At International Education Evaluations, we offer a variety of products that include a Grade Point Average (GPA) calculation based on the US 4-point scale, including Document + GPA Reports, Course Reports, and Licensure Reports. Our clients rely on us to convert their grades correctly, and this is something that we take very seriously. If an incorrect grade conversion is applied, this could result in a GPA that is too low, which could prevent the client from obtaining admittance into the graduate program of their dreams or gaining the professional licensure they are seeking. It could also result in a GPA that is too high, allowing the client to gain admission to a program they are not adequately prepared for. After receiving their evaluation reports, clients often have questions regarding how their GPA is calculated.
Understand the Grade Conversion Process with IEE
The first step in the grade conversion process is for evaluators to carefully survey the transcripts provided. Most transcripts we receive will contain a grading scale. In these cases, we will use our internal database of grade conversions developed through years of research. This database is continually being updated with the latest research and includes not only country-specific grading scales, but also grading scales specific to different education levels and even individual institutions.
In cases where no grading scale is provided on the transcript, we conduct extensive research on the institution’s grading practices on their website, often utilizing the Wayback Machine to locate specific grading practices during our client’s period of study. This is because an institution’s grading scale may shift over time.
If no such information is available, we reach out to the registrar’s office at the institution for clarification, or we may contact the client to see if they have additional documentation. We also have the chance to contact other industry experts at different organizations for their opinions.
The Importance of Accurate Grade Conversion
Accurate grade conversion is crucial for ensuring fair evaluations. The transcript we receive will also typically contain some kind of final class division or weighted average that provides some clues as to approximately what US GPA we should be calculating. For example, many countries, including India, utilize some variant of class divisions: First Class with Distinction, First Class, Second Class (often with an Upper and Lower Division), Third Class, and Pass Class.
While not always accurate, since some institutions may calculate final class divisions based on only a certain portion of the student’s program, typically we will look to see students graduating in Second Class Upper Division, for example, to have a GPA above the US GPA of 3.00. If the grading scale we select produces a GPA that differs significantly from this, this is a sign that we need to conduct further research.
We also may rely on grade descriptors provided on the transcript to determine appropriate US grade conversions. Grades described as “Excellent” would typically be converted to the US “A” grade; “Good” to the US “B” grade; “Average” to the US “C” grade; “Needs Improvement” to the US “D” grade; and “Failure” to the US “F” grade. Our evaluators have a working knowledge of grade descriptors in various languages and can utilize this knowledge to ensure that grades are converted appropriately. For example, the grade of sobresaliente, meaning “outstanding” in Spanish, would be converted to a US “A” grade, as would the French grade of très bien, meaning “very good.”
A Note on IEE’s GPA Calculator
It is worth noting in addition that IEE offers a GPA calculator on our website. However, the calculator that is provided here is based on generic scales that are not institution-specific and as such, there may be differences between the GPAs calculated here and the actual GPA produced on the IEE evaluation.
While this calculator may be useful in providing you a general idea of your US GPA, to ensure that your GPA is calculated as accurately as possible, it is recommended that you purchase a Document + GPA Report, Course Report, or Licensure Report, so that IEE’s expert team of evaluators are able to determine your precise GPA on the US 4-point scale. In the event of disparities between the online calculator and the evaluation, the GPA on the evaluation always takes precedence.
How to Calculate Your GPA with IEE’s Grade Conversion
Once the evaluator has carefully surveyed the transcript and conducted sufficient research on the appropriate grade conversions, the correct grading scale is selected in our system and grades are converted utilizing this scale. IEE relies on the standard US 4-point scale, with A+/A = 4, A- = 3.67, B+ = 3.33, B = 3, B- = 2.67, C+ = 2.33, C = 2, C- = 1.67, D+ = 1.33, D = 1, D- = 0.67, F = 0. In a departure from many other evaluation agencies, in 2022 we decided to start utilizing a scale with plus and minus grades, as we determined that this was more precise.
However, please note that not all systems support use of plus and minus grades; for those that don’t, we utilize the A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0 system. It’s also worth mentioning that even for scales that do allow us to use plus and minus grades, we may not always be able to utilize each grade.
For systems that support plus and minus grades, we use a more precise scale. For example, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana uses the following scale:
- 70-100 = Excellent / First Class
- 60-69.99 = Very Good / Second Class (Upper Division)
- 50-59.99 = Good / Second Class (Lower Division)
- 45-49.99 = Satisfactory / Pass Class
- 0-44.99 = Fail
Based on industry best practices, we convert grades as follows:
- 70-100 = A
- 60-69.99 = B+
- 50-59.99 = B
- 45-49.99 = C
- 0-44.99 = F
The use of plus and minus grades allows us to differentiate between Second Class Upper Division (which we give a B+) and Second Class Lower Division (which we give a B), but we are unable to use other plus and minus grades as this particular scale doesn’t support this practice.
Once the accurate grading scale has been selected, the GPA is calculated using the following formula:
(Grade points ∗ credits) ÷ credits = GPA
As an example, consider that IEE received a transcript with the following three courses. We have chosen the correct grading scale to convert their foreign grades to the US equivalent, and have converted credits.
| Course Title | US Grade | US Credits |
| Introduction to Psychology | B+ (3.33) | 3.00 |
| History of Modern Japan | C (2.00) | 3.00 |
| Calculus II | A- (3.67) | 3.00 |
By first multiplying the grade points by the credits per course, then adding them together, and finally dividing by the total number of credits, we can calculate the overall GPA.
(3.33 ∗ 3 + 2.00 ∗ 3 + 3.67 ∗ 3) ÷ 9 = GPA
(9.99 + 6 + 11.01) ÷ 9 = GPA
27 ÷ 9 = 3.00
This tells us that our GPA is 3.00, which equates to a US “B” grade.
Additional Considerations for Grade Conversion
Many countries around the world have adopted a US-patterned 4-point scale, and oftentimes our clients provide us with transcripts that contain a GPA already on the 4-point scale. A common concern is that IEE’s GPA calculation may be slightly different from the transcript GPA. This typically results from the fact that grade points are defined differently in the foreign system. For example, some institutions may define the A- grade as carrying a 3.7 grade point; others may assign it 3.5. IEE always converts A- grades with a 3.67 grade point; if the foreign system converts it somewhat differently, slight disparities may exist.
In these cases, we still feel that it is most accurate to convert letter grades at face value (in other words, that the foreign A- grade equates to a US A- grade, even if there are minor disparities in grade point assignments). Having said that, there may be certain cases where the grade point difference is significant enough that it may warrant IEE to adjust the letter grade given.
If an institution defines their grade of C+ with a 2.67 grade point, for example, it may be more appropriate for us to assign a US letter grade of B- instead. This is carefully considered in our attempt to calculate the most accurate US GPA possible.
Why Accurate Grade Conversion is Important
Hopefully this post has provided you with some insights into IEE’s GPA calculation practices. We also hope that it has demonstrated our commitment to ensuring that your GPA is calculated as accurately as possible. We know that even minor errors in the calculation can potentially prevent our clients from pursuing their dreams, which is why we take this responsibility extremely seriously.
We also pride ourselves on the support we offer after your evaluation has been completed. As part of our core value of Excelling in the Customer Experience, in an effort to ensure that our clients are totally satisfied with the product they have received, we are happy to provide clarification on any parts of the evaluation process, including the GPA calculation. Our team of expert evaluators is prepared to get started on your evaluation today!
Ready to ensure your grades are converted accurately? Start your evaluation with IEE today!
