Quality points: quantity example
In this assumed grading scheme, a course earns quality points equal to its grade points multiplied by its credit hours; the example assigns a B+ 3.3 points, so a 3-credit course with a B+ earns 9.9 quality points. An A in a 4-credit course earns 16, and a C in a 3-credit course earns 6. Add them up across a term and divide by total credits to get the GPA.
Sixteen, plus 9.9, plus 6 is 31.9, over 10 credits, giving 3.19, and the same grade is worth more in a larger course. That is why an A in a one-credit seminar moves your GPA much less than a C in a four-credit lab.
A common misunderstanding
Using total quality points as if they were the GPA. Quality points must be divided by the matching included credit hours; do not divide by the number of courses or combine different institutional grade scales without conversion.
Related measurements
Grade points identify a grade’s assigned value; credits supply its weight. The transcript’s legend and repeat-course policy determine which records enter the numerator.
Limits of the definition
Rules differ across institutions, and transfer credit and repeated courses can be treated differently. Pass-fail courses often earn no quality points; use the school's official policy for anything that matters, and confirm with the registrar, and a calculator applies a standard scale that may not match yours.
Understanding Quality points
Quality points are the numerator of the GPA, and working in them , not letter grades is what makes a target GPA solvable. The question stops being vague and becomes arithmetic: how many more points across how many more credit hours gets me from here to there. The arithmetic also explains why a single bad grade in a heavy course is so hard to recover from.
Points lost are proportional to credit hours, and the denominator keeps growing whether or not the numerator does.
Using Quality points
Registrars compute them each term. Students use them to project GPA: adding the quality points of planned courses to those already earned shows what average is possible. Academic standing and honors often depend on quality points.
Scholarship offices check minimum GPAs derived from them; a calculator lets you experiment with target grades before enrolling in courses.
Quality points: follow the example through
Assumed example: A course earns quality points equal to its grade points multiplied by its credit hours; assume the school’s stated scale assigns 3.3 to B+, so a 3-credit course with a B+ earns 9.9 quality points. An A in a 4-credit course earns 16, and a C in a 3-credit course earns 6. Add them up across a term and divide by total credits to get the GPA.
Sixteen, plus 9.9, plus 6 is 31.9, over 10 credits, giving 3.19, and the same grade is worth more in a larger course. That is why an A in a one-credit seminar moves your GPA much less than a C in a four-credit lab.
Quality points: calculation reference
GPA = Σ(grade points × credit hours) ÷ Σ(credit hours)
| Included course | Credit hours | Grade points per credit | Quality points earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course 1 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
| Course 2 | 3 | 3.3 | 9.9 |
| Course 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
Sum the last column to obtain total quality points. GPA: 3.2.
GPA Calculator: change the inputs and compare the resulting cases
How do plus and minus grades count?
It depends on the school scale. Many use 3.7 for A−, 3.3 for B+ and so on. Others ignore them.
Check your registrar's published scale.
Do failed courses earn quality points?
An F usually counts zero grade points, so it adds credits to the denominator and nothing to the numerator, which lowers GPA.
What if I repeat a course?
Policies vary. Some replace the old grade, some average both, some count both. Ask your school.
How do I find quality points for a term?
Multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours, then add them up. Divide by total credits to get the term GPA.
Can quality points be negative?
No. The lowest grade point value is zero, so a failed course adds nothing.
Multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours before summing.