Some Math About Your Grades

Many people feel that one good semester can redeem them for several bad semesters.  This is not the case! Every grade is factored into your entire GPA, not averaged. Let’s look at the math for a second.

Grade Point Values
	A=4.00	A-=3.67
B+=3.33	B=3.00	B=2.67
C+=2.33	C=2.00	---
---	D=1.00	---
---	F=0.00	---

 

The box above is the assigned point value for every grade that you receive.  (Note: There is no A+, C-, D+, nor D-.) Your GPA is computed as follows:

 S(credit value * grade pt. value)

total number of credits attempted.

For example if a student takes 6 classes worth 18 credits, the GPA for that semester would be computed as follows:

Class    Grade   Credit* Point=   Quality

                       Value    Value    Points

1           A          3 *       4.0 =     12.00

2          A          3 *       4.0 =     12.00

3          A-        3 *       3.67 =    11.01

4          B+         3 *       3.33 =     9.99

5          B          3 *       3.0 =       9.00

6          B          3 *       3.0 =       9.00

Totals                  18      63.00

 63.00/18 = 3.50

First Semester GPA = 3.50
 

Now let’s take the previous example a step further.

 A student gets the same grades in the previous example for 5 semesters, totaling 90 credits. This is 90 credits worth of 3.50.  Then she has a bad semester where she took 18 credits and received a semester GPA of 1.33 (that’s 24 quality points).   What would happen to the 3.50 cumulative GPA?

 

 [(5 semesters * 63.00)+ (1 semester * 24)]

(90 + 18 total credits)  =3.14 cumulative GPA

That is right, a 3.14.  The initial hard work (2.5 years) put in by the student was a buffer for the one bad semester. Were this student required to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA (for a controlled major or as a scholarship recipient), the student would still be eligible for these opportunities.

Keep in mind that the reverse is also true. Imagine how long it would take to raise 90 credits of 2.5 to a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Every grade you receive is on your permanent Academic Record as long as you are a student at Penn State. (It takes an act of the faculty senate to get one removed.)  Therefore- it is critical that you understand that a D received cannot be replaced by taking the course over. Should you retake the course, your new grade will be factored in to your GPA with everything else. If you do not feel that you are doing well in a course you can use some of your late drop credits to get out of the class.