Grade math glossary
Academic grade definitions
Clear explanations for the gradebook terms that decide where you stand in a class.
GPA
Plain English: what GPA stands for, how it's calculated, and what it actually measures.
Read definitionWeighted GPA
Weighted GPA factors in course difficulty. Here's how the math works and why it matters in admissions.
Read definitionCumulative GPA
Cumulative GPA is your running average across every semester. Here's how it builds, how to recover from a bad term, and why it matters more than term GPA.
Read definitionCalculate GPA
Step-by-step formula for calculating your GPA on the 4.0 scale, with worked examples and the math for plus/minus grades.
Read definition