About the Letter Grade Converter
Percentages and letter grades describe the same performance in two different ways. Teachers usually mark in percentages or points, but report cards, transcripts and GPAs use letters, and each letter covers a band of percentages. Knowing where those bands fall tells you what a score means, how close you are to the next grade and what a letter on your transcript actually represents.
This letter grade converter works both ways. Enter a percentage and it gives the letter grade, the grade points on the 4.0 scale and how far you are from the next letter. Enter a letter and it gives the percentage range it covers, its grade points and the midpoint of the band. You can choose the common plus/minus scale, used by many high schools and colleges, or a plain ten-point scale with whole letters only.
How to Use the Letter Grade Converter
Choose Percentage to letter or Letter to percentage.
Enter the percentage, or a letter grade such as A, B+, C- or F.
Choose the scale: plus/minus or ten-point.
Read the result and the full scale for reference.
The Grading Scales
Plus/minus scale Ten-point scale
A 93–100 4.0 A 90–100 4.0
A- 90–92.99 3.7 B 80–89.99 3.0
B+ 87–89.99 3.3 C 70–79.99 2.0
B 83–86.99 3.0 D 60–69.99 1.0
B- 80–82.99 2.7 F below 60 0.0
C+ 77–79.99 2.3
C 73–76.99 2.0
C- 70–72.99 1.7
D+ 67–69.99 1.3
D 65–66.99 1.0
F below 65 0.0Step-by-Step Examples
87 percent on the plus/minus scale: 87 is in the B+ band, 87% to 89.99%, worth 3.3 grade points. Three more points would reach an A-.
87 percent on the ten-point scale: 87 is in the B band, 80% to 89.99%, worth 3.0. Three more points would reach an A.
A B on the plus/minus scale: 83% to 86.99%, worth 3.0, with a midpoint of about 85%.
An F: below 65% on the plus/minus scale, or below 60% on the ten-point scale.
Why There Are Different Scales
There is no national grading standard in the United States, and schools choose their own scales. The plus/minus bands shown here, with an A starting at 93%, follow the College Board and are common in high schools and many colleges. The ten-point scale, with an A from 90% and a D from 60%, is simpler and also very widespread, especially in middle schools and some states. Some schools use a seven-point scale with an A at 93%, a B at 85% and a C at 77%. Universities outside the US use entirely different systems, such as UK degree classes or ten-point CGPAs.
Letters, Points and GPA
Each letter is worth a fixed number of grade points, and your GPA is the credit-weighted average of those points. On the plus/minus scale, the step between neighbouring grades is 0.3 or 0.4 points, so moving from a B+ to an A- adds 0.4 points for that course. On the ten-point scale the steps are a full point. That is why the same percentages can lead to noticeably different GPAs at schools with different scales, and why colleges often recalculate GPAs from transcripts.
Rounding at the Boundaries
Scores just below a boundary cause the most questions. Some teachers and schools round to the nearest whole number, so 89.5% becomes 90% and an A-; others take the figure as it is, so 89.9% stays a B+. Some gradebooks round each assignment, others only the final average. The converter uses exact cut-offs, so if your school rounds, round your percentage first. When a grade hangs on a fraction of a point, ask your teacher how the gradebook handles it.
Letter Grades Outside the United States
Other countries use different letters or none at all. In the UK, A-level grades run from A* to E, and GCSEs now use numbers from 9 down to 1. Canadian provinces set their own percentage bands, and Australian universities use High Distinction, Distinction, Credit and Pass. When applying abroad, the receiving institution or a credential evaluation service decides how your letters translate, so treat any conversion as approximate.
Using Letters to Set Goals
Knowing the band boundaries turns a vague goal into a specific one. If you are at 86% and want an A-, you need four more points, and the grade calculator or final grade calculator can show what that means for your remaining work. Aiming a point or two above the boundary gives a margin for a weaker test.
Understanding Your Result
The headline is the letter grade and its points, or the percentage range for a letter.
The details line shows the band, the grade points and how close you are to the next letter.
The full scale line lists every letter with its cut-off and points.
The worth knowing line reminds you that cut-offs vary between schools.
When Should You Use This Calculator?
Use it to see what letter grade a test or course percentage earns.
Use it to find the percentage range behind a transcript letter.
Use it to compare the plus/minus and ten-point scales.
Common Mistakes
Assuming every school uses the same scale. Check your syllabus or handbook.
Forgetting plus and minus grades. A B+ and a B- are worth different points.
Ignoring rounding rules. An 89.5% may or may not become an A-.
Treating a letter as an exact percentage. Each letter covers a range.