\/td>1.0 <\/td><\/tr>
    60-62 0<\/td>D\u2013<\/td>.7 <\/td><\/tr>
    less than 60<\/td>F<\/td>0.0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    How do you calculate the American grade point average?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Simple Average GPA<\/strong> = total score in all courses\/number of courses will give you an average performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Subject <\/strong><\/td>Grade <\/strong><\/td>Grade Point<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Maths<\/td>B<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr>
    Chemistry <\/td>A<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr>
    Literature<\/td>A<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr>
    Algebra<\/td>B<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    GPA = <\/strong>(3+4+4+3)=14 \/ 4(number if courses) = 3.5 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Weighted GPA Grade System = <\/strong>multiply credits grade points (add the points) \/total credits <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Credits are a pre-decided number of hours given to students for each course. They are basically the rewards that students utilize during their studies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Subject <\/strong><\/td>Grade <\/strong><\/td>Credits<\/strong><\/td>Grade Point<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Maths<\/td>B<\/td>4<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr>
    Chemistry <\/td>A<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr>
    Literature<\/td>A<\/td>3<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr>
    Algebra<\/td>B<\/td>4<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    GPA = <\/strong>(4*3+3*4+3*4+4*3)=48\/ 14 = 3.4 (approx)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What are the types of GPA?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Class GPA: <\/strong>It is the total score of your high school grades \/ total credits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Semester GPA:<\/strong> It is the total score of credits\/value of the grade earned in the semester. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cumulative GPA: <\/strong>This is required for college application. It is calculated by your semester\u2019s GPA multiplied by credit hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Calculation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    GPA * credit score of all the semesters = total points of all the semesters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sum all the credit scores and total points of all the semesters<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Divide the total points of all the semesters \/ total credit hours <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The result is your cumulative GPA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What are the types of GPA honors?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Cum laude: <\/strong>It is an academic degree given to a student who received a distinction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This will typically be a score requirement of 3.5\u20133.6 GPA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Magna cum laude:<\/strong> It is an academic degree given to students in US who received greater distinction. This will typically be a score requirement of 3.7\u20133.8 GPA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Summa cum laude: <\/strong>It is an academic degree given to the student with the highest honor. This will typically be a score requirement of 3.9\u20134.0 GPA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What are the degree classifications in the US? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are three types of classification of degrees in the US:<\/p>\n\n\n\n