My school gives us percentage grades, but I've noticed that colleges use a GPA scale instead. How do I convert my percentage grades to a GPA on a 4.0 scale?
It's common for high schools to use percentage grades, but you're right that colleges primarily look at a GPA on a 4.0 scale when evaluating applications. To convert your percentage grades to a 4.0 scale, you can use a simple method called the percentage-to-GPA conversion.
Typically, the conversion looks like this:
- 90-100% = 4.0
- 80-89% = 3.0
- 70-79% = 2.0
- 60-69% = 1.0
- Below 60% = 0.0
Keep in mind that this is a general conversion method and might vary depending on your high school's specific policies or the college you are applying to. Some schools might also have a slightly different scale or weighting system for honors and AP courses.
I recommend checking with your high school's guidance counselor to see if they have a specific conversion chart for your school or if they calculate a GPA for you. Otherwise, you can use this general method when self-reporting your GPA on college applications, and colleges should be able to understand your academic performance regardless of the specific percentage-to-GPA conversion.
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