How to Use the Grade Point
Calculator
A Brief Description
What the calculator does
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The Grade Projection Calculator (GPC) is
designed to compute a student’s:
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Weighted GPA
Qualifying Points
Necessary Future GPA to stay in good
academic standing
Most importantly if the qualifying points
are negative the student is below the 2.5
minimum standard
A few important notes
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The (GPC) has many hidden formulas. Please
do not unhide the hidden rows as it will be
hard to read
If the columns of the GPC are to narrow it will
round decimals leading to inaccurate tallies.
If you think you affected something on the
GPC quit without saving and reopen or redownload the file
If there are any problems
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If there are any problems or concerns about the
GPC please contact me.
The best way to reach me is by e-mail or
calling Cathy Thornhill in the OIA office :
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RChellapilla@sgu.edu
Using the GPC Calculator
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I will try to make this PowerPoint as visual as
possible.
There is also a word file called Description of
Calculator for more detailed information on
the fields
In addition I am supposed to do a
demonstration on sonic foundry however this
is tentative at this time.
Using the GPC Calculator con't
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The only valid grades are A, B, C, F, and W
(use W for incomplete grades (I) as well. The
GPC is not case sensitive
The calculator is only to be used for student
admitted in term 2 or after term 2 as the new
minimums only apply to them.
The calculator is broken into 6 sections one for
each term. Each section begins with column
headlining and ends with a Blue border.
The fields of the GPC and an
Example
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To start, I will explain the first 3 fields of the GPC and what happens.
As stated the GPC is broken into 6 term sections each new term beginning with a
column heading.
The field you will use the most is the Enter Grade field, in addition you may use the
Retaken field it the student has retaken the course.
You will start by entering a grade into the enter grade column as shown on the
transcript. For incompete (I) use W.
Course Name
Course x
Course y
Course z
Enter Grade
Retaken
Example 1
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Now lets enter grades into fields below; I will use first term courses for this
example.
I have noted which column I am referring to. Remember there are many
hidden columns where formulas exist
For this student I have given him a B, C,F, and A respectively.
Course Name (col D)
Enter Grade (col E)
Histo Cell Bio
B
Anatomy
C
Biochemistry
F
Topics in medicine
A
Retaken (col G)
Example 1
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When you enter grades into col E, you will immediately notice that
numbers appear in col K, col O.
Col K – Simply tells the credits of the course, if you put a W into col E, no
credit value will be given.
Col O will tell you the GPA by subject.
Col V is why the GPC was made, it tells the qualifying points based on the
new standard. Notice that if the grade is a C or F the numbers are negative
i.e (-#)
The values are determined by the number of credits and the letter grade.
Course
Enter Grades
(col E)
Credits earned
(col (K)
GPA
(col O)
Qualifying PTS
per subject
(col V)
Histo
B
4
3
2
Anatomy
C
8
2
-4
Biochem
F
6
0
-15
Topics in med
A
1
4
0.5
Example 1
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Observe that I ommited col J, col L, and col T from the previous example. Also notice that
those columns are ‘walled off’ as the results for these columns are at the bottom of the term
section.
Usually between 5 to 8 rows below you will see the word “For Term:”
Directly under that you will see “For All Terms:”
In the cells right next to these fields a disply of what the totals are for the terms and for all
terms of the respective categories. Look at the example on the next page.
Course
Enter Grades
(col E)
Histo
B
Anatomy
C
Biochem
F
Topics in med
A
For term and For all terms:
(col J)
GPA
(col L)
Qualifying PTS per
subject (col T)
For Term
For Term
For Term
For All Terms
For All Terms
For All Terms
Example 1
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As you can see at the end of each section totals will appear once grades are entered.
As you can see this person has negative qualifying points i.e. (-15.5) qualifying points as a
total.
This means that she or he is below the minimum. This is confirmed by the GPA for the term.
The next 4 columns after the thin white divider will tell what GPA the student needs to
eliminate their negative qualifying point totals and return to the minimum of a 2.5 (see the
next slide)
Course
Enter
Grades
(col E)
For term and
For all terms:
(col J)
Credits earned
(col K)
GPA Tally
(col L)
GPA
(col O)
Qualifying PTS
totals (col T)
Qualify PTS
per subject (col
V)
Histo
B
4
3
2
Anatomy
C
8
2
-4
Biochem
F
6
0
-15
Topics in med
A
1
4
0.5
For Term
19
For Term
1.68
For Term
-15.5
For All Terms
19
For All Terms
1.68
For All Terms
-15.5
Example 1
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So as you can see all the results for the future projections are at the bottom
of the term section.
The GPA is weighted on the number of credits left.
On the next slide I will show what to do if a student Retakes the course
Course
Enter Grades
(col E)
Histo
B
Anatomy
C
Biochem
F
Topics in med
A
Future Projections
(Col Y)
GPA equired
(col Z)
Credit Tally (Col
AA)
Credits Left(col AB)
Future Projection
2.73
Credits Left
66
Example 2
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Now lets say the student who got an F in bio chem retakes the
course.
Simply enter the retaken into the adjacent cell as below the
calculator will update the results.
Course Name (col D)
Enter Grade (col E)
Histo Cell Bio
B
Anatomy
C
Biochemistry
F
Topics in medicine
A
Retaken (col G)
A
Example 2
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In this example the student retook the course which they failed and got an
A.
While this raises the student’s subject GPA for the subject back up to 2 it
does not erase their qualifying point deficit.
Course
Enter Grades
(col E)
Retake
For term and
For all
terms: (col J)
Histo
B
4
3
2
Anatomy
C
8
2
-4
Biochem
F
6
2
-6
Topics in med
A
1
4
0.5
A
Credits earned
(col K)
GPA Tally
(col L)
GPA
(col O)
Qualifying PTS
totals (col T)
Qualify PTS
per subject
(col V)
For Term
19
For Term
2.32
For Term
-6.5
For All
Terms
19
For All
Terms
2.32
For All Terms
-6.5
Example 2
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The student is now still below the 2.5 minimum however the
total has changed considerably.
Again the most notable fact of the new system is that the
student A does not cancel out their F.
Course
Enter
Grades
(col E)
Histo
B
Anatomy
C
Biochem
F
Topics in
med
A
Retake
Future
Projections
(Col Y)
GPA equired
(col Z)
Credit Tally
(Col AA)
Credits Left(col
AB)
Future
Projection
2.55
Credits Left
66
A
Example 3
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Now instead of giving the student an F they decide to
withdraw from the course
Course Name (col D)
Enter Grade (col E)
Histo Cell Bio
B
Anatomy
C
Biochemistry
W
Topics in medicine
A
Retaken (col G)
Example 3
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Now lets see an example of where a student
withdraws after they realize they are having
difficulties at mid term.
Course
Enter
Grades
(col E)
Retake
For term
and For all
terms: (col
J)
Credits earned
(col K)
GPA Tally
(col L)
GPA
(col O)
Qualifying PTS
totals (col T)
Qualify PTS
per subject
(col V)
Histo
B
4
3
2
Anatomy
C
8
2
-4
Biochem
W
6
I
0
Topics in med
A
1
4
0.5
For Term
13
For Term
2.46
For Term
-0.5
For All
Terms
13
For All
Terms
2.46
For All Terms
-0.5
Example 3
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Now for the future projections
As you can see withdrawal makes a big difference
Course
Enter
Grades
(col E)
Histo
B
Anatomy
C
Biochem
W
Topics in med
A
Retake
Future Projections
(Col Y)
GPA equired
(col Z)
Credit Tally
(Col AA)
Credits Left(col AB)
Future Projection
2.51
Credits Left
72
Example 4
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In this case the student is in good academic standing
As one can see the is an incentive to withdraw instead of failing and
retaking is far more compelling with the new criteria.
Course
Enter
Grades
(col E)
Retake
For term and
For all
terms: (col
J)
Histo
B
4
3
2
Anatomy
C
8
2
-4
Biochem
W
6
I
-6
Topics in med
A
1
4
0.5
A
Credits earned
(col K)
GPA Tally
(col L)
GPA
(col O)
Qualifying PTS
totals (col T)
Qualify PTS
per subject
(col V)
For Term
13
For Term
2.95
For Term
8.5
For All
Terms
13
For All
Terms
2..95
For All Terms
8.5
Question or Comments
Please E-mail me if you have any
question or comments
RChellapilla@sgu.edu