Does Canada use a 4.0 or 4.33 GPA scale?

Both scales are used in Canada depending on the institution. Most Ontario universities use the 4.0 scale. Some western universities like UBC and SFU use the 4.33 scale where A+ = 4.33 instead of 4.0.

What percentage is an A in Canada?

At most Canadian universities, an A corresponds to 80–89%, with A+ being 90% or higher. Exact percentage cutoffs vary by institution.

How does my Canadian GPA compare to US graduate school requirements?

Canadian and US 4.0 GPA scales are essentially equivalent. A 3.5 Canadian GPA is viewed the same as a 3.5 US GPA by admissions committees.

How does Quebec CEGEP grading work compared to university GPA?

Quebec CEGEPs use an R-score rather than GPA. The R-score accounts for your grade relative to classmates and is used for university admissions in Quebec. University courses convert to letter grades on the standard GPA scale.

Canadian GPA Calculator

Q: What is a competitive GPA for Canadian medical schools?

Competitive GPAs for Canadian medical schools vary. Ontario schools (via OMSAS) typically want 3.7+ on the OMSAS scale. UBC Medicine looks for around 3.6+ on their 4.33 scale.

Calculate your GPA using Canadian grading standards. Supports 4.0 and 4.33 scales, percentage averages, honours standing, and OMSAS medical school conversion.

GPA Scale:

Course NameGradeCredits

Canadian GPA (4.0 Scale)

3.50

78.8% average — Second Class Honours (70–79%)

Total Credits

Grade Points

42.0

Courses

How to Use This Canadian GPA Calculator

Enter each course with its letter grade and credit weight above. The calculator instantly converts to both the 4.0 and 4.33 GPA scales used at Canadian universities, and shows your percentage average alongside your honours standing.

Unsure which scale your school uses? Ontario universities (UofT, Western, Queen's, McMaster) typically use the 4.0 scale. British Columbia schools like UBC often use 4.33. Use the Scale Converter tab to look up any individual grade, or scroll to the Advanced calculator for province-specific presets and OMSAS/OLSAS professional school conversions.

Advanced Province Scales & Scenarios Ontario, BC, Quebec, OMSAS presets

Province / Region

UofT, Western, Queen's, McMaster — standard 4.0 scale

Course NameGradeCredits

Ontario GPA (4.0 Scale)

3.33

9 total credits

How Canadian GPA Is Calculated

Canadian universities calculate GPA using the same weighted average formula as the US: multiply each course's grade points by its credit weight, sum all weighted points, then divide by total credits.

Example: Biochemistry (A, 3 credits) + Organic Chemistry (B+, 3 credits) + English (A-, 3 credits)

Biochemistry: 4.0 × 3 = 12.0 points
Organic Chem: 3.3 × 3 = 9.9 points
English: 3.7 × 3 = 11.1 points
Total: 33.0 ÷ 9 credits = 3.67 GPA

Province-Specific Grade Scales

Canada does not have a single national grading standard. Key differences:

Ontario: 4.0 scale standard at most universities. UofT, Western, McMaster all use 4.0.
British Columbia: UBC and SFU use a 4.33 scale where A+ = 4.33 rather than 4.0.
Alberta: UAlberta and UCalgary use 4.0 with percentage cut-offs slightly different from Ontario.
Quebec CEGEP: Uses an R-score (cote de rendement au collégial) rather than GPA — percentages are the primary measure.

Professional Full Transcript & Professional Schools OMSAS, OLSAS, grad school, US equivalency

Course	Year	Category	Grade	Credits

Full Transcript Summary

4.0 GPA

3.50

4.33 GPA

3.51

Avg Percentage

78.8%

Total Credits

By Year

Year	GPA (4.0)	Credits
Year 1	3.33	9
Year 2	3.15	6
Year 3	3.85	6
Year 4	4.00	3

Canadian Honours Standing Explained

Unlike the US Latin honours system (cum laude, magna cum laude), Canadian universities award honours standing based on percentage averages:

First Class Honours: 80%+ (approximately 3.7 GPA)
Second Class Honours (Upper Division): 75–79%
Second Class Honours (Lower Division): 70–74%
Pass (Third Class): 60–69%

Thresholds vary by institution. Some universities use slightly different cutoffs — always confirm with your academic calendar.

OMSAS GPA for Ontario Medical Schools

The Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) uses a unique grade conversion table that differs slightly from the standard 4.0 scale. For example, B- converts to 3.0 on OMSAS vs. 2.7 on the standard scale, giving students with slightly lower grades a marginal advantage in the calculation.

Most Ontario medical schools (UofT, Western, McMaster, Ottawa, Queen's) require a minimum OMSAS GPA of 3.6–3.7 to be competitive. The Professional tier above calculates your OMSAS GPA automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Both scales are used in Canada depending on the institution. Most Ontario universities (UofT, Western, McMaster, Queen's) use the 4.0 scale. Some western universities like UBC and SFU use the 4.33 scale where A+ = 4.33 instead of 4.0. Always check your university's academic calendar for their official grading policy.

At most Canadian universities, an A corresponds to 80–89%, with A+ being 90% or higher. However, exact percentage cutoffs vary: some schools use 80% for A-, 85% for A, and 90% for A+. Others use slightly different thresholds. Always consult your institution's grading scale for authoritative cutoffs.

Canadian and US 4.0 GPA scales are essentially equivalent — admissions committees at US graduate programs generally accept Canadian GPAs at face value. A 3.5 Canadian GPA is viewed the same as a 3.5 US GPA. Some US schools may request a WES (World Education Services) evaluation for official verification, particularly for graduate or professional school applications.

Competitive GPAs for Canadian medical schools vary by school and province. Ontario schools (via OMSAS) typically want 3.7+ on the OMSAS scale. UBC Medicine looks for around 3.6+ on their 4.33 scale. McGill and other Quebec schools assess applications holistically but also prefer 3.5+ on a 4.0 scale. The MCAT score, research experience, and extracurriculars are equally important.

Quebec CEGEPs use an R-score (Cote de rendement au collégial) rather than GPA. The R-score accounts for your grade relative to your classmates and is used for university admissions in Quebec. Once you enter a Quebec university (undergraduate or graduate), you typically receive a letter grade and percentage that converts to the standard 4.0 or 4.3 GPA scale used by that institution.