GPA Conversion Charts by Country & Grading Scale
Every grading system converts to a 4.0 GPA differently — and the number you report depends on who is asking. Below are two master tables, then how to calculate, then common questions; use the quick-lookup links to go deeper on any single value.
Last updated · July 29, 2026
First, what GPA conversion actually converts
GPA (Grade Point Average) is one of the most important hard metrics in a study-abroad application. The catch is that grading systems differ by country: the US uses a 4.0 letter scale, Canada often 4.3, Korea 4.5, Singapore 5.0, Australia a 7-point scale — while China uses percentages. The same “85” maps to very different grade points across systems.
So conversion is really two steps: first turn your percentage grades into grade points on the target country's scale, then read where that GPA sits in an application. To skip the manual math, run your whole transcript through the GPA calculator. Below are two master tables (country scales, US letter chart), then how to calculate, then common questions.
85% converted per country
The grade point differs entirely across systems.
Common GPA scales by country
The same 90% maps to very different grade points across systems. First know which scale your target country uses.
| Country / region | Common scale (max) | 90–100 ≈ | 60 ≈ |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 |
| China (percentage) | 4.0 | 3.8 | 1.0 |
| Canada | 4.3 | 4.3 | 2.3 |
| Australia | 7.0 | 7.0 | 4.0 |
| South Korea | 4.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 |
| Japan | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 |
| Singapore | 5.0 | 5.0 | 2.0 |
These are mainstream general conventions (same source as our calculator), but scales aren't nationally uniform — e.g. Canada's University of Toronto uses 4.0 and Singapore's SMU uses 4.0. The US column is a rounded band; see the US letter chart below for the exact letter-to-point mapping. The target school's published method is always authoritative.
Letter grade ↔ 4.0 GPA ↔ percentage
US grades are letters; the 4.0 scale maps letters to points: +0.3 for a plus, −0.3 for a minus (A−=3.7, B+=3.3).
| Letter | 4.0 GPA | Percentage (ref.) |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 | 97–100 |
| A | 4.0 | 93–96 |
| A- | 3.7 | 90–92 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89 |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86 |
| B- | 2.7 | 80–82 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79 |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76 |
| C- | 1.7 | 70–72 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67–69 |
| D | 1.0 | 63–66 |
| D- | 0.7 | 60–62 |
| F | 0.0 | 0–59 |
Percentage ranges are a general reference and vary by school (some count 90–100 all as A); the target school's published method is authoritative.
Why you can't compare GPAs across countries directly
Two “3.6”s aren't equally strong. On a 4.0 scale a 3.6 is near the top; on a 5.0 scale it's mid-pack — because the maximum differs, the same grade point means very different things. So you can't line up raw GPA numbers across countries.
The fix is to normalize first: convert both grades onto the same target method (usually the one your target school requires), then compare. The example shows where a single 3.6 lands on different maximums.
Same number, different weight — drag to see where it sits on each scale, and normalize to one method before comparing.
Convert from your grading system
Each page gives you the full conversion chart plus the caveats that trip people up.
Look up a single letter grade
What one grade is worth, what it does to your average, and how to move it up a notch.
Or start from the number
Already know your GPA and want the letter behind it? These pages work the other way round — including the averages that don't land on a letter at all.
Turning percentages into a 4.0 GPA
1 · Convert each course by the table
Pick the target country's method, then map each course's percentage to a grade point using the bands above. Don't apply one formula to a single overall average — it drifts from per-course conversion.
2 · Weight by credit hours
Multiply each course's grade point by its credits, sum, and divide by total credits for a weighted GPA. Higher-credit courses matter more — which is why core major courses carry the most weight.
3 · Weighted vs unweighted
Unweighted GPA caps at 4.0 and ignores course difficulty; weighted GPA adds points for honors/AP and can exceed 4.0. Report whichever the school asks for; when unsure, prepare both.
Common GPA conversion questions
How do I convert percentages to a 4.0 GPA?
Convert each course's percentage to a grade point using the target country's bands, then weight by credits. Bands differ by method (e.g., China 90+ = 4.0, Canada 90+ = 4.3), so the tables above or the calculator are the safest way.
What GPA is 85%?
It depends on the method: US standard 4.0 counts 80–89 as 3.0; a common Chinese 4-point band table puts 85–89 at 3.7 (though schools like Peking University use a continuous formula that gives about 3.58 for an 85); Canada's 4.3 counts 85–89 as 4.0; Korea's 4.5 counts 85–89 as 3.5. So there's no single answer — it depends on which method the reader wants.
Are GPAs interchangeable across countries?
Not directly. Maximums differ (4.0 / 4.3 / 4.5 / 5.0 / 7.0) and so do the bands. To compare across systems, convert everything to the target country's method first, then read its level there.
Whose method is authoritative?
Whatever your target school or program publishes. This site normalizes conversions to the US 4.0 metric as a general reference for self-assessment and school targeting; but many schools have their own tables or require an evaluator like WES, so your actual GPA follows the school's method — ours doesn't replace it.
My GPA is low — is there still a chance after converting?
Yes. GPA is only one factor, and school selection is a reach/match/safety mix. Convert your GPA accurately by the target method, see where it sits in the target school's range, then strengthen with language, research and internships — an assessment report shows this at a glance.
Is my percentage average the same as GPA?
No. An average just adds up all your course percentages and divides; GPA converts each course to grade points first, then weights by credits. The numbers and methods differ — an 85% average isn't a 3.5 GPA. Applications look at the converted GPA, not the raw average.
Should I report a 4.0 or 4.3 GPA?
Report the scale your transcript is natively on, and state the maximum (Canadian transcripts are often 4.3). Don't rescale it to 4.0 to look higher or lower. If the school specifies a 4.0 or a WES method, follow their requirement.
Work it out on your own transcript
Charts tell you what one grade is worth. The calculator turns a whole transcript into a single credit-weighted number.
Open the GPA calculatorWant to know which schools your GPA can actually reach?
Generate an AI study-abroad report