Most US schools turn percentages into letter grades with a fixed scale, but scales differ. Under a common plus/minus scale an 88.6% is a B+; under a simple ten-point scale it is a B; under a seven-point scale it is a C. This letter grade calculator converts a percentage, or points earned out of points possible, into a letter grade and the matching grade points on a 4.0 scale, using the scale you pick. It also tells you how far you are from the next grade.
The College Board's BigFuture guide to the 4.0 scale gives one commonly used simple table (A = 90–100, B = 80–89, C = 70–79, D in the high 60s, below that an E/F) and stresses that schools differ. Your syllabus or district policy is always the authority. For a full gradebook with weighted categories, use the grade calculator.
How to use the letter grade calculator
- Choose whether you have a percentage or points earned and possible.
- Enter the score.
- Pick the scale your school uses. Check the syllabus or student handbook if you aren’t sure.
- Choose whether your teacher rounds to the nearest whole percent before assigning letters. Many gradebook programs round 89.5 up to 90; others don’t.
Formula
Plus/minus scale used here: A+ 97, A 93, A− 90, B+ 87, B 83, B− 80, C+ 77, C 73, C− 70, D+ 67, D 63, D− 60, F below 60. Grade points: A/A+ 4.0, A− 3.7, B+ 3.3, B 3.0, B− 2.7, C+ 2.3, C 2.0, C− 1.7, D+ 1.3, D 1.0, D− 0.7, F 0.
Worked example
A student earned 443 of 500 points.
- Percentage: 443 ÷ 500 × 100 = 88.6%.
- Plus/minus scale: 88.6 is at least 87 but below 90, so B+ (3.3 grade points).
- Simple scale: at least 80 but below 90, so B (3.0).
- Seven-point scale: at least 85 but below 93, so B (3.0).
- To reach an A− on the plus/minus scale, the student needs 90 − 88.6 = 1.4 more percentage points, which is 7 more points out of 500.
Does 89.5 round up to an A?
It depends on the teacher and the software. Many gradebook programs display grades rounded to the nearest whole percent and assign letters from the rounded value, so 89.5 becomes 90 and an A−. Others assign letters from the unrounded percentage, so 89.5 stays a B+. Some instructors state a rounding rule in the syllabus; others decide case by case. If it matters, ask early in the term. Rounding rules are also covered in our rounding calculator.
Why the same percentage can be different letters
Grading scales are set by schools, districts and individual instructors, not by any national standard. Seven-point scales (93 for an A, 70 to pass) are used by some districts, while many colleges use plus/minus ten-point bands and some don't award A+ or D−. BigFuture notes that colleges may recalculate applicants' GPAs on their own scale for exactly this reason. When comparing grades across schools, compare the percentage and the scale, not just the letter. To estimate the GPA a set of letters produces, use the high school gpa calculator or college gpa calculator.
Caveats and assumptions
- Scales shown are common examples, not universal standards. Your school’s published scale overrides them.
- BigFuture’s simple table lists D as 66–69 and F as below 65, which leaves 65 itself unassigned; this calculator treats 65 as a D.
- Some schools award 4.33 for an A+; this calculator uses 4.0.
- Grade points are per class and unweighted; honors and AP weighting are covered by the weighted GPA calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What letter grade is an 88%?
On a plus/minus ten-point scale, 88% is a B+. On a simple ten-point scale it is a B, and on a seven-point scale it is also a B.
What percentage is an A?
On most ten-point scales an A starts at 90% (or 93% for a plain A on plus/minus scales, with 90–92 an A−). On seven-point scales an A starts at 93%.
Is a 79.5 a B or a C?
If your teacher rounds to the nearest whole percent first, it becomes 80 and a B− (or B). If not, it remains a C+ (or C). Check your syllabus.
How many grade points is a B+?
On the common 4.0 scale a B+ is worth 3.3 grade points. A B is 3.0 and a B− is 2.7.
How do I calculate my percentage from points?
Divide the points you earned by the points possible and multiply by 100. 443 ÷ 500 × 100 = 88.6%.
Sources
- College Board BigFuture — How to Calculate Your GPA on a 4.0 Scale — letter grade, percent range and GPA points table
- University of Maryland — Office of the Registrar: GPA Calculation — plus/minus grade point values
- Indiana University — Grading scales and curving (IUSO Teaching Toolkit) — how instructors set grading scales
This calculator gives estimates for planning and education. Check measurements, local codes, supplier specs and your school's official policy before relying on a result. See our disclaimer and how we build and check calculators.