As you prepare for your studies in the USA, it is important to understand the grading system followed in the country. The students are awarded grades based on letter and number scale. Most USA universities use four-point scale or the grade point average.

In the USA, the students get certain number of credit hours or semester hours. These semester hours are decided by the faculty and is often mentioned in the course schedule. The students can earn a credit by attending the classes. The credit is decided based on the amount of information shared in the class and time spent on weekly assignments and classes by a student. These credit hours and credits are used to calculate their overall grade, which is also known as Grade Point Average or GPA. The GPA shows a student’s grades across semesters.

The GPA is indicated in alphabetical grading scale from A to F. The A is the highest grade and the F is the failing grade. The grades are averaged by the semester or year-end in numerical equivalent or grade point ranging from 0 to 4.