What Is a 4.0 GPA?

A 4.0 GPA is the highest score on the most common unweighted grading scale used in the US, representing straight A's across every course, with no course averaging below an A.

The standard 4.0 scale

• A = 4.0
• B = 3.0
• C = 2.0
• D = 1.0
• F = 0.0

Many schools use a plus/minus version instead, where an A- might be 3.7 and a B+ might be 3.3, which changes the exact GPA a given transcript produces even though the letter grades look similar.

Why a weighted GPA can exceed 4.0

A 4.0 is typically the ceiling only on an unweighted scale. Schools that weight honors, AP, or IB courses add extra points for those classes, which is why some students report weighted GPAs of 4.3, 4.5, or higher. A 4.0 unweighted and a 4.0 weighted GPA don't represent the same academic record.

It isn't a universal standard

Some schools use a 5.0 scale, a 10-point scale, or a completely different system. A 4.0 only means "the maximum" if the school in question actually uses a 4.0 ceiling, so always check what scale a GPA is quoted on before comparing it to another student's or another school's.

Calculate your own GPA on any scale with the GPA calculator.