Four official examples
- UCLA: A+ and A are both 4.0; A− is 3.7 and B+ is 3.3.
- University of Illinois: A+ and A are 4.00; A− is 3.67 and B+ is 3.33.
- Cornell: A+ is 4.3, A is 4.0, and A− is 3.7.
- MIT: the GPA scale is 5.0, with A worth 5 and B worth 4.
Worked example: three 3-unit grades
Consider A+, A−, and B+, each worth 3 units. UCLA's listed values produce (12 + 11.1 + 9.9) ÷ 9 = 3.667. Illinois's values produce (12 + 11.01 + 9.99) ÷ 9 = 3.667 as well in this balanced example, even though individual course quality points differ. Cornell's A+ value raises the result to (12.9 + 11.1 + 9.9) ÷ 9 = 3.767.
Try the numbers
Compare the same grade across four schools
A “4.0 scale” does not always mean identical grade-point values.
Why the distinction matters
A tenth or a hundredth in a grade-point value can affect cumulative totals across many units. A school may also calculate GPA only from its own courses, exclude S/U work, or count repeated courses each time. Copy the scale and inclusion rules from the official transcript key, not from a generic chart.
Open the calculator's Grade Scale panel to see every value used by GPA Clarity.
Policy sources
Policies vary by institution and can change. These official sources support the school-specific statements above; your registrar is the final authority.
Written and independently checked by GPA Clarity · Last reviewed September 9, 2026