Does retaking a course replace the original grade?

That depends on the institution and purpose of the calculation. Some schools replace the first grade, some retain both attempts, and some use the higher grade. Professional application services may recalculate all attempts even when a college transcript uses forgiveness.

What does both attempts count mean?

The original course remains in the current GPA and the repeat attempt is added as another graded course with its own credits and quality points.

What does latest grade replacement mean?

The original quality points are removed and the newest attempt's quality points take their place. This calculator keeps the original course credits in the denominator rather than counting the course twice.

What does highest grade replacement mean?

The calculator compares the original and repeated grade points and retains whichever attempt is higher. A lower repeat grade therefore does not reduce this result.

Can I enter plus and minus grades?

Yes. Enter the exact numeric value used by the relevant grading scale, such as 3.70 or 3.67 for a B+, rather than relying on a universal plus/minus conversion.

Do AMCAS, AACOMAS, CASPA, or LSAC honor grade replacement?

Many centralized application services apply their own transcript-standardization rules and commonly include repeated attempts. Use the dedicated professional GPA calculator and current service instructions for the application you are preparing.

Why might my official GPA differ from this result?

Institutions may restrict which courses qualify, exclude credits differently, cap repeat attempts, treat withdrawn or failed courses specially, or display an adjusted GPA separately from the transcript GPA.

Retake and Grade-Replacement Tool

Repeated Course GPA Calculator

Compare how course repeats change your GPA under averaging and grade-replacement policies.

Calculator

Compare repeated-course GPA policies

Start with a transcript GPA that already includes each original attempt, then enter the new repeat grades.

Current transcript

Current cumulative GPACurrent GPA creditsGPA scale maximum

Course creditsOriginal grade pointsRepeat grade points

Enter the numeric grade points from the applicable scale, such as 4.00 for A, 3.00 for B, 2.00 for C, 1.00 for D, or 0.00 for F on a standard 4.0 scale. Exact plus/minus values can be entered when your policy uses them.

The three repeated-course GPA treatments are compared beside the calculator

Policy comparison

Repeated-course GPA results

Both attempts count

52 total GPA credits

2.86

+0.11 from current GPA

Latest grade replaces

Original attempt removed

3.06

+0.31 from current GPA

Highest grade replaces

Higher attempt retained

3.06

+0.31 from current GPA

Use the result matching the institution or application service reviewing your record. A transcript notation does not always mean an original grade is excluded from every recalculation.

About This Repeated Course GPA Calculator

This Repeated Course GPA Calculator shows how retaking one or more classes can change your cumulative GPA. It compares an all-attempts GPA with latest-grade and highest-grade replacement results using the exact credits and grade points entered.

The comparison matters because a college's transcript GPA and an application service's recalculated GPA may treat the same repeat differently. Therefore, use the result that matches the current policy for your school, scholarship, major, graduate program, or centralized application service.

How to Use the Repeated Course GPA Calculator

Follow these steps for an accurate Repeated-Course GPA result

1Enter Your Current Transcript GPA

Use the cumulative GPA and GPA credits that already include the original course attempts you plan to repeat.

2Add Each Repeated Course

Enter the course credits, original grade points, and grade points earned or expected on the repeat attempt.

3Compare the Three Policies

Review the cumulative GPA when both attempts count, when the latest grade replaces the original, and when only the highest grade is retained.

4Confirm the Applicable Rule

Use your registrar, program, or application service policy to identify which estimate applies to the record being reviewed.

Three Ways Repeated Courses May Be Counted

Both attempts count

The original grade stays in the GPA and the repeated attempt adds new credits and quality points. This is common in external transcript recalculations.

Latest grade replaces

The newest grade substitutes for the original grade, even when the newest result is lower. Eligibility restrictions may still apply.

Highest grade replaces

Only the stronger of the original and repeat grades contributes. Some policies instead replace only the first eligible attempt.

Always distinguish between grade forgiveness on your institutional transcript and an external GPA recalculation. The original grade can remain visible and count elsewhere even when your school excludes it from its own cumulative GPA.

For example, review the AAMC's official explanation of grades included in AMCAS GPAs and LSAC's transcript summarization rules. Both demonstrate why an external GPA may count repeats differently from a college's own GPA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about calculating GPA at Repeated Course GPA Calculator

It starts from a cumulative GPA that includes the original attempts. It then adds each repeat under an all-attempts policy or removes the original quality points and substitutes the applicable repeated grade under a replacement policy.

Still have questions?

For official GPA rules and academic policies, contact the Repeated Course GPA Calculator Registrar's Office or your academic advisor.

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