Grade Forgiveness Calculator
Planning to retake a course? See exactly how much your cumulative GPA will increase. Compare 'Grade Replacement' vs 'Grade Averaging' policies instantly.
Direct Answer / Quick Summary
How does retaking a course affect GPA?
The impact of a retake depends on your university's 'Grade Forgiveness' policy. Under a 'Replacement Policy' (common in many US universities), the new grade completely replaces the old one in the GPA calculation, resulting in a significant jump. Under an 'Averaging Policy', both the old and new grades remain, meaning the increase is more moderate. For example, replacing a 1.0 (D) with a 4.0 (A) in a 3-credit course for a student with 30 total credits can raise a 3.0 GPA to a 3.3 GPA instantly.
Replacement is more common in US colleges.
Strategic Note
If your university uses Grade Replacement, retaking a low-credit course where you got a 'D' or 'F' is the fastest way to boost your GPA. If they use Averaging, the impact is smaller but still helpful for long-term eligibility.
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How it works
- 1Enter your current cumulative GPA and total credits earned so far.
- 2Input the credits and old grade for the course you are retaking.
- 3Enter your target new grade and select your university's retake policy.
Frequently asked questions
What is grade forgiveness?
Grade forgiveness (or grade replacement) is a policy where a student retakes a course and the new grade either replaces the old one or is averaged with it to calculate the cumulative GPA.
How do I use this calculator?
Enter your current cumulative GPA and total credits earned. Then, enter the credits for the course you are retaking, your old grade, and your expected new grade.
What is the difference between 'Replacement' and 'Averaging'?
In 'Replacement', the old grade is completely removed from the GPA calculation. In 'Averaging', both the old and new grades are included in the total credits and points.