How to Raise Your GPA

Before you can fix your GPA, you have to understand how it works. GPA is a weighted average. The more credits you already have, the harder it is to change your cumulative GPA.

Action Step: Use our Target GPA Calculator to figure out exactly what grades you need to reach your goal. It will tell you if your goal is mathematically possible.

Working harder isn't enough; you need to work smarter when picking classes.

• Mix Difficulty: Never take more than two highly demanding "weed-out" courses (like Organic Chemistry or advanced Calculus) in the same semester.
• Leverage Electives: Balance hard major requirements with easier electives that play to your strengths. An "A" in a 3-credit art history class affects your GPA exactly the same amount as an "A" in a 3-credit physics class.
• Check Professor Ratings: Two professors teaching the exact same course can have wildly different grading distributions.

This is the single fastest way to raise a tanked GPA. Many universities offer a "Grade Forgiveness" or "Course Retake" policy.

If you fail a 3-credit class (getting an F or 0.0), it severely drags down your average. If your school allows you to retake the class and replaces the old grade with the new one, turning that F into an A or B will cause a massive spike in your cumulative GPA.

Note: Read your university's specific policy carefully. Some average the two grades together instead of replacing them.

A bad GPA is usually a symptom of a bad system. To get different results, you need a different approach.

• Go to Office Hours: Professors are more likely to bump up a borderline grade (like an 89.4% to an A-) for a student they know and see trying hard in office hours.
• Track Every Assignment: Use our Grade Calculator to track your exact percentage in every class throughout the semester. Don't wait until finals week to realize you are failing.
• Active vs. Passive Studying: Re-reading notes is passive. Doing practice problems, using flashcards, and teaching the material to a friend are active. Active studying produces higher grades in less time.