Canadian Grading System Explained (Letter Grades and GPA)
Canada does not have a single national grading system. Each province and university sets its own scale, but most follow the same broad pattern: letter grades from A to F mapped to a percentage range and a 4.0 GPA scale.
The common Canadian university grade scale
Most Canadian universities use a letter-grade system tied to percentages and a 4.0 GPA. The exact percentage cutoffs differ, but this table shows the most common version:
- A+ (90-100%): 4.0 GPA
- A (85-89%): 4.0 GPA
- A- (80-84%): 3.7 GPA
- B+ (77-79%): 3.3 GPA
- B (73-76%): 3.0 GPA
- B- (70-72%): 2.7 GPA
- C+ (67-69%): 2.3 GPA
- C (63-66%): 2.0 GPA
- C- (60-62%): 1.7 GPA
- D (50-59%): 1.0 GPA
- F (0-49%): 0.0 GPA
Why cutoffs vary between universities
Canadian universities set their own grading policies. The University of Toronto, McGill, UBC and others each publish their own percentage-to-letter conversions. The differences are usually small (a few percentage points per boundary) but can matter when converting grades for graduate school applications or international transfers.
Calculating a Canadian GPA
GPA is calculated as the weighted average of grade points across all courses. Each course's grade point value is multiplied by the number of credit hours, then divided by the total credit hours completed. A three-credit course with an A (4.0) and a three-credit course with a B (3.0) produces a GPA of 3.5.
High school grades in Canada
Canadian high school grading varies significantly by province. Ontario uses percentages with no letter grades at the high school level. British Columbia uses a percentage system with some letter grades. Quebec's CEGEP system uses a 100-point scale with its own R-score calculation for university admissions.
Converting Canadian grades for international applications
When applying abroad, most institutions ask for both the percentage and the letter grade. A 3.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale is a standard way to represent strong Canadian grades internationally. Some American graduate programs ask specifically for the institution's grading policy document rather than a converted number.
GradeBuddy calculates weighted grade averages and GPA for courses at any institution. For a comparison of how Canadian grades convert to other systems, see the guide to converting grades between countries.
Common questions
- What GPA is considered good in Canada?
- A GPA of 3.7 or above (roughly an A- average) is considered strong at most Canadian universities and is competitive for graduate school admissions. Many graduate programs set a minimum of 3.0 (B average), with competitive programs often requiring 3.5 or higher.
- Is a 4.0 GPA scale used in all Canadian universities?
- Most Canadian universities use a 4.0 scale, but some use a 4.3 scale (where A+ is worth 4.3 rather than 4.0). Always check the specific institution's grading policy when comparing GPAs across schools.
- What percentage is an A in Canada?
- At most Canadian universities, an A starts at 80% (A-) to 85% (A), with an A+ beginning at 90%. The exact cutoffs vary by institution, so check your university's official grading scale for the precise values.