What Is a Letter Grade?
A letter grade is a standardized way to represent academic performance using letters (A+, A, A−, B+, B, B−, C+, C, C−, D+, D, D−, F). Each letter grade corresponds to a specific percentage range and a GPA value on the 4.0 scale. Letter grades are used on transcripts, for GPA calculations, graduate school applications, and academic awards like honor roll and Latin honors.
The US grading system uses letter grades as the universal language of academic performance — understood by employers, graduate schools, and institutions worldwide.
Complete Letter Grade Conversion Table
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range | GPA Points | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97% – 100% | 4.0 | Outstanding |
| A | 93% – 96% | 4.0 | Excellent |
| A− | 90% – 92% | 3.7 | Excellent |
| B+ | 87% – 89% | 3.3 | Above Average |
| B | 83% – 86% | 3.0 | Good |
| B− | 80% – 82% | 2.7 | Good |
| C+ | 77% – 79% | 2.3 | Average |
| C | 73% – 76% | 2.0 | Average |
| C− | 70% – 72% | 1.7 | Below Average |
| D+ | 67% – 69% | 1.3 | Poor |
| D | 63% – 66% | 1.0 | Poor |
| D− | 60% – 62% | 0.7 | Poor |
| F | 0% – 59% | 0.0 | Failing |
Example Conversions
Common Score Conversions
43 out of 50 points86% → B (3.0 GPA)
78 out of 100 points78% → C+ (2.3 GPA)
95 out of 100 points95% → A (4.0 GPA)
58 out of 80 points72.5% → C− (1.7 GPA)
Frequently Asked Questions
On the standard US grading scale, an A requires 93%–96% (4.0 GPA). An A− requires 90%–92% (3.7 GPA). An A+ requires 97%–100% (also 4.0 GPA on the standard scale). Both A and A+ earn the maximum 4.0 GPA on the 4.0 scale.
On the standard 4.0 scale, both A and A+ earn 4.0 GPA points. A+ requires 97% or above while A requires 93–96%. Some universities use a 4.3 scale where A+ earns 4.3 GPA points, which can meaningfully raise cumulative GPA. Check your school's specific grading policy.
No. While the scale shown here is the most common in the US, some schools set different cut-offs. Some use a simpler scale (90–100 = A, 80–89 = B, etc.) without plus/minus grades. Some colleges also use pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grading for certain courses. Always check your school's official grading policy in the student handbook or registrar's website.
A 3.5 GPA falls between A− (3.7) and B+ (3.3). To maintain a 3.5 GPA, you need a mix of A− and B+ grades — roughly, earning mostly B+ grades with some A− grades will keep you at 3.5. Use our GPA Goal Calculator to plan exactly what grades you need each semester.