What is a 4.0 GPA?

What a 4.0 GPA means

A 4.0 GPA means nearly all of your grades are As. It is close to the highest unweighted GPA you can get.

This page reads 4.0 as an unweighted GPA on the 4.0 scale. A weighted 4.0 that includes honors or AP points stands for a lower unweighted average, so check which one your transcript shows before you compare.

In percent, a 4.0 is 93% to 100% on the common US plus and minus scale. In letters, it is an A. Every course at A gives exactly 4.0.

Is a 4.0 GPA good for college?

A 4.0 is high enough for any college's GPA minimum. It is competitive at selective colleges, where many admitted students have GPAs in this range.

At that level the number stops setting you apart, because many applicants have it too. Colleges then compare the difficulty of your courses, your test scores if you send them, your writing and what you did outside class. Use each college's Common Data Set to see where you stand.

How to raise a 4.0 GPA

A 4.0 unweighted is the top of the scale, so you cannot raise it. You can only keep it. Some high schools add weight for honors, AP or IB classes, which lets a weighted GPA go above 4.0. The weighted vs unweighted GPA page explains the difference.

To hold a 4.0, plan your term so that heavy courses do not all land at once. Find out early how each teacher grades, ask about anything unclear before a test rather than after, and treat each assignment as part of the grade. If one grade does slip, the effect on a long record is small. With 60 credits at 4.0, one 3-credit A- drops you to about 3.99.

Related pages

Nearby values: What is a 3.9 GPA?. Convert the number on the 4.0 GPA to percentage page, plan a target with the GPA goal calculator, or work out a new GPA with the GPA calculator.