Grading Scale Chart
This grading scale chart shows the standard US system at a glance: every percentage range, its letter grade and the GPA points it earns — in both the plus/minus version most colleges use and the whole-letter version common in high schools.
Standard grading scale (plus/minus)
| Letter grade | Percentage | GPA points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100 | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90–92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89 | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86 | 3.0 |
| B- | 80–82 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79 | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76 | 2.0 |
| C- | 70–72 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69 | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66 | 1.0 |
| D- | 60–62 | 0.7 |
| F | Below 60 | 0.0 |
The plus/minus scale rewards borderline work more fairly: a 92% is not quite an A, but as an A− (3.7 points) it is worth much more than the 90% it sits next to. GPA points are capped at 4.0 — an A+ looks good on a transcript but counts the same as an A.
Whole-letter grading scale (10-point)
| Letter grade | Percentage | GPA points |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90–100 | 4.0 |
| B | 80–89 | 3.0 |
| C | 70–79 | 2.0 |
| D | 60–69 | 1.0 |
| F | Below 60 | 0.0 |
Many high schools — and some colleges — skip the pluses and minuses. Bands are a clean 10 points wide, which is simpler to read but harsher at the edges: an 89% is a B worth 3.0 points, not the B+ worth 3.3 it would earn on the plus/minus scale.
Why schools use different scales
There is no national grading scale in the United States. School districts, colleges and individual departments each set their own cut-offs. A few variations you will meet:
- 7-point scales (common in parts of the South): an A starts at 93% or even 94.5%, with tighter bands all the way down.
- 4.0-capped vs weighted scales: high schools that weight AP classes let GPA rise above 4.0 — up to 5.0 — which is a school-level ranking device, not a different grading scale.
- Standards-based grading: some schools report 1–4 proficiency levels instead of letters; letters here are only a rough translation.
Whatever your school uses, the workflow is the same: convert percentages with the grade percentage calculator, combine weighted coursework with the grade calculator, and average the resulting letters with the GPA calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard grading scale in the US?
The most common US grading scale is: A 93–100%, A- 90–92%, B+ 87–89%, B 83–86%, B- 80–82%, C+ 77–79%, C 73–76%, C- 70–72%, D+ 67–69%, D 63–66%, D- 60–62%, and F below 60%, with GPA points from 4.0 for an A down to 0.0 for an F. The complete chart is in the tables on this page.
What percentage is an A?
On the standard scale an A is 93% or higher; an A+ is usually 97% or higher (it earns the same 4.0 GPA points). Some schools use a 10-point scale where any 90% or above is an A. Check your school handbook — the difference matters when you are aiming at a GPA target.
What is a passing grade?
A D- (60%) is technically passing in most US schools, but many colleges require a C (73%) or better for a course to count toward a degree or transfer. Below 60% is an F, which earns no credit and 0.0 GPA points.
Why do grading scales differ between schools?
There is no single national scale. Districts, colleges and even individual departments set their own cut-offs and decide whether to use plus/minus grades. That is why the same 91% can be an A at one school and an A- at another.
How do I use this grading scale chart with my grades?
Find your percentage in the chart to get your letter grade and GPA points. Then average the points across your courses — weighted by credit hours — with our GPA calculator, or combine assignment percentages first with the weighted grade calculator.