Converting Percentage Grades to GPA: The US 4.0 Scale and UK Degree Classes
October 21, 2026
Percentage grades and grade point averages describe academic performance in different ways. Many US high schools and colleges convert percentage scores to letter grades and then to grade points on a 4.0 scale. A typical scale is: 93 to 100% = A (4.0), 90 to 92% = A− (3.7), 87 to 89% = B+ (3.3), 83 to 86% = B (3.0), 80 to 82% = B− (2.7), 77 to 79% = C+ (2.3), 73 to 76% = C (2.0), 70 to 72% = C− (1.7), 67 to 69% = D+ (1.3), 63 to 66% = D (1.0), 60 to 62% = D− (0.7), and below 60% = F (0.0).
Schools set their own cutoffs. Some use 90 for an A, 80 for a B, 70 for a C, 60 for a D, and do not use plus or minus. Always use the scale in your own school's handbook or syllabus.
Skip the math and get your answer instantly:
Open the GPA Calculator →Conversion Table and Example
Using the table above, a student with course scores of 94, 88, 81, 76, and 91 earns 4.0, 3.3, 2.7, 2.0, and 3.7 grade points. With equal credits, the GPA is (4.0 + 3.3 + 2.7 + 2.0 + 3.7) ÷ 5 = 15.7 ÷ 5 = 3.14. Averaging the percentages first, (94 + 88 + 81 + 76 + 91) ÷ 5 = 86, which converts to 3.0, a slightly lower value than 3.14. The difference arises because the conversion is not linear: grade points jump in steps, and strong performances in some courses count fully at 4.0 even if the percentage is 94 and not 100. Compute the GPA from the individual course grade points, weighting by credits.
| Percentage | Letter | Grade points (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|
| 93 to 100 | A | 4.0 |
| 90 to 92 | A- | 3.7 |
| 87 to 89 | B+ | 3.3 |
| 83 to 86 | B | 3.0 |
| 80 to 82 | B- | 2.7 |
| 77 to 79 | C+ | 2.3 |
| 73 to 76 | C | 2.0 |
| 70 to 72 | C- | 1.7 |
| 60 to 69 | D range | 0.7 to 1.3 |
| Below 60 | F | 0.0 |
Weighting by Credits
If the courses have different credit values, multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, add the quality points, and divide by total credits. For a 4-credit course with an A (4.0), a 3-credit course with a B+ (3.3), and a 3-credit course with a C (2.0): quality points = 16 + 9.9 + 6 = 31.9; credits = 10; GPA = 3.19. Honors or AP courses may carry extra weight in a weighted GPA, as covered in other articles.
UK and Other Systems
In the UK, university degrees are classified by overall percentage: First-class honours at 70% or above, upper second (2:1) at 60% to 69%, lower second (2:2) at 50% to 59%, third at 40% to 49%. A UK percentage of 70% is considered excellent, which surprises students used to US scales where 70% is a C−. Direct conversion is therefore not straightforward. Other countries use different scales: Germany grades from 1.0 (best) to 5.0 (fail), France out of 20 (where 16 or more is exceptional), India often uses percentages with a first class at 60% or above, and Canada varies by province and institution.
Credential evaluation services, such as WES, convert foreign transcripts to US equivalents, and universities usually apply their own policies to international applicants. Do not rely on a simple formula for official purposes.
Targets and Planning
To maintain a 3.5 GPA (about A−/B+), you need an average of roughly 87% to 90% across courses on this scale. To reach a 3.0 (B), about 83% on average. Plan study effort accordingly, and use a GPA calculator to explore how a grade in one course changes your cumulative average.
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA is 85%?
A B on most 4.0 scales, 3.0 points.
What GPA is 95%?
An A, 4.0 points.
Is a UK 65% the same as a US 65%?
No. A UK 65% is an upper second-class degree (2:1), a strong result, while a 65% in the US is typically a D.
Do all schools use the same scale?
No. Check your school's scale in its handbook.
How do I convert foreign grades to US GPA?
Use the institution's policy or a credential evaluation service.