How is Grade Point Average (GPA) calculated?

Calculating Grade Point Average (GPA) involves a specific process that reflects a student's academic performance. The correct method for calculating GPA is to take the total grade points earned and divide that number by the total credits attempted.

Grade points are typically assigned to letter grades according to a standard scale; for example, an "A" might equate to 4 grade points, a "B" to 3, and so on. Each course's grade points are then multiplied by the number of credits the course is worth, resulting in total grade points earned. By dividing this total by the sum of the credits for the courses attempted, you arrive at the GPA, which provides a standardized measure of academic success.

The other options, while they include aspects related to academic performance, do not accurately represent how GPA is calculated. For instance, considering only the average of all grades ignores the weighted importance of different courses based on their credit hours. Similarly, total credits attempted alone would miss the impact of actual performance (grade points earned) on the GPA. Lastly, the sum of all course withdrawals doesn't factor into GPA calculations, as withdrawn courses typically do not earn any grade points. Therefore, understanding that the GPA is derived from grade points divided by credits attempted is