I recently got my semester grade and it's 4.5 out of 5. I'm not really clear on what it means, exactly. Would any of you have an idea what this means in terms of percentage scale or how it works for GPA calculations?
When your GPA is given as 4.5 out of 5, it indicates that you've performed very well in your courses, just slightly below perfect. It implies you're primarily earning A's and B's, with a bias towards A's, in your classes.
To convert your GPA to a percentage, you can create a ratio, like so:
In a 5.0 scale, 4.0 is generally 80%, 5.0 is 100%, and anything in between is calculated proportionally. So, your 4.5 GPA would equate to approximately 90%.
The conversion will prepare you to compare your score with colleges that use a different GPA scale. For instance, if a college requires 3.3 out of 4.0, that would imply a requirement of around 82%. Hence, with your 90%, you would be above the requirement.
Remember, though, that exact conversions can depend on the school and the grading system. The consideration of plus or minuses in grades, whether or not grades in honors or AP courses are weighted, and other factors can all play a role. Each school's grading policies might vary, so it's important to understand them.
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