An A− is usually 90–92% on the standard plus/minus scale, worth 3.7 on a 4.0 GPA scale. An A is 93–96% and an A+ is 97–100%, and both are normally worth 4.0. Each letter from A to D splits into three bands. A B+ is 87–89% (3.3), and a C is 73–76% (2.0).
Plus and minus grade percentages chart
The standard plus/minus scale keeps the familiar 10-point outer boundaries, so every B is still between 80% and 89%, and cuts each letter into a minus, a plain, and a plus band. The minus band is the bottom three points, the plain letter is the middle four, and the plus band is the top three. The one exception is the A, where A+ runs 97–100%.
The GPA column is the most common set of grade point values, used by universities such as the University of Missouri: +0.3 for a plus and −0.3 for a minus, relative to the plain letter. Some schools write these as 3.33 and 3.67 instead of 3.3 and 3.7, which is the same rule with more decimals.
| Grade | Percentage | GPA (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 |
| D− | 60–62% | 0.7 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
What percentage is an A−, an A, and an A+?
An A− is 90–92%, an A is 93–96%, and an A+ is 97–100% on the standard plus/minus scale. So 90%, 91%, and 92% are all A− grades, while 95% and 96% are a plain A, not an A+. The A− is worth 3.7 grade points, and the A and A+ are both usually 4.0.
The A+ is the band schools disagree on most. At UC San Diego, an A+ "represents extraordinary achievement" but earns no more grade points than an A. A few institutions do give an A+ a 4.33, which lets a GPA rise above 4.0. On a whole-letter scale there are no A− or A+ grades at all, and 90–100% is simply an A worth 4.0.
What percentage is a B+, a B, and a B−?
A B+ is 87–89%, a B is 83–86%, and a B− is 80–82%. The grade points are 3.3, 3.0, and 2.7. So 89% is the top of the B+ band, one point below an A−, and 86% is the top of a plain B, one point below a B+.
The B range shows why plus/minus grades matter. A B+ and a B− are the same letter on a report card but 0.6 grade points apart. Over a full course load that gap adds up. A student with all B+ grades has a 3.3 GPA, and one with all B− grades has a 2.7, even though both "got Bs." The letter grade to GPA conversion chart lists every value if you need to convert a whole transcript.
What is a C grade percentage?
A C is 73–76% on the plus/minus scale, and the whole C range runs from 70% to 79%. Within it, a C+ is 77–79% (2.3), a plain C is 73–76% (2.0), and a C− is 70–72% (1.7). On a whole-letter scale, any percentage from 70 to 79 is simply a C worth 2.0.
A C− still passes almost everywhere, but it often doesn't count for prerequisites. Many colleges require a C or better, not a C−, in a course before you can take the next one, and some majors set the bar at a C for every required class. Check your program's rule before you treat 71% as safe.
What percentage are D+, D, and D−, and where does F start?
A D+ is 67–69% (1.3), a D is 63–66% (1.0), and a D− is 60–62% (0.7). Anything below 60% is an F, worth 0.0. A D− is usually the lowest passing grade, so a 60% passes and a 59% doesn't.
Not every school uses all three D bands. The University of Missouri lists D+, D, and D−. UC San Diego's grade list goes straight from C− to D to F, with no D+ or D−. Schools with a higher passing line, such as 65% or 70%, may skip the D range altogether. The what is a passing grade guide covers those cutoffs.
How are plus and minus bands built?
Each letter's 10-point range is divided roughly into thirds, split 3-4-3: three points for the minus, four for the plain letter, and three for the plus. For the B range that's 80–82, 83–86, and 87–89. The same pattern repeats for C and D, and the A only differs because A+ takes the top four points (97–100).
The grade points follow the same logic. Start from the plain letter's value (A 4.0, B 3.0, C 2.0, D 1.0), add 0.3 for a plus, and subtract 0.3 for a minus. So B+ = 3.3 and B− = 2.7. Knowing the rule means you can rebuild the chart from memory, and you can spot a school that uses a different split, such as a B+ that starts at 88%. The 10-point vs. 7-point grading scale guide explains the stricter layouts.
Do plus and minus grades affect your GPA?
Yes, at schools that record them. A plus raises the letter's grade points by 0.3 and a minus lowers them by 0.3, so plus/minus grades can move your GPA by up to 0.3 per course. At schools on a whole-letter GPA, a B+ and a B− are both recorded as 3.0 and your GPA doesn't change.
Here's the effect across four equal-credit courses. A student with A−, B+, B+, and B− earns 3.7 + 3.3 + 3.3 + 2.7 = 13.0, divided by 4, which is a 3.25 GPA. On a whole-letter scale the same four grades (A, B, B, B) give (4.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 + 3.0) ÷ 4 = 3.25 as well. Here the pluses and minuses cancel out, but a transcript of mostly B− grades would sit at 2.7 rather than 3.0. For your own numbers, the GPA calculator applies plus/minus values automatically.
| Four-course example | Plus/minus GPA | Whole-letter GPA |
|---|---|---|
| A−, B+, B+, B− | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| B−, B−, B−, B− | 2.70 | 3.00 |
| B+, B+, B+, B+ | 3.30 | 3.00 |
| A, A−, A−, A− | 3.78 | 4.00 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an A− a 4.0?+
No. On the standard 4.0 scale an A− is worth 3.7, while an A and usually an A+ are worth 4.0. It only counts as 4.0 at schools that record whole-letter grades.
Is 90 percent an A or an A−?+
90% is an A− on the plus/minus scale and an A on a whole-letter 10-point scale. It's the lowest score in the A range either way. On a 7-point scale, where the A starts at 93%, 90% is a B.
Is 92 percent an A− or an A?+
92% is an A−, the top of the 90–92% band. You need 93% for a plain A on the standard plus/minus scale.
What percentage is an A+?+
An A+ is usually 97–100%. Most schools give it the same 4.0 as an A, although a few award 4.33.
What GPA is a B+?+
A B+ is worth 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.33 at schools that use two decimals. It covers 87–89% on the standard plus/minus scale.
Is a C− a passing grade?+
Yes, a C− (70–72%) passes at almost every school, but many colleges require a C or better for prerequisites and major courses. In those cases a C− passes the class but doesn't let you move on.
What percentage is a B−?+
A B− is 80–82% on the standard plus/minus scale and is worth 2.7 grade points. It's the lowest grade in the B range.
Is 89 a B+ or an A−?+
89% is a B+. It's the top of the 87–89% band and one point below the 90% needed for an A−. Some teachers round 89.5% up to 90%, so check your class's rounding policy.
Does every school use plus and minus grades?+
No. Many high schools and some colleges record only whole letters (A, B, C, D, F), and some that use them skip the D+ and D− bands. Your school's handbook or syllabus lists which grades exist.
Can a GPA be higher than 4.0 with an A+?+
Only at schools that give an A+ more than 4.0, usually 4.33. At most schools an A+ is capped at 4.0, so the highest unweighted GPA is 4.0. Weighted honors and AP scales are a separate system.
Why is an A+ worth the same as an A?+
Most schools treat 4.0 as the maximum grade point, so an A+ is recorded as distinction on the transcript rather than extra points. UC San Diego, for example, says an A+ earns no grade-point credit beyond an A.
Muhammd Salman
I build and maintain Grade Calculator independently. Every worked example on this site is checked against the underlying formula, with notes on where school or instructor policy can change the result. More about this site →