Why an 89.9% is Mathematically Identical to an 80% on the 4.0 Scale

The Heartbreak of 0.1%

You just finished AP Physics. You took every test, did every homework assignment, and finished with an 89.9%. The teacher refuses to round it up. You get a 'B' on your transcript.

The kid sitting next to you slept through half the classes, cheated on the homework, and finished with an 80.0%. He also gets a 'B' on his transcript.

When your GPAs are calculated on a flat 4.0 scale, you both receive exactly 3.0 grade points. Your 89.9% is mathematically identical to his 80.0%.

How is this possible?

The Bucket System

The standard 4.0 GPA scale is a "Bucket" system. Imagine four buckets: A, B, C, D. It does not matter if you barely fall into the bucket, or if you land perfectly in the center of the bucket. Once you are in the bucket, you are assigned the exact same point value as everyone else in there.

By getting an 89.9%, you generated 9.9% of "Wasted Effort." You worked significantly harder than the 80% student, but because you couldn't cross the lip into the 'A' bucket, the system completely erased your extra work.

How to Use the Bucket System to Your Advantage

If you understand the cruelty of the buckets, you can use them to save your mental health.

If it is November, and you have an 83% in a class, and you know there is absolutely no mathematical way to reach a 90% before the semester ends, stop studying. Whether you finish with an 83% or an 89%, it is still a 'B' (3.0). Coast through the rest of the semester, secure the 80%, and use all your extra time to study for a different class where you are on the borderline of an 'A'.