What is GPA and why are there different kinds?

GPA stands for Grade Point Average.  It is the term used in the United States to refer to the average marks in school. A GPA is calculated by term or by year. A cumulative GPA is the average of all courses taken until a certain point. 

Asking “What is GPA?” is a good question but you should also be asking “Which GPA will universities use to evaluate my application?” Some may request the weighted or unweighted, the Core or academic, or the A-G GPA, etc. We’ll go over what they mean and how to calculate your own.

Why are grades converted to GPA?

Because international students applying to American universities are coming from different countries, their grades/marks are all likely to be in different formats. It would be very difficult to determine whether one applicant’s grades are equal to or stronger than another student’s without converting grades. American universities will take the grades/marks and convert them into the American system. It is not necessary for the student to convert their own on the university application. In fact, they are instructed to input grades just as they are in the application. This is great because it makes everything easier for the student and you don’t have to worry about inputting an incorrect grades. Once a student’s grades are converted, then the universities can review all applicants in a fair manner. 

But as a student getting ready to apply to American universities, you should still convert and calculate your own GPAs.  Knowing your GPAs will help you build a college list and understand where you stand in comparison to other applicants.

Weighted GPA

A weighted grade point average gives an additional point for every advanced course the student has taken such as an honors course (HL level) and Advanced Placement courses (SL). 

Unweighted GPA

An unweighted grade point average does not take into account the rigor of courses. It will be calculated based on the score and divided by the number of courses.

The graph above assumes that your classes are all worth the same number of credits/hours/units. But if your school gives them a different weight, you could multiply by that weight.

Core or Academic GPA

The Core, or also called Academic, grade point average only takes into account academic courses and disregards any elective courses. Most universities consider academic courses to be English (or your country’s native language), mathematics, history, science, and a foreign language. 

A-G GPA

A-G grade point average is the grade point average that the University of California system requires for domestic students. You will see it mentioned in the application and other admission materials. A-G requirements are specific courses that are used when calculating the GPA.  These courses are similar to the academic GPA courses, mentioned above, but are a little more generous in that they include visual and performing arts courses.  

Common Grade/Mark Systems

International Baccalaureate (IB) 

The program typically requires students to take six courses at either the HL level or the SL level. These courses are equivalent to Advanced Placement courses in the United States and SL courses are equivalent to Honors courses in the United States.  

What GPA is good?

A good GPA depends on the average GPA of the school you are applying to. You want yours to match their average GPA, or better, in order to have a chance of being admitted.

But the American university admissions process is different than the majority of the world.  Universities are not only looking for specific GPAs but are looking for context for those grades.  

A 3.80 GPA is earned by getting all B+’s/87 – 89% marks in classes. But a 3.8 GPA alone does not tell the universities the level of rigor, types of courses, how the grades compare to the other students, or if the grades are trending upward or downward. All of these are factors that universities review in their decision process. 

For example, the admitted class of 2020 at UCLA had an average unweighted grade point average of 3.96.  But of course, that means that there were students with lower GPAs and students with higher GPAs. UCLA had plenty of applicants with GPAs above 4.0 that they also denied because GPA is only one of many factors that are considered when reviewing student applications. 

Something else to consider is that as an international student, you may be required to meet additional requirements depending on the education system you studied under.

In Conclusion 

Knowing the different GPAs, the GPAs that universities will consider and knowing your own GPA will help you decide where to apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GPA? Grade Point Average is the average of the marks you earn in class and will be used in your American university applications. 

What is Weighted GPA? – Grade point average that awards an additional point for every advanced course.

What is Unweighted GPA? – Grade point average that does not consider the rigor of courses. It will be calculated based on the score and divided by the number of courses taken.

Academic GPA –  Grade point average that only includes courses in English (or your country’s native language), mathematics, history, science, and a foreign language. 

What years of high school (secondary school) are considered for GPA? As an international student, universities will want to see your entire academic record which may be different than requirements for domestic students.