Percentage to Letter Grade — What Letter Grade Is Your Score?

Percentage to Letter Grade — Quick Reference

You have a percentage. You want the letter grade. Here is the complete US grading scale used across most high schools and colleges:

How to use this table: Find the row that contains your percentage. The letter grade in that row is your grade. The GPA value shows how that grade contributes to your overall Grade Point Average on the standard 4.0 scale.

If you know your score on a test but not the percentage yet, use the free grade calculator — enter how many questions you got right and it converts your score to a percentage and letter grade instantly.

What Letter Grade Is 90%?

90% is an A−.

On the standard US grading scale, 90% falls in the A− range (90%–92.99%). It is the first percentage that earns an A-level grade. To reach a full A (without the minus), you need 93% or higher.

What 90% means in context:

• GPA value: 3.7 out of 4.0
• Academic standing: Strong — well above average
• Passing status: Yes — easily passing in all contexts
• College applications: A 90% average is competitive for most four-year colleges

Common scores that equal 90%:

• 18 out of 20 = 90% = A−
• 27 out of 30 = 90% = A−
• 45 out of 50 = 90% = A−
• 9 out of 10 = 90% = A−

What Letter Grade Is 85%?

85% is a B.

85% falls in the B range (83%–86.99%) on the standard US grading scale. It is a solid, above-average grade that reflects genuine understanding of the material.

What 85% means in context:

• GPA value: 3.0 out of 4.0
• Academic standing: Good — above average performance
• Passing status: Yes — passes all course requirements in high school and college
• Scholarships: Many scholarships require a 3.0 GPA minimum — an 85% average supports that threshold

Common scores that equal 85%:

• 17 out of 20 = 85% = B
• 34 out of 40 = 85% = B
• 85 out of 100 = 85% = B

Note: Some schools use a simplified grading scale without plus/minus distinctions. On those scales, 85% would simply be a B covering the entire 80%–89% range.

What Letter Grade Is 80%?

80% is a B−.

80% falls at the bottom of the B range on the plus/minus grading scale, earning a B− (80%–82.99%). On a simplified scale without plus/minus grades, 80% is a straight B.

What 80% means in context:

• GPA value: 2.7 out of 4.0
• Academic standing: Above average — solid passing grade
• Passing status: Yes — passes all high school and college requirements
• Major requirements: Typically meets C-or-above requirements for college major courses

Common scores that equal 80%:

• 16 out of 20 = 80% = B−
• 24 out of 30 = 80% = B−
• 40 out of 50 = 80% = B−
• 80 out of 100 = 80% = B−

What Letter Grade Is 75%?

75% is a C.

75% falls in the C range (73%–76.99%). It is an average grade that indicates a basic understanding of the material. It passes all standard requirements but sits in the middle of the academic scale.

What 75% means in context:

• GPA value: 2.0 out of 4.0
• Academic standing: Average — meets the minimum GPA threshold for most colleges
• Passing status: Yes — passes both high school and college courses
• Watch out: Some college programs require a C+ or higher for major courses — 75% meets the C requirement but not C+

Common scores that equal 75%:

• 15 out of 20 = 75% = C
• 30 out of 40 = 75% = C
• 75 out of 100 = 75% = C

What Letter Grade Is 70%?

70% is a C−.

70% falls at the very bottom of the C range on the plus/minus scale, earning a C− (70%–72.99%). On a simplified scale, 70% is a C.

What 70% means in context:

• GPA value: 1.7 out of 4.0
• Academic standing: Below average — technically passing but close to the D threshold
• Passing status: Yes — passes in all standard high school and college courses
• GPA impact: A 70% average translates to approximately a 1.7 GPA — below the 2.0 minimum required by most colleges for good academic standing

Common scores that equal 70%:

• 14 out of 20 = 70% = C−
• 21 out of 30 = 70% = C−
• 35 out of 50 = 70% = C−

What Letter Grade Is 65%?

65% is a D.

65% falls in the D range (60%–69.99%). It is a passing grade in most US high schools and colleges but represents the lowest level of acceptable performance.

What 65% means in context:

• GPA value: 1.0 out of 4.0
• Academic standing: Poor — significantly below average
• Passing status: Technically passing in most schools, but check your institution’s minimum
• College major courses: A D typically does not satisfy requirements for courses within your major — most programs require a C or higher
• GPA risk: Multiple D grades will push your GPA toward or below 2.0, risking academic probation

What Letter Grade Is 95%?

95% is an A.

95% falls in the A range (93%–96.99%) on the standard grading scale. It represents excellent academic performance and mastery of the material.

What 95% means in context:

• GPA value: 4.0 out of 4.0
• Academic standing: Excellent
• Passing status: Yes
• Note: 95% earns a full A, not an A+. To reach A+, you need 97% or higher.

What Letter Grade Is 100%?

100% is an A+.

A perfect score earns an A+, the highest grade on the standard US grading scale (97%–100%). A 100% demonstrates complete mastery of the assessed material.

Why Your Letter Grade Matters Beyond the Letter

Your percentage and letter grade affect more than just how a test looks on paper. Every grade you earn contributes to your GPA, which determines your academic standing, scholarship eligibility, college admission competitiveness, and in many programs, whether you can continue in your chosen major.

Understanding exactly where your percentage sits on the grading scale — and what it means for your GPA — helps you make smarter decisions about where to focus your effort.

Use the GPA calculator to see how your current grades translate to your cumulative GPA and what scores you need going forward to reach your academic goals.

What If Your School Uses a Different Grading Scale?

The grading scale on this page reflects the standard US grading scale used by the majority of American high schools and colleges. However, grading scales do vary.

Common variations:

• Some schools use 90% as the A cutoff (instead of 93%), meaning 90%–100% = A
• Some schools do not use plus/minus grades — 80%–89% is simply a B, not B+ or B−
• Some rigorous programs (pre-med, engineering, law) use stricter scales where an A may require 95% or higher

How to find your school’s exact scale: Check your course syllabus — your teacher or professor is required to specify the grading scale for their course. Your school’s student handbook or registrar’s office will also have the official institutional grading policy.

When in doubt, use the standard scale on this page as a reliable baseline. It is accurate for the vast majority of US students.

Frequently Asked Questions

What letter grade is 90%? 90% is an A− on the standard US plus/minus grading scale (90%–92.99%). To earn a full A without the minus, you need 93% or higher.

What letter grade is 85%? 85% is a B on the standard US grading scale (83%–86.99%). It is a solid above-average grade worth 3.0 GPA points.

What letter grade is 80%? 80% is a B− on the plus/minus scale (80%–82.99%). On a simplified scale without plus/minus grades, 80% is a straight B.

What letter grade is 75%? 75% is a C on the standard US grading scale (73%–76.99%). It is an average grade worth 2.0 GPA points.

What letter grade is 70%? 70% is a C− on the plus/minus scale (70%–72.99%). On a simplified scale, 70% is a C. It is a passing grade in most schools.

What letter grade is 65%? 65% is a D on the standard US grading scale (60%–69.99%). It technically passes in most schools but earns only 1.0 GPA points.

What letter grade is 95%? 95% is an A on the standard US grading scale (93%–96.99%). It is an excellent grade worth 4.0 GPA points.

What letter grade is 100%? 100% is an A+ — the highest grade on the standard US grading scale.

How do I convert a percentage to a letter grade? Find your percentage in the grading scale table above. The letter grade in that row is your grade. For test scores where you know the number right and wrong but not the percentage, use the grade calculator to convert instantly.