Canadian Grading Scales: 4.0, 4.33, and Percentage Systems
Why Canada has no single grading scale, how 4.33 schools differ from 4.0 schools, and how to compare GPAs across them without misreading either.
One Country, Many Scales
Canada has no national grading scale. Grading is set by each province's institutions, and often by each university individually, so a Canadian "GPA" can mean several different things depending on where it was earned. Any equivalences in this guide are typical patterns, not official rules: registrars publish their own grading schemes, and receiving universities and credential evaluators such as World Education Services (WES) make their own conversions.
The Main Families of Canadian Grading
Four broad patterns cover most Canadian transcripts. First, the 4.33 family: many British Columbia institutions, including Simon Fraser University, award A+ its own value of 4.33, above the 4.00 for an A. Second, the 4.0-capped family: schools such as McGill top out at 4.0, so an A (and an A+ where one exists) earns 4.0 and nothing earns more. Third, percentage-native transcripts: UBC has historically reported course results as percentages rather than computing a letter-based GPA, and Ontario high schools likewise report percentage grades. Fourth, the historic 9-point scale: Alberta universities formerly graded on a 9-point system before moving to a 4-point letter scale, so older Alberta transcripts may still show it.
Typical Letter, Percentage, and Point Alignments
The table below shows a common alignment. Treat every column as approximate: percentage bands vary noticeably between institutions, and some campuses use 3.7/3.3-style steps while others use 3.67/3.33.
How a 4.33-Scale GPA Compares to a 4.0-Scale One
The scales agree in the middle and diverge at the top. A student who earns five A+ grades in equal-credit courses has a GPA of 4.33 on a 4.33 scale (5 × 4.33 grade points ÷ 5 courses) but 4.00 on a standard scale, where A+ carries no bonus. The same performance, two different maximum numbers.
A mixed record shows the smaller everyday gap. Take four equal-credit courses graded A+, A, A−, B+. On a 4.33 scale using the values above: 4.33 + 4.00 + 3.67 + 3.33 = 15.33 grade points, and 15.33 ÷ 4 ≈ 3.83. On a standard 4.0 scale: 4.00 + 4.00 + 3.70 + 3.30 = 15.00, and 15.00 ÷ 4 = 3.75. The 4.33-scale student shows a higher number for identical letters, which is exactly why a GPA should never travel without its scale.
Applying to US schools from Canada
Report your grades exactly as each application instructs. Most Canadian registrars publish their grading scheme or a conversion chart, and US admissions offices are used to reading Canadian transcripts with those charts in hand. Converting a 4.33-scale or percentage record to a 4.0 number yourself, without being asked, invites inconsistency with the official reading.
Percentage Transcripts and US Readers
Percentage-native transcripts, like Ontario high school records or historical UBC results, get converted by the receiving institution, not by a universal table. A 90%+ average in Ontario is typically read as an A or A+ record, but the exact mapping belongs to whoever is doing the admitting. If a US application form demands a 4.0-scale number and offers no guidance, contact the program rather than inventing a conversion.
Calculating With the Right Scale
The tools on this site support the 4.3 and 4.33 variants directly. Use the Letter Grade to GPA Converter to see what each letter is worth on your institution's scale, and pick the matching scale option in the College GPA Calculator so your semester and cumulative numbers line up with your transcript. The GPA Scale page compares the 4.0, 4.3, and 4.33 tables side by side if you are not sure which one your school uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 4.33 GPA better than a 4.0 GPA?
Not necessarily, because the two numbers come from different scales. A 4.33 on a 4.33 scale means straight A+ grades, and a 4.0 on a standard scale also means top grades, since 4.0 is that scale's maximum. Comparing GPAs across scales without naming the scale is meaningless; always report the scale alongside the number.
Do all Canadian universities use the 4.33 scale?
No. There is no national scale. Some institutions, such as Simon Fraser University, use a 4.33 maximum; others, such as McGill, cap grade points at 4.0; UBC has historically reported percentages; and Alberta institutions formerly used a 9-point scale. Ontario high schools typically report percentages. The only reliable reference is your own institution's published grading scheme.
How do I report a Canadian GPA on a US application?
Follow the application's instructions. Most US programs accept Canadian transcripts directly and apply their own reading, and many Canadian registrars publish conversion or grading-scheme charts that admissions offices use. Do not rescale your GPA yourself unless the application explicitly tells you to, and never present a converted number as official.
Does an A+ always earn extra grade points in Canada?
No. On 4.33-scale campuses an A+ earns 4.33, but on 4.0-capped campuses an A+ (where it is awarded at all) earns the same 4.0 as an A. Whether A+ carries extra value is a property of the institution's scale, not of the letter itself.