Calculate how retaking a course will affect your overall GPA
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A | 10.0 |
| A- | 9.0 |
| B+ | 8.0 |
| B | 7.0 |
| B- | 6.0 |
| C+ | 5.0 |
| C | 4.0 |
| D | 2.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
Failed a course or earned a disappointing grade? You’re not alone. Thousands of students face this challenge every semester, wondering how retaking a course will affect their GPA. A Course Retake GPA Impact Calculator can help you understand exactly how much your GPA will improve—or stay the same—after repeating a class.
This guide explains everything you need to know about calculating GPA after a course retake, with real examples and university policies to help you make informed decisions about your academic future.
A Course Retake GPA Impact Calculator is a digital tool that helps students predict how their cumulative GPA will change after retaking a course. Instead of doing complex math by hand, you simply input your current GPA, total credit hours, the original grade, and your expected new grade.
The calculator instantly shows your projected GPA, helping you decide whether retaking a specific course is worth the time and effort. This tool is especially valuable for students who need to meet minimum GPA requirements for scholarships, academic programs, or graduation.
Your GPA is calculated using a simple formula: total grade points ÷ total credit hours. Each letter grade has a numerical value (A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0.0), and when you multiply this by the course’s credit hours, you get grade points.
When you retake a course, universities handle the GPA calculation differently depending on their policies:
Grade Replacement: The new grade completely replaces the old one in GPA calculations. The original grade may still appear on your transcript but doesn’t count toward your GPA.
Grade Averaging: Both the original and retake grades are included in your GPA calculation, essentially averaging the two attempts.
Grade Forgiveness: Similar to replacement, but with specific conditions (like only for failed courses or within a certain timeframe).
Understanding your school’s policy is crucial because it directly impacts how much your GPA will improve.
Here’s how to calculate your GPA impact manually:
Step 1: Calculate your current total grade points
Step 2: Remove the original course’s grade points (for grade replacement policies)
Step 3: Add the new course’s grade points
Step 4: Calculate your new GPA
Skip the complex math with a GPA recalculation after failed course calculator:
The tool instantly calculates your projected GPA, showing exactly how much improvement you can expect.
Let’s examine two common scenarios to understand the repeat course GPA impact:
Student Profile: Sarah has a 2.5 GPA with 45 credit hours completed. She failed a 3-credit Biology course (F = 0.0) and plans to retake it, expecting a B (3.0).
Current situation:
After retake (with grade replacement):
Sarah’s GPA improves from 2.5 to 2.70—a significant boost of 0.20 points.
Student Profile: Mark has a 3.2 GPA with 60 credit hours. He earned a C (2.0) in a 4-credit Statistics course and wants to retake it for an A (4.0).
Current situation:
After retake (with grade replacement):
Mark’s GPA after retake improves from 3.2 to 3.33—a gain of 0.13 points.
Understanding institutional policies is crucial for accurate GPA boost from course repetition calculations:
Purdue follows a grade replacement policy for repeated courses. When you retake a course, the new grade replaces the original in GPA calculations. However, both grades remain visible on your official transcript.
Key rules:
UC Berkeley uses grade averaging for most repeated courses. Both the original and repeat grades are included in GPA calculations, which means smaller GPA improvements compared to replacement policies.
Key rules:
TMU (formerly Ryerson) offers grade forgiveness for a limited number of courses. Students can exclude a small number of course grades from their GPA calculation entirely.
Key rules:
Maximize your grade replacement GPA improvement with these strategies:
Prioritize high-credit courses: Retaking a 4-credit course has more GPA impact than a 1-credit seminar. Focus on courses that will give you the biggest numerical boost.
Consider your current grade: Going from an F to a B provides more improvement than going from a C+ to an A-. Calculate the potential impact before committing time and money.
Know when retakes won’t help: If your school uses grade averaging, the improvement might be minimal. A student going from D to A in a grade-averaging system only gains 1.5 grade points per credit hour instead of 3.0.
Time your retakes wisely: Some schools limit how many times you can repeat a course or require you to retake within a certain timeframe.
Always consult your academic advisor: They understand your school’s specific policies and can help you plan the most effective retake strategy.
Usually, yes—but the amount depends on your school's policy. With grade replacement, you'll see the full benefit of your improved grade. With grade averaging, the improvement is smaller because both grades count.
In most cases, yes. Even with grade replacement policies, transcripts typically show all course attempts with indicators like "repeat" or "excluded from GPA." Graduate schools and employers can see your academic history.
Most universities allow multiple retakes, but with limitations. Some schools cap the total number of repeated courses, while others restrict repeats to failed courses or those below a certain grade threshold.
This depends on your school's policy. Some institutions use the higher of the two grades, while others use the most recent grade regardless of whether it's better or worse. Check your student handbook before retaking.
Typically 1-2 additional attempts beyond the original, but policies vary widely. Some schools allow unlimited retakes for failed courses but restrict repeats for passing grades.
Federal financial aid generally covers retakes of failed courses, but repeating passed courses may not be eligible. Private scholarships and state aid have their own rules, so check with your financial aid office.
A Course Retake GPA Impact Calculator is an invaluable tool for students looking to improve their academic standing. Whether you failed a course or simply want to boost a low grade, understanding your school’s retake policy and calculating the potential GPA impact helps you make informed decisions.
Remember that retaking courses requires significant time and financial investment. Use a calculator to test different scenarios before committing to a retake. Sometimes, focusing on performing well in new courses provides better GPA improvement than repeating old ones.
Ready to see how a course retake could affect your GPA? Use our interactive calculator tool to input your specific situation and get instant results. With the right strategy and tools, you can recover from academic setbacks and achieve your GPA goals.
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