UCLA is an American university located in California, and it is well-known around the world for its research, academic, and athletic programs. With nearly 50,000 students occupying the 419-acre location, this is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Let’s know How Does UCLA Calculate GPA
The final grading you receive in your course is used in the calculation of your Grade Point Average. After the submission of all your grades in the academic quarter, you will get a GPA for that quarter, which will show on your official transcript.
Each grade is assigned a number of grade points, and you can calculate your GPA by dividing this number by the total number of course units you attempted during the quarter. The total amount of grade points are calculated by multiplying the number of assigned points to the specific grade by the number of course units. An example is if a student takes 3 three-unit courses with grades of ‘A+’, ‘B+’, and ‘B-’. Their total course units for the term would be nine (9), and their total grade points would be thirty (30). So, the GPA is 30 divided by 9, which is 3.33.
The Grade Point Scale assigns the following values to each letter:
| Grade | Value |
| A+ | 4.0 |
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| D- | 0.7 |
| F | 0.0 |
What Grading System is Used in UCLA?
The grading system used at the University of California, Los Angeles, is unique. All the tests, assignments, and exams of each course will be graded with a letter (A, B, C, D, or F). The ‘A’ grade is the highest level you can achieve, while the F is the lowest, meaning the student failed the course. These letters are suffixed by either a plus or minus which helps to further differentiate the letter grades. For example, an ‘A+’ grade is higher than an ‘A’ grade, which is then higher than the ‘A-’.
Do Graduates Calculate Their GPA The Same Way?
Yes, graduates calculate their Grade Point Averages using the same method as undergraduates. However, the grading system is slightly different.
The graduate grades are A, B, C, and F, with the first three grades modified by the plus or minus sign as a suffix. There is a grade S, which along with A and B, means the student has made satisfactory progress towards the degree. Receiving a C grade means the student passed the course, although their work was not satisfactory enough to show the potential for professional achievement in their field of study. To remain in good academic standing, the C grade must be offset by higher academic grades from other courses in the same term.
Other Types Of Grades
1. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grades: Graduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 are allowed to enroll for a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grade in a single upper-division or graduate course that is not part of their major field every term. A grade of B or higher is assigned the grade S while a grade of U means the student will not receive any units or degree credits.
2. Passed/Not Passed Grades: Undergraduate students who are in good academic standing and are enrolled in a minimum of 12 units of courses can take some courses based on the Passed/Not Passed system. A grade of C or higher is assigned the grade P while receiving a grade of NP means no units or course credits are awarded for the course.
3. Deferred Report Grades: A student can receive a Deferred Report Grade if the instructor marks their work as satisfactory, although it can’t be graded because of an issue like a disciplinary proceeding involving the student. If a student receives a Deferred Report grade, the Office of the Dean of Students will work with them to help in solving the issue, after which the instructor can then change it from DR to a grade.
4. In Progress Grades: This is a grade used for courses that stretch over more than a single term. The performance of the student is deferred until the course’s final term is reached. It is after the full sequence of the course is completed that the final grade and units are given and calculated.
5. Incomplete Grades: An incomplete grade is assigned to a student’s work when it is of satisfactory quality but it is not complete because of a good reason like illness or similar problems. The student will be required to speak with their instructor and discuss the options of either getting an Incomplete grade or a non-passing grade.
Conclusion
Calculating your GPA is a pretty simple process, as long as you have the number of units you took for the term as well as the grade you received for each course. Multiply each grade by its corresponding course units, add all these values together, and then divide by the total number of course units you attempted. And if this seems a bit complex or you need some help in the calculation, there are a lot of GPA calculators online that you can use as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
1)Do all courses use the same grading codes?
Most courses use the same grading codes, but the schools of medicine, law, and dentistry have their own grading codes. You can easily access this information by contacting the appropriate school.
2)Do grades earned at another institution affect the GPA?
Only the grades that are earned in regular sessions and summer sessions at the UCLA campus or through the UCLA Extension courses will be used to calculate the Grade Point Average. Any grades earned at an institution different from these will not affect your GPA.
3)Where can I find my GPA?
Every quarter, you will get a GPA that grades how well you did in your courses during that quarter and an accumulative GPA printed on your transcript that will grade your academic level throughout your education at UCLA.
