GPA Calculator — 4.0 & 5.0 Scales
Calculate your semester GPA in seconds. Built for university students using the 4.0 scale (US, Canada, private universities) or the 5.0 scale (Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and most African public universities).
Grading scale
Pick the scale your university uses
Your GPA
5.00/ 5.0
9 credit hrs · 45.00 grade points
How to calculate your GPA
GPA stands for Grade Point Average. It's a single number that summarises how well you performed across all your courses in a semester, weighted by how heavy each course is (its credit hours).
The formula is simple:
GPA = Σ (course grade points × credit hours)
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Σ credit hoursFor each course you take, you multiply the grade points (e.g. an A = 5.0 on a 5.0 scale) by the credit hours of that course. You add these together for every course, then divide by the total credit hours you took that semester.
4.0 vs 5.0 grading scale — what's the difference?
Most universities use one of two GPA scales. The right scale depends on where you study, not on your performance — a 4.50 on a 5.0 scale is roughly equivalent to a 3.60 on a 4.0 scale.
4.0 scale
US, Canada, UK (some), and many private African universities (e.g. Ashesi, Strathmore, Covenant).
| 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 |
| F | 0.0 |
5.0 scale
Used by most public universities in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and across West and East Africa.
| A | 5.0 |
| B | 4.0 |
| C | 3.0 |
| D | 2.0 |
| E | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
Worked example (5.0 scale)
Say a Nigerian undergraduate takes four courses in one semester:
| Course | Credits | Grade | Points | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 201 | 3 | A | 5 | 15 |
| MATH 202 | 4 | B | 4 | 16 |
| GST 210 | 2 | C | 3 | 6 |
| PHY 201 | 3 | A | 5 | 15 |
| Total | 12 | 52 | ||
GPA = 52 ÷ 12 = 4.33 — a strong Second Class Upper on the 5.0 scale.
CGPA — your cumulative GPA
CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) is your GPA across every semester you've completed — not just this one. To calculate it, sum the total grade points and total credit hours from every semester, then divide.
Manually tracking this each semester is painful. UniSmart's free CGPA tracker saves every semester you've ever taken and recomputes your CGPA automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What is GPA and how is it calculated?+
GPA (Grade Point Average) is the weighted average of your course grades, with each course weighted by its credit hours. To calculate: multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, sum them up, then divide by the total credit hours.
What's the difference between a 4.0 and 5.0 GPA scale?+
The 4.0 scale is common in the US, Canada, and many private African universities, where A = 4.0. The 5.0 scale is used by most public universities in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and other African countries, where A = 5.0. UniSmart supports both — pick the scale your university uses.
How do I calculate my CGPA from semester GPAs?+
Your CGPA (Cumulative GPA) is the weighted average of every course you've taken across all semesters. Add the total grade points from every semester and divide by the total credit hours. UniSmart's CGPA Tracker does this automatically once you save each semester.
What is a good GPA in African universities?+
Classifications vary, but as a rough guide on a 5.0 scale: First Class ≥ 4.50, Second Upper 3.50–4.49, Second Lower 2.40–3.49, Third Class 1.50–2.39, Pass 1.00–1.49. On a 4.0 scale, First Class is typically ≥ 3.50.
Is this GPA calculator free?+
Yes, the GPA calculator is 100% free with no signup required. Create a free UniSmart account to save your semesters, track your CGPA over time, and unlock AI-powered study tools.
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