Letter Grade Reference
A+ GPA — perfect score,
perfect points.
An A+ is the highest letter grade in the US system. On the 4.0 scale it carries 4.0 quality points — identical to a plain A. On the 4.33 scale it earns 4.33, the only grade that goes above 4.0. Use the calculator below to see exactly how A+ grades move your cumulative GPA.
Browse all letter grades
What it means
A+ on the 4.0 scale
vs the 4.33 scale
The A+ grade exists in an awkward position on the standard 4.0 scale: it earns the same 4.0 quality points as a plain A. The scale has no room above 4.0, so the "plus" is cosmetically acknowledged on a transcript but numerically invisible in GPA calculations at most US institutions.
The 4.33 scale was partly developed to solve this. On it, A+ earns 4.33, A earns 4.0, and A− earns 3.67 — each grade occupies its own value. A student who earns exclusively A+ grades at a 4.33-scale institution can achieve a GPA above 4.0, which is why some transcripts show a GPA of 4.1 or 4.2. That's not an error — it's the 4.33 scale working as designed.
Admissions context
What A+ means
for college applications
In college admissions, A+ grades signal top performance — but they don't mechanically improve your GPA number at schools using the 4.0 scale. What they do is communicate something that numbers can't always show: you're not just meeting the standard for an A, you're exceeding it.
Admissions officers reading a transcript know the difference between a student who earned 4.0 with a mix of A and A+ grades versus one who scraped into 4.0 territory with A− grades. That distinction matters in holistic review, even when the GPA is identical.
For merit scholarships based on class rank or GPA, A+ grades help most at institutions that use the 4.33 scale (where A+ produces a measurable GPA advantage) or at schools where class rank is computed on a weighted/100-point scale rather than a 4.0 GPA.
Common questions
A+ GPA — FAQ
What is an A+ in GPA?
4.0 GPA points on the 4.0 scale; 4.33 GPA points on the 4.33 scale. It's the highest letter grade in the US system, corresponding to approximately 97–100% performance.
Is A+ the same as A on a 4.0 scale?
Yes — numerically identical. Both A+ and A earn 4.0 quality points per credit on the 4.0 scale. The distinction only matters on the 4.33 scale, where A+ = 4.33 and A = 4.0.
Does A+ help with college admissions?
Not mechanically on the 4.0 scale, but it signals mastery in holistic review. On the 4.33 scale, A+ grades give a measurable GPA advantage over A grades.
What percentage score is A+?
Most US institutions define A+ as 97–100%. Some use 98–100%, others 95–100%. Check your school's specific grading policy.
Does every college give A+ grades?
No. Many colleges cap at A (4.0). MIT awards A+; Harvard graduate schools typically don't. Check your institution's grading scale policy.
Is A+ worth more than A for scholarships?
For GPA-threshold scholarships, no — both are 4.0. For rank-based or 4.33-scale awards, A+ can give a measurable edge. Class valedictorian recognition often considers consistent A+ grades even when GPA is identical.
What is a 4.33 GPA?
The maximum on a 4.33 scale, achievable only with exclusively A+ grades at an institution that awards them at 4.33 pts each. Most US institutions use the 4.0 scale where 4.0 is the ceiling.
How does A+ affect my cumulative GPA?
An A+ in a 3-credit course adds 12.0 quality points (4.0 × 3). The effect on your cumulative GPA depends on how many total credits you have — fewer credits = bigger impact per course. Use the calculator above for exact numbers.
How many A+ grades to maintain a 4.0 GPA?
All grades must be A or A+ (both = 4.0 pts). A single A− (3.7) in a 3-credit course out of 60 total credits drops cumulative GPA to approximately 3.98. Maintaining 4.0 requires every grade at A or above with no A−.
What's the GPA formula for A+?
Quality points per course = grade points × credit hours. For A+: 4.0 × 3 cr = 12.0 QP (4.0 scale) or 4.33 × 3 cr = 12.99 QP (4.33 scale). GPA = Σ(QP) / Σ(credits).
What letter grade is a 4.0 GPA?
A 4.0 GPA corresponds to straight A / A+ performance — no grade below A− across all courses. It's the maximum achievable GPA on the standard 4.0 scale.
Sources
Grade standards
and references
GPA calculation methodology and grade point values are documented by NCES IPEDS. The College Scorecard at collegescorecard.ed.gov provides institutional outcome data. Grading scale policies are set by individual institutions — examples include MIT Registrar and UC Davis Registrar. The 4.33 scale is documented in various registrar publications as an extension of the standard 4.0 scale to accommodate A+ differentiation.
Related reading: Can Weighted GPA Go Above 4.0? · GPA and College Admissions · Do Colleges Look at Weighted or Unweighted GPA?