Grading Scale Calculator

View standard grading scales (plus/minus, simple, pass/fail) with GPA values and percentage ranges, or build a completely custom grading scale with your own cutoffs.

Select Grading Scale Type

LetterGPA% RangeRange Bar
A+4.097100%
A4.09396%
A-3.79092%
B+3.38789%
B3.08386%
B-2.78082%
C+2.37779%
C2.07376%
C-1.77072%
D+1.36769%
D1.06366%
D-0.76062%
F0.0059%

How to Use This Calculator

View standard grading scales (plus/minus, simple letter, pass/fail) with GPA values and percentage ranges in the reference tabs. Use the Custom Scale tab to build a grading scale with your own percentage cutoffs for any course.

The Advanced calculator below lets you compare multiple grading scales side by side and export custom scales. The Professional tier adds a score-to-grade calculator that works with any custom scale you define.

Advanced Custom Scale Builder & Comparison Create custom grading scales and compare across institutions

Standard plus/minus, simple letter-only, and pass/fail scales shown side by side for comparison.

Standard Plus/Minus
GradeGPARange
A+4.097–100%
A4.093–96%
A-3.790–92%
B+3.387–89%
B3.083–86%
B-2.780–82%
C+2.377–79%
C2.073–76%
C-1.770–72%
D+1.367–69%
D1.063–66%
D-0.760–62%
F0.00–59%
Simple Letter Scale
GradeGPARange
A4.090–100%
B3.080–89%
C2.070–79%
D1.060–69%
F0.00–59%
Pass / Fail Scale
GradeRangeGPA?
Pass (P)60–100%No effect
Fail (F)0–59%0.0
Satisfactory (S)70–100%No effect
Unsatisfactory (U)0–69%No effect

Common Grading Scale Types

Plus/Minus Scale (most common): A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F
Simple Letter Scale: A, B, C, D, F (no plus/minus)
Pass/Fail Scale: Pass (≥60% typically) / Fail (<60%)
Percentage Scale: Exact percentage scores without letter conversion

The standard US plus/minus scale is used by the majority of colleges and universities.

Worked Example: Custom Scale

A professor sets custom cutoffs: A = 90%, B = 80%, C = 70%, D = 60%, F = below 60%

A student scoring 88% receives a B (3.0 GPA) under this scale.

Under the standard scale, 88% = B+ (3.3 GPA).

Always check which scale your course uses — it affects your GPA calculation.

Professional Full Grading Scale Profile Multi-institution comparison, full scale table & GPA analysis

Build a grading scale with custom letter grades, percentage cutoffs, and GPA point values. Use the Batch Grader tab to apply it to a list of scores.

Grade LabelMin %Max %GPA PointsVisual

Frequently Asked Questions

The standard plus/minus scale (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F) is the most widely used at US colleges and universities. The simple letter scale (A, B, C, D, F without plus/minus) is also common, particularly at some community colleges and professional programs.
Pass/fail grades are specifically designed not to affect your GPA. A passing grade adds credits toward your degree without adding grade points. A failing grade on a pass/fail basis also typically does not affect your GPA, but this varies by institution — check your school's policy.
Yes. Professors can set their own percentage cutoffs within institutional guidelines. They might use a stricter scale (A = 95%+) or a more lenient one (A = 88%+). The grade they submit follows university policy, but how they assign that grade can vary. Always check your course syllabus for the specific grading breakdown.
A curve adjusts grades upward when an exam was unusually difficult. A professor might add a fixed number of points to all scores, or adjust the grading scale itself (e.g., making 80% = A). The final letter grade still maps to the standard GPA value, but the percentage cutoffs shift.

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