Grade Point Averages (Berkeley, Cupertino: middle school, universities, calculated)

[clarity1971]

Can someone explain (slowly ) GPA's to someone potentially relocating from the UK?

Are students in Middle School given one or is it just High School.

I think I have managed to get a translation/transcript of our twin daughters GPA using their exam results in England.

We have come up with 3.8 for one and 4.0 for the other but what does this mean? Are these good/bad/average?

If anyone can shed any light/personal experiences then it would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

[Nell Plotts]

A 4.0 is an "A". Get an "F" and you fail the class, "D" is a barely passing grade and so on.

Some schools award a grade higher than 4 (or A) to students who are high performers in a class that is very academically demanding. Grade competition is fierce in some high schools so some teach to the test.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by clarity1971

We have come up with 3.8 for one and 4.0 for the other but what does this mean? Are these good/bad/average?

Doing quite well, if these are accurate. Means you have "A" students. In high school, AP classes are often offered, which get an extra grade point (B=4, A=5), which can help boost that GPA up to something highly-competitive universities can hardly refuse. Highly useful when needed to offset a C or a few B's.

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

Highly useful when needed to offset a C or a few B's.

Where was this system when I went to school?

[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

Doing quite well, if these are accurate. Means you have "A" students. In high school, AP classes are often offered, which get an extra grade point (B=4, A=5), which can help boost that GPA up to something highly-competitive universities can hardly refuse. Highly useful when needed to offset a C or a few B's.

Those AP classes and their extra GPA point are needed to get into competitive programs. UCB College of Engineering incoming freshmen averaged 4.45 in 2010.

BEAR News June 2010 — UC Berkeley College of Engineering

Thank god I went to college when I did - I might have actually have had to show up for a few classes in high school to get into a decent engineering school were I a student now.

[twins4lynn]

Here is a link to a chart with letter grades calculated to GPA's. Ignore the percentage section as it can differ from school to school. Calculate Grade Point Average (GPA) with Percentages | Great College Advice

In high school Advanced Placement classes will result in an extra grade point (an A will = 5, B = 4, C = 3, etc).

At our high school, an A = superior, B = better than average, C = Average, D= Barely Passing, F= Failure.

Our schools didn't use GPA's until high school (but other schools may differ ).

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

UCB College of Engineering incoming freshmen averaged 4.45 in 2010.

Hated those people for killing the grading curve and taking all the scholarships, but had a lot more fun than any of 'em, so it breaks about even.

[Nell Plotts]

I really have an issue with GPAs. As many on the board have mentioned we didn't have those stellar GPA when we graduated from high school. Many Cupertino HS student parents put enormous pressure on teachers to award high grades forcing them to 'teach to the test'. The reality is that this may be great for future engineers but not for creative talent like Steve Jobs.

Acceptance at MIT is not predictive.