100 vs. 4.0 GPA

A student’s grade point average (GPA) is one of the most important aspects of a college application when admissions officers make decisions. However, the way that GPA is calculated and measured varies significantly from school to school. Institutions may use many different scales, such as the 4.0 scale, which represents grades ranging from 0.0 (F) to 4.0 (A). The other most common system is the 100-point scale, which we use here at Gilman and in the Tri-School. What are the benefits and drawbacks of each of these systems?

The most notable difference between these two styles is that a 100-point scale has a greater range of possible values. A percentage-based grading system gives teachers and colleges more metrics to differentiate students. Accordingly, the 4.0 spectrum has fewer options. This scale usually only deals with whole letter grades, such as the difference between a C and an F. By contrast, the 100-point scale is more specific, as there is a distinction between whole letters, such as an A+, A, and A-. Despite the apparent differences between these two, there are ways to convert between them.

When trying to move from one scale to another, the standard conversion rate is that a 4.0 GPA is equivalent to 93% or above. However, College Counselor Mrs. Ross finds, “the median grade right now is around 92 to 93,” a figure that has increased tremendously with time. Therefore, if Gilman used a 4.0 scale, a considerable amount of students would have a 4.0. In this scenario, there would be no way for colleges to differentiate between the top 10% of the class and the top 50%. Because grades in our school are inflated to become arbitrarily close, a more accurate system is needed at Gilman.

Besides differences in perception, these two grading systems likely influence distinct learning styles. Due to the emphasis placed on an individual point, the 100-point system logically pushes students to focus on task completion, as grades will suffer with each point lost. Based on that reasoning, it also seems to punish students who need more time for mastery and promotes a ‘just enough points to pass’ mindset. On the other hand, because points start to become less important than mastery, a 4-point scale prioritizes growth over time. Since getting a few points wrong becomes more acceptable, using only letter grades can reasonably be seen to encourage understanding and development. However, that all depends much more on implementation as opposed to the grading system. Overall, the 4.0 spectrum and the 100-point scale have minor pros and cons, and different schools may benefit from one system over another. 

Here at Gilman, the 100-point grading system has been used for a long time and will likely be here to stay. There is only a marginal difference between the two styles, and neither of them provides an advantage when it comes to college admissions. As Mrs. Ross said, “It’s more about putting Gilman students within the context of Gilman, not comparing you to other high schools.” The most important thing to remember is that grades are not the most important part of school. Regardless of whether we use a 4-point scale or a 100-point scale, what we must truly focus on is the learning itself.