GPA conversion - Math experts please help

<p>Ok. So this college process is not enjoyable.</p>

<p>As we start narrowing the list for colleges, it seems the universe exists on a weighted/unweighted 4.0 system. How does one convert another scale (11 point, 6 point, etc) into a 4 point scale?
My math skills are not terrific - I was hoping that someone know of a chart or conversion scale out there?</p>

<p>Take the GPA on whatever scale and divide by the highest GPA possible on that scale, then multiply by 4.</p>

<p>Example: GPA = 10 on a 11 point scale.</p>

<p>(10/11)*4 = 3.63</p>

<p>@2010hopeful
That’s ALMOST right. The added complication is that the 4.0 GPA scale does not have zero as its y-intercept:</p>

<p>A – 90% – 4.0 – Xa
B – 80% – 3.0 – Xb
C – 70% – 2.0 – Xc
D – 60% – 1.0 – Xd</p>

<p>Where:
Xa = the value of an A in the other grading scale
Xb = the value of an B in the other grading scale
Xc= the value of an C in the other grading scale
Xd = the value of an D in the other grading scale</p>

<p>The calculation is:</p>

<p>Y = ((4.0-1.0)/(Xa-Xd)) * X) + (4.0 – (4.0-((4.0-1.0)/(Xa-Xd)) * Xa)</p>

<p>Where:
Y is the equivalent value on the 4.0 scale, and
X in the input value of the other scale</p>

<p>It’s more complicated than just scaling the values… Often, different grading scale means different grading philosophy. It might be more appropriate to compute the GPA based on class rank…</p>

<p>How would one calculate GPA based on class rank when one has no basis for benchmarking the academic rigor of different schools?</p>

<p>Thank you all. This is my first time out with the college process - I have to say that the prep process was far easier. Fewer variables, I suppose. The added complication of an 11 point scale needing to converted to a 4 point is just one more frustration. Adding in the fact that a B+/A- average at most prep schools means long hours and harder work than my personal achievement of a 4+ weighted average at my public school years ago. I realize that I need to let go of the GPA. According to the calculator on the main CC site - if you plug in a GPA like 3.5 or 3.6 (even with a high SAT) - it displays extremely low match rates with school we (and many in S’s peer group) have a keen interest in. Given that their class grades/ SAT scores are comparable with past classes (and these past students were successful in the app process - notwithstanding recruits/legacies), it seems that calculator really isn’t going to help me. </p>

<p>As I was thinking about it - this comparison occurred to me, though…
11 (A) = 4 (So a 10 is an A-/3.66, a 9 is a B+/ 3.33)
8 (B) = 3<br>
5 (C) = 2 (7/2.66, 6/2.33)
2 (D) =1 </p>

<p>Does this seem close?</p>

<p>@GMTplus7:
Maybe look at the school’s standardized test scores and compare other schools’ scores to students’ GPAs… Then take your student’s rank percentile and do it like that?</p>

<p>I don’t know, but just scaling doesn’t take into account e.g. some grades being almost impossible to receive.</p>

<p>Liddy, I’d use the expertise from your child’s college counseling office and not fool around with any CC matching. When/if you get access to Naviance, you get info specific to how a your son’s GPA plus SAT match up with results from previous applicants from the same school. If you don’t get access to Naviance, then the counseling office will still be able to give your child guidance in this.</p>