Converting between percentage grades, letter grades, and GPA points is one of the most frequent tasks in homeschool record-keeping. Different curricula use different scales, and even standardized testing returns results in various formats. This converter handles the translation so your transcript stays consistent.
The two most common grading scales in US homeschooling are the standard scale (A starts at 93%) and the alternate scale (A starts at 90%). Neither is more "correct" than the other. What matters is that you pick one and apply it consistently across all courses on the transcript. Admissions officers are accustomed to both, but inconsistency raises questions.
Plus and minus grades add nuance but also complexity. The standard plus/minus system adds or subtracts 0.3 from the base grade point. An A- becomes 3.7 instead of 4.0. A B+ becomes 3.3 instead of 3.0. Some families prefer to skip plus/minus entirely and use whole letter grades for simplicity. Either approach is accepted by colleges.
Enter a percentage below to see the letter grade and GPA points under both the standard and alternate scales, with and without plus/minus modifications.
Grade conversion follows established scales that map percentage ranges to letter grades and grade points. The standard scale (used by most public schools and many curricula) sets A at 93-100, B at 85-92, C at 77-84, D at 70-76, and F below 70. The alternate scale (common in some states and curricula) sets A at 90-100, B at 80-89, C at 70-79, D at 60-69, and F below 60.
When you pick a scale, document it on your transcript with a grading scale legend. This tells admissions officers exactly how to interpret your numbers.
Transcript preparation is the primary use. When recording grades from completed curricula, you need consistent conversion from raw scores to letter grades and GPA points. Comparing curricula is another use: if one program grades on a 90-scale and another on a 93-scale, this converter helps you standardize. Dual enrollment grade integration also requires conversion when college grades come in letter format and your transcript uses percentages.