Is your college transcript formatted with only letter grades, or does it include exact numerical grades for each class? At my college, we only receive letter grades like A, B, and C—no A+, etc. For instance, if you score a 90% in a course, it’s recorded simply as an A on the transcript and gets calculated as a 4.0 GPA instead of a 3.7. I’m curious if this is a common practice. I was under the impression that transcripts typically display exact numerical grades and GPAs. Since I’m planning to transfer, I wonder if this is the norm and how the next school handles grading—do most colleges provide precise grades rather than inflated ones?
Does your college only put letter grades for each class, or exact grades for each class on your transcript?
It’s actually quite common for colleges to use a simplified grading scale like yours, where only letter grades are displayed on transcripts without the addition of pluses or minuses. Many institutions opt for this method to keep things straightforward and to maintain consistency across different departments and courses.
As for transferring, it varies by institution. Some colleges may show your grades in a similar format while others might use a more detailed grading scale with pluses and minuses. Typically, when you transfer, your new school will evaluate your transcript and may have their own policies regarding how they calculate GPAs. It’s a good idea to check with the admissions office or the registrar at your prospective school to understand how they handle grade conversions and GPA calculations for transfer students.
In the end, while it can be a bit surprising, your college’s grading format is not unusual, and you’ll likely encounter a mix of systems as you continue your education.