No single national scale
Canada doesn't have one GPA system. Education is a provincial responsibility, and universities set their own grading schemes. High schools usually report percentages, while universities may use a 4.0 scale, a 4.3 (or 4.33) scale with A+ above 4.0, a 9-point scale or a 12-point scale. That makes it important to know which scale any GPA you see is on before comparing it with another.
A common 4.0 example: University of Toronto
The University of Toronto's undergraduate scale is a clear example of a percentage-to-4.0 mapping: 90–100% A+ (4.0), 85–89% A (4.0), 80–84% A- (3.7), 77–79% B+ (3.3), 73–76% B (3.0), 70–72% B- (2.7), 67–69% C+ (2.3), 63–66% C (2.0), 60–62% C- (1.7), 57–59% D+ (1.3), 53–56% D (1.0), 50–52% D- (0.7) and 0–49% F (0.0).
Our Canada percentage to GPA converter uses this scale. Other universities draw the bands differently, so if your school publishes its own scale, use that instead.
Other scales you'll meet
Some universities use a 4.3 or 4.33 scale where an A+ is worth more than 4.0. Others use a 9-point scale (where A+ is 9) or a 12-point scale (where A+ is 12). These aren't wrong or harder; they're just different units. A 3.7 on a 4.0 scale and a 7 or 8 on a 9-point scale can describe similar performance, but exact conversions depend on each institution's own grade bands.
Applying to medical school in Ontario
Applicants to Ontario medical schools through OMSAS have their grades converted to a common 4.0 scale using the OMSAS conversion table, regardless of the scale their university uses. If you're heading that way, use OMSAS's own table rather than a general converter.
Applying to the US or abroad
US universities and graduate schools often ask for a GPA on a 4.0 scale. Some will convert your transcript themselves, and some require a credential evaluation from an approved service. Report the grades and scale on your official transcript unless the application asks you to convert, and say which scale you used if you do. A rough self-conversion is fine for checking eligibility, but the receiving institution's method is what counts.
Converting your own grades
To estimate a 4.0 GPA from percentages: convert each course percentage to grade points using a scale (such as the one above), multiply by the course's credits or weight, add those together, and divide by total credits. For example, 88% (4.0) in a 0.5-credit course and 75% (3.0) in a 1.0-credit course gives (2.0 + 3.0) ÷ 1.5 = 3.33. The converter does this automatically.
High school grades and university admission
For admission straight from high school, most Canadian universities work from percentages rather than GPA. In Ontario, for instance, applications through OUAC typically use a calculated average of your top six Grade 12 U or M courses, with any prerequisite courses included, although each program sets its own requirements. Other provinces have their own course requirements and calculations.
That means a conversion to 4.0 is mainly useful for scholarship forms, applications outside Canada, or comparing your record with a published GPA requirement. When you apply within Canada, the university will usually look directly at your percentage grades.
As always, check the admissions pages of each university and program for the exact courses and averages they use, because they differ between institutions and even between programs at the same university.
If you're unsure which marks will be counted, ask the admissions office; they can confirm which courses and grades they'll use for your application.
Quick conversions at a glance
Using the University of Toronto bands as an example: 92% is an A+ (4.0), 87% an A (4.0), 82% an A- (3.7), 78% a B+ (3.3), 75% a B (3.0), 71% a B- (2.7), 68% a C+ (2.3), 65% a C (2.0), 61% a C- (1.7), 58% a D+ (1.3), 55% a D (1.0) and 51% a D- (0.7). Anything below 50% is an F (0.0).
Notice that both A+ and A are worth 4.0 on this scale, so marks above 85% all count the same towards GPA. On a 4.3 scale an A+ would add more. That's one reason the same transcript can produce slightly different GPAs depending on which scale is applied.
Key points
Check which scale a GPA is on before comparing. Use your own university's published scale where possible, and the receiving institution's method for applications. Treat online conversions, including ours, as unofficial estimates. For US-style GPA details, see weighted vs unweighted GPA.
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Last reviewed 11 October 2026. Unofficial guidance; check official sources for decisions.
FAQ
What is 80% as a GPA in Canada?
On the University of Toronto scale, 80–84% is an A- worth 3.7. Other schools differ.
Do Canadian universities use a 4.0 scale?
Many do, but some use 4.3, 9-point or 12-point scales.
Is a 3.7 GPA good in Canada?
On a 4.0 scale it's an A- average, a strong result at most universities.