McMaster University
GPA Calculator
Calculate your McMaster weighted GPA using the official 12-point grading scale, and instantly convert any percentage to its McMaster letter grade and grade point value.
McMaster University & Its 12-Point GPA Scale
McMaster University, founded in 1887 and located in Hamilton, Ontario, is one of Canada's leading research-intensive universities. McMaster is globally recognised for health sciences (the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine), engineering, and the McMaster problem-based learning (PBL) model — influential in medical education worldwide. Unlike most Ontario universities that use a 4.0 GPA scale, McMaster uses a distinctive 12-point GPA scale as defined in the Senate Policy on Grading Practices, with 13 letter-grade levels from A+ (12) down to F (0).
McMaster GPA Calculator
Enter each course with its McMaster letter grade and course units to calculate your weighted cumulative GPA on the 12-point scale.
Add Your Courses
Uses McMaster's official 12-point grading scale (A+ = 12 to F = 0). Most undergraduate courses are 3 units.
| Course | Grade | GP (12) | Units | Actions |
|---|
How to use the CGPA Calculator
- Enter your semester name or number (e.g. Semester 1, 1st, First).
- Enter the SGPA for that semester.
- Enter the total credits earned in that semester.
- Click “Add Semester”, then repeat for every completed semester.
- Click “Calculate CGPA” to see your cumulative result.
Although CGPA is normally awarded at the end of the programme, you can use this tool any time to see your current or running CGPA based on the semesters you've completed so far.
McMaster GPA Formula
Per the official McMaster Senate Policy on Grading Practices.
📝 Worked Example
A McMaster Engineering student completed 5 courses in their first year:
| Course | Letter Grade | Grade Point | Units | GP × Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINEER 1C03 | A− | 10 | 3 | 10 × 3 = 30 |
| MATH 1ZA3 | B+ | 9 | 3 | 9 × 3 = 27 |
| PHYSICS 1C03 | B | 8 | 3 | 8 × 3 = 24 |
| CHEM 1E03 | A | 11 | 3 | 11 × 3 = 33 |
| ENGINEER 1P13 | B− | 7 | 3 | 7 × 3 = 21 |
| Total | — | — | 15 | 135 |
Plugging into the formula:
This student qualifies for the Dean's Honour List (threshold: GPA ≥ 9.5) — just below in this example, so they'd want to push above 9.5 next session.
McMaster Percentage to Letter Grade Converter
Enter any percentage (0–100) to see its McMaster letter grade and 12-point grade value instantly.
Percentage to Grade Converter
Based on the official McMaster Senate Grading Policy.
How to use the SGPA Calculator
- Enter the course or subject name (for example, Mathematics).
- Select the grade you received from the dropdown.
- Enter the credits assigned to that course.
- Click “Add Subject” to add it to the table.
- Repeat for every subject, then click “Calculate SGPA”.
Official McMaster Grading Scale
13-level letter grade system as defined in the McMaster Senate Policy on Grading Practices.
📘 McMaster Letter Grades, Percentages & Grade Points
Official 12-point scale — applicable to all undergraduate faculties at McMaster
| Letter Grade | Percentage Range (%) | Grade Point (12-pt) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 90 – 100 | 12 | Exceptional |
| A | 85 – 89 | 11 | Excellent |
| A− | 80 – 84 | 10 | Excellent |
| B+ | 77 – 79 | 9 | Very Good |
| B | 73 – 76 | 8 | Good |
| B− | 70 – 72 | 7 | Good |
| C+ | 67 – 69 | 6 | Satisfactory |
| C | 63 – 66 | 5 | Satisfactory |
| C− | 60 – 62 | 4 | Adequate |
| D+ | 57 – 59 | 3 | Marginal Pass |
| D | 53 – 56 | 2 | Marginal Pass |
| D− | 50 – 52 | 1 | Marginal Pass (minimum) |
| F | 0 – 49 | 0 | Fail |
Note: Minimum passing grade in any course is D− (grade point 1, 50–52%). Academic good standing requires a cumulative GPA of at least 4.0 (C−). The Dean's Honour List threshold is a sessional GPA of ≥ 9.5. Individual faculties (e.g. Engineering, Health Sciences) may impose higher continuation standards.
🎓 McMaster GPA & Academic Standing Thresholds
Key GPA benchmarks for McMaster students
| GPA Range (12-pt) | Equivalent Grade | Standing / Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| 9.5 – 12.0 | B+ / A− and above | 🏅 Dean's Honour List eligible |
| 7.0 – 9.4 | B− to B+ | ✅ Good academic standing |
| 4.0 – 6.9 | C− to C+ | ✅ Minimum good standing (cumulative) |
| 1.0 – 3.9 | D− to D+ | ⚠️ Academic probation risk |
| 0 | F | ❌ Fail / Required withdrawal risk |
📌 Special Grade Notations at McMaster
INC (Incomplete): Granted when a student cannot complete course requirements due to a serious medical or personal reason. An INC resolves to a final grade once outstanding work is submitted within the approved extension period; otherwise it converts to F.
AEG (Aegrotat): Credit granted on compassionate grounds when a student cannot complete final assessments. The AEG grade reflects estimated standing and counts in GPA calculation.
INP (In Progress): Used for certain multi-term courses still in progress — not included in GPA until a final grade is assigned.
AUDIT: A student attending a course for interest with no formal evaluation — no grade assigned, no GPA impact.
McMaster GPA — Frequently Asked Questions
Why does McMaster use a 12-point scale instead of a 4.0 scale?
McMaster's 12-point scale provides finer granularity in distinguishing student performance compared to a 4.0 scale. With 13 distinct grade levels (A+ through F), the scale better reflects the range of student achievement and avoids the grade compression seen at the top of a 4.0 scale where both A and A+ map to the same value.
This scale is institution-specific and codified in the McMaster Senate Policy on Grading Practices. When applying externally, recipients — including graduate schools and employers — typically convert McMaster grades using their own conversion tables or by referring to percentage equivalents on the transcript.
Does McMaster print GPA on official transcripts?
Yes. McMaster official transcripts display the letter grade, the 12-point grade value, and the cumulative GPA for each session and overall. Unlike UBC, which does not print GPA, McMaster transcripts include the weighted GPA calculated on the 12-point scale alongside the percentage grade for each course.
What GPA do I need to get into McMaster graduate programs?
McMaster graduate programs generally require a minimum B+ average (9.0 on the 12-point scale, or ~77–79%) in the final two years of undergraduate study, though competitive programs and thesis-based graduate degrees often expect higher. The DeGroote School of Business MBA, Faculty of Engineering, and graduate health sciences programs are particularly competitive.
Always check the admissions requirements page for your specific program on the McMaster School of Graduate Studies website, as thresholds vary.
How does WES evaluate McMaster grades?
WES (World Education Services) evaluates Canadian transcripts primarily by converting the percentage grades to the US 4.0 GPA scale using its own conversion table. McMaster transcripts include percentage grades, so WES can evaluate them directly without relying solely on the 12-point grade value.
As a general reference: A+ (90–100%) → 4.0, A (85–89%) → 3.9, A− (80–84%) → 3.7, B+ (77–79%) → 3.3, B (73–76%) → 3.0, and so on (WES uses its own rounding). Always verify with WES directly if precision matters for your application.
Is McMaster's grading scale the same across all faculties?
The 12-point letter grade scale and percentage equivalents are standardised university-wide under the Senate Policy. However, academic continuation requirements, probation thresholds, and Dean's Honour List eligibility can vary by faculty. For example, Engineering and Health Sciences may enforce stricter minimum GPAs for progression.
Always confirm faculty-specific requirements via the McMaster Academic Calendar.
References: All grading data verified against the official McMaster Senate Policy on Grading Practices, McMaster Academic Calendar, and the McMaster University official website.
