Your Grades, GPA Calculator and Academic Standing
Understanding your Grades
Your instructors assign letter grades which are expressed on a 4-point scale:
Letter Grade | GPA | Academic Standing |
---|---|---|
A+/A | 4.0 | Satisfactory grade |
A- | 3.7 | Satisfactory grade |
B+ | 3.3 | Satisfactory grade |
B | 3.0 | Satisfactory grade |
B- | 2.7 | Satisfactory grade |
C+ | 2.3 | Satisfactory grade |
C | 2.0 | Satisfactory grade |
C- | 1.7 | Passing grade, but unsatisfactory |
D+ | 1.3 | Passing grade, but unsatisfactory |
D | 1.0 | Passing grade, but unsatisfactory |
F | 0.0 | Failing grade and unsatisfactory |
If there is a number after your letter grade on your transcript that means there has been a “Remark” added. For more information, see Grading System Explained.
What is a GPA?
The average of your grades is called your Grade Point Average, or GPA. You can find your GPA on your unofficial transcript in Bear Tracks, after all your grades have been submitted and approved, two to three weeks after your last final exam or by using the GPA calculator below.
There are different types of GPAs calculated as part of your program. Below is a table that includes the four main categories that you should be aware of.
Type of GPA | How it is calculated | Purpose |
---|---|---|
Academic Standing GPA* | Calculated using all courses taken since the last assessment was completed. Assessment is typically completed in late May/early June. | To determine if students can continue in their program. |
Major GPA or Minor GPA | Calculated using all courses required for a student-chosen major and/or minor | To determine if a student can graduate with that major and/or minor. |
Graduation GPA | Calculated using the last 90 units of course weight presented for a student degree | To determine if a student is eligible to graduate and if they will be graduating with distinction. |
Admission GPA* | Varies. Refer to the program and faculty you are applying for. | To determine admissibility. |
An online tool to help you determine your unofficial, overall GPA.
Grade | Credits | |
---|---|---|
Your average GPA is:
?
This calculator helps you determine how well you need to do in future courses to meet your target GPA.
To reach your target GPA, you need this average GPA in your remaining courses:
GPA <-> Letter grade conversion...
Example
John is starting the 4th year of a 4 year program, and wants to know what grades he needs for a graduating GPA of 3.0
John's current GPA is 2.8. He would put 2.8
in the "Current GPA" box.
Since John has completed 3 years, he has accumulated 90 credits (30 credits/year × 3 years). However, the first 30 credits of a program are not used to calculate a graduating GPA, so John would only put 60
in the "Total credits of courses used to calculate Current GPA"
Since he wants a graduating GPA of 3.0, he would put 3.0
in the "Target GPA" box.
With one year left, John has 30 credits he can take, so he would put 30
in the "Total remaining credits" box.
The calculator would tell John he needs to get an average of 3.4 in his remaining courses to reach his target graduating GPA of 3.0
Academic Standing Explained
The term “academic standing” determines if a student can continue in a program, be promoted to a new program, and/or graduate. Students are admitted to the Augustana Faculty when they meet the required admission average. In order to stay in their program of choice and continue their studies, students are required to keep earning satisfactory grades in order to meet the required GPA for their program.
The Academic Standing and Graduation page of the University Calendar outlines the GPA requirements for your Augustana Program. You can access this information by following the below steps:
- Go to the Academic Calendar homepage
- Select “Colleges and Faculties” from the left-side menu
- Select “Augustana Faculty” under Standalone Faculties
- Select “Academic Standing and Graduation”
What is an Academic Standing Assessment?
After the Winter term, the Augustana Student Academic Services office uses your GPA to assess your academic standing. You will get the results of the assessment in the spring by email and in Bear Tracks. There are five academic standing categories:
- First Class Standing - Students may continue their studies.
- Satisfactory Standing - Students may continue their studies.
- Satisfactory Standing, but may not continue in their current program (BMus, BEd, & BSc/BEd only)
- Marginal Standing, on Academic Warning
- Unsatisfactory Standing, Required to Withdraw (RTW)
Students in categories 3, 4, and 5 receive a personalized letter explaining their situation and describing their options for continuing their studies or taking some time off.
Note:
- If you are registered in Fall courses only, then your academic standing is assessed in January.
- If you have final grades in fewer than 12 units in Fall/Winter, then your academic standing standing will be assessed at the end of the next Winter Term if you have final grades in 12 units or more at that time.
- If you have any pending deferred exams or IN (Incomplete) grades when the academic standing for most students is assessed, your assessment is deferred. Your assessment will be done when all of your final grades have been approved.
If you have questions after reading your Academic Standing Letter, or about the content of this webpage, please contact the Student Academic Services office (augsas@ualberta.ca).