I seriousoy apologize if I end up sounding like a whining grade grubber, but I’m just wondering. My school calculates all As as a 4, all B’s as a 3, etc.
The school teachers all have different grading systems for the same subjects. For instance in some Spanish 1 classes, a 95%+ is an A+ while in other classes like mine, you cant earn an A+ and below a 94% is an A-.
Another example is my science teacher. I got a 99.7% in her class, but she gives grades based on her own system. So I got an A while my friend with a 96% got an A+…
I’m not whining bc I got an A, but this is pretty unfair.
I’m sorry if I sound like a brat, but this college application stuff is making me lose my mind. I guess my question is:
Is there a difference between an A-, A, or A+?
Thanks for the answers in advanced.
There is actually none. When you submit your transcript to your desired college/university, the +'s and -'s are erased. Basically, getting an A or an A+ is the same, but it really depends on your school’s grading system.
@NASA2014 thank you so much for replying 
Ya bc my science teacher judges her students on their “character” and plays favorites.
If you always get “A” grades, don’t worry about it so much. You can only control what you do and colleges will look at your transcript and judge for themselves.
@xraymancs thank you for the support
The issue will come into play with class rank though. Wouldn’t it? If that is a contributing factor at a college you apply to, it could play a role. I don’t understand why your school doesn’t have an adopted grading scale…? In regards to the difference between your grade and your friend’s grade (" she gives grades based on her own system"), there may be a “participation grade” that made the difference. Tests, quizzes, papers and homework are often not all you are graded on. Perhaps your friend had something that bumped the grade up.
@phoenixmomof2 sorry if I was unclear. Basically what she does is, if you have an 93-100 you get an A. Then if ahe thinks you have good character, you get an A+ bump.
On my friends end of the semester grade, it said 96%, but on her transcript (with letters, not percentages) it came up as A+
That sounds really annoying. Where is your school?
@CHD2013 sorry that’s kind of confidential, but its in california
First discuss this with your parents. This sounds like a wacky system that should not continue. What is wrong with the administration?
I am very confused by your post, you say all As are calculated as 4 but then you say your friend got an A+ for a 95 while you got an A for earning a 96. This completely does not make sense. You need to understand exactly what is sent to the colleges. That is all that matters. Let them show you what your transcript will look like. For UCs all As are equal (with bumps for instate honor and AP classes), For non UC colleges, such as private colleges an A+ is not the same as an A or an A- if it appears on your transcript. Are you saying that someone with straight A+s v A-s would still both have a 4.0 GPA but the colleges would see that one had A+s while the other had A-s
@SaphireNY Sorry if it isn’t clear.
Basically there’s no organized systematic grading. For example, you can have a 98% and an A in Spanish 2 and someone else with a different Spanish 2 teacher has a 98% and an A+.
Then my science teacher uses her own system. If you get a 93-100%, you have an A automatically. Then if she thinks you show good “character” (basically meaning she plays favorites), then she gives you a grade boost to an A+. I basically had a 99.7% in the grade percentage, but an A on my transcript. While my friend had a 96% in her grade percentage, but an A+ on her transcript bc my teacher loves her.
So UC schools consider all As as 4.0? I know that Stanford uses the same system.
Do you happen to know the systems for other universities? Thank you for your help
I believe they do but I am not from California. The question is what is sent to the college if you earn an A+ or A-? An A or an A+ or A-? What is the number for an A-, 3.7 or 4.0?
On my transcript the + and - are on it. It also affects class rank. A+= 4.33 A-= 3.67
@SaphireNY @LeviAckermen My school has A-, A, A+ all as 4.0
But its really up to colleges to determine what system they use. My school doesn’t do class rank BTW…
The only way in my school to get above a 4.0 is AP classes
The system you’re talking about sounds really messed up. I’d talk to your counselor, and find out exactly what will be sent to colleges, and if it’ll have the +'s.
As ALibertarian said. You need to see an actual transcript that was sent out (they can cover up name) or have them do a mock up of your transcript. I applied to a summer program at one point so they did my official transcript up to that point.
Maybe take a parent with you to talk to them