Convert GPA to Percentage in Canada
Why a single GPA value means different things at different schools.
If you’ve ever tried to figure out “what percentage is a 3.7 GPA?”, you’ve probably noticed there’s no single answer. A 3.7 means something slightly different at UBC (4.33 scale) than it does at Western (4.0 scale) or York (9-point scale) — because each institution sets its own percentage bands for each grade point value.
Why There’s No Universal Formula
In the United States, GPA is fairly standardized around a 4.0 scale with widely-recognized percentage bands. Canada doesn’t have this consistency. Each university — sometimes each faculty within a university — sets its own grading scale, and those scales fall into several different “families”:
- 4.0 scale (A and A+ both = 4.0) — most common, used by University of Toronto, Western, McGill, and many others
- 4.33 scale (A+ = 4.33) — used by UBC, SFU, and Université Laval
- 4.3 scale (A+ = 4.3) — used by Queen’s, Concordia, Carleton, Dalhousie, and others
- 9-point scale (A+ = 9) — used by York, UVic, and University of Manitoba
- 12-point scale (A+ = 12) — used by McMaster
Because of this, “converting GPA to percentage” really means “converting GPA to percentage for a specific scale.” The reverse-lookup tables below are organized by scale family so you can find the right one for your situation.
Reverse Lookup: 4.0 Scale
For institutions like University of Toronto, Western, Waterloo, McGill, and most Alberta/Saskatchewan universities:
| GPA | Approximate Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 85-100% (A / A+) |
| 3.7 | 80-84% (A-) |
| 3.3 | 77-79% (B+) |
| 3.0 | 73-76% (B) |
| 2.7 | 70-72% (B-) |
| 2.0 | 63-66% (C) |
| 1.0 | 53-56% (D) |
Reverse Lookup: 4.33 Scale (UBC, SFU, Laval)
| GPA | Approximate Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| 4.33 | 90-100% (A+) |
| 4.0 | 85-89% (A) |
| 3.7 | 80-84% (A-) |
| 3.0 | 72-75% (B) |
| 2.0 | 60-63% (C) |
Reverse Lookup: 9-Point Scale (York, UVic, Manitoba)
| Grade Points | Approximate Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| 9 | 90-100% (A+) |
| 8 | 80-89% (A) |
| 7 | 75-79% (B+) |
| 6 | 70-74% (B) |
| 4 | 60-64% (C) |
Reverse Lookup: 12-Point Scale (McMaster)
| Grade Points | Approximate Percentage Range |
|---|---|
| 12 | 90-100% (A+) |
| 11 | 85-89% (A) |
| 9 | 77-79% (B+) |
| 8 | 73-76% (B) |
| 5 | 63-66% (C) |
The Easier Approach: Convert From Percentage Instead
If you already know your percentage grades (which is true for most Canadian students, since transcripts typically show percentages), it’s more accurate to convert from percentage to GPA using your specific institution’s scale — rather than working backwards from a GPA number, which only gives you a range.
The calculator above does exactly this: enter your percentages (high school mode) or select your grade letter and credits (university mode, with your specific institution’s scale applied), and get your precise GPA — no guessing from a range required.
Find Your School’s Specific Scale
- UBC GPA Calculator (4.33 scale)
- York GPA Calculator (9-point scale)
- McMaster GPA Calculator (12-point scale)
- Queen’s GPA Calculator (4.3 scale)
- Concordia GPA Calculator (4.3 scale)
Percentage ranges shown are general approximations based on common Canadian grading scale families and may not match every institution or faculty exactly. For your official GPA-to-percentage relationship, consult your institution’s grading policy or registrar.