Grading Scale
Updated by Grade Calculator Plus
A grading scale turns a percentage into a letter grade. On the 10-point grade scale with plus and minus, 90 to 92.99% is an A- and 80 to 82.99% is a B-. There's no single US grading scale, so pick the one your class uses below, or type your school's own cutoffs.
| Letter | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A+ | 97% and above |
| A | 93–96.99% |
| A- | 90–92.99% |
| B+ | 87–89.99% |
| B | 83–86.99% |
| B- | 80–82.99% |
| C+ | 77–79.99% |
| C | 73–76.99% |
| C- | 70–72.99% |
| D+ | 67–69.99% |
| D | 63–66.99% |
| D- | 60–62.99% |
| F | 0–59.99% |
Common grading scales compared
| Letter | 10-point with plus/minus | 10-point | 7-point |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97% and above | not used | not used |
| A | 93–96.99% | 90% and above | 93% and above |
| A- | 90–92.99% | not used | not used |
| B+ | 87–89.99% | not used | not used |
| B | 83–86.99% | 80–89.99% | 85–92.99% |
| B- | 80–82.99% | not used | not used |
| C+ | 77–79.99% | not used | not used |
| C | 73–76.99% | 70–79.99% | 77–84.99% |
| C- | 70–72.99% | not used | not used |
| D+ | 67–69.99% | not used | not used |
| D | 63–66.99% | 60–69.99% | 70–76.99% |
| D- | 60–62.99% | not used | not used |
| F | 0–59.99% | 0–59.99% | 0–69.99% |
These three are examples, not the only scales in use. Your syllabus or student handbook has the one that counts for you.
How to read a grading scale
Each letter starts at its cutoff, and the cutoff itself is included: on the 10-point scale with plus and minus, 90 is an A-, not a B+. To read a grading scale chart, find the highest cutoff your percentage reaches. The percentage is rounded to two decimals first, so 89.995 counts as 90 and earns the A-.
Letter grades and grade points
| Letter | Grade points |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 |
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| D- | 0.7 |
| F | 0 |
So a B on a 4.0 scale is 3.0 grade points, and an A- is 3.7. Your school may use different grade points; these are the values the calculators use to average letter grades.
Setting your school's scale
Set your school's cutoffs once on Grade Calculator Plus, and every calculator on the site uses them for letter grades. Your choice is saved in this browser only and never sent to us; see what's stored in your browser. With a scale saved, your course grade and every other result use your cutoffs.
You can also change the scale without leaving a calculator. The Scale menu under each one switches between the presets, and "edit cutoffs" opens a popup where you set your own. Either way, the numbers you've typed stay put. "Reset to default" above goes back to the 10-point scale with plus and minus.
Grading charts for tests
For every possible number wrong on one test, the printable grading chart for a testlists the percentage and letter grade.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 70 a C or a D?
A 70 is a C on a 10-point scale and a D on the 7-point scale. With plus and minus, 70 is a C-, the lowest C. On the 7-point scale a C starts at 77, so 70 falls in the D range. Check which scale your school uses in the syllabus or student handbook.
Is a 60 an F?
Not on a 10-point scale. There, 60 is the lowest D: a D- with plus and minus, or a D without them. Anything below 60, even 59.99, is an F. On the 7-point scale a D starts at 70, so a 60 is an F.
What is a 75 as a letter grade?
A 75 is a C on the 10-point scale with plus and minus, where a C runs from 73 to 76.99. It's also a C on the plain 10-point scale. On the 7-point scale, where a C starts at 77, a 75 is a D.
What is a B as a percentage?
On the 10-point scale with plus and minus, a B runs from 83 to 86.99%, with a B- below it from 80 and a B+ above it from 87. On the plain 10-point scale a B is 80 to 89.99%, and on the 7-point scale it's 85 to 92.99%.
Why does my school's scale differ?
Schools, districts and even individual teachers set their own cutoffs. Some use a 10-point scale, some a 7-point one, and some add plus and minus or round differently. The scale in your syllabus or student handbook is the one that counts for your grades.