AMCAS Grade Conversion & Weighting Guide
Technical standards for the 2026 application cycle.
Calculated your GPA and it looks different than your transcript? That is because AMCAS uses a standardized weighting system to ensure fairness across all U.S. and Canadian universities. Below are the key conversion rules from the 2026 AMCAS® Applicant Guide.
1. Standard AMCAS Grade Weights
AMCAS uses a 4.0 scale. If your school uses a 4.33 or a percentage system, AMCAS will convert those grades based on the following weights:
| Letter Grade | AMCAS Weight | Letter Grade | AMCAS Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| A / A+ | 4.0 | C+ | 2.3 |
| A- | 3.7 | C | 2.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | C- | 1.7 |
| B | 3.0 | D+ | 1.3 |
| B- | 2.7 | F | 0.0 |
2. How the Math Works: Quality Points
AMCAS does not simply average your grades. To calculate your BCPM GPA, they use a weighted system. This ensures that a 4-credit Organic Chemistry lecture has a larger impact on your GPA than a 1-credit Biology lab.
The Official AMCAS Formula:
(Scroll right to view full formula on mobile →)
Step-by-Step Calculation Example
| Course | Grade (Weight) | Credit Hours | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genetics | A (4.0) | 3.0 | 12.0 |
| Physics II | B+ (3.3) | 4.0 | 13.2 |
| Chemistry Lab | A- (3.7) | 1.0 | 3.7 |
| TOTALS | 8.0 | 28.9 |
The Result: In this example, you divide 28.9 (Total Points) by 8.0 (Total Hours) to get an AMCAS GPA of 3.61.
3. AP and CLEP Credits
Advanced Placement (AP) and CLEP credits are common in BCPM categories (like Biology or Calculus). Here is how they impact your application:
- GPA Impact: AP credits are not included in your AMCAS GPA calculation.
- Credit Impact: They do count toward your total credit hours and fulfill prerequisite requirements.
- Entry Rule: List them under the first term of your freshman year. If your transcript doesn't assign a grade (e.g., just "CR" or "P"), select the "Advanced Placement" special course type.
4. Pass/Fail & Incompletes
Courses taken as Pass/Fail (P/F) or Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) follow specific 2026 rules:
- Passed Courses: These are listed as "Supplemental Hours." They fulfill requirements but do not influence your GPA numerical value.
- Failed Courses (P/F): Caution: A "Fail" (N or F) in a pass/fail system is treated as a 0.0. It is just as damaging as an 'F' in a graded course.
- Incompletes: An "I" grade has no effect until it is converted. However, if an Incomplete later becomes an "IF" (Incomplete-Fail), it will be retroactively calculated as a 0.0.
5. Study Abroad & Foreign Credits
Courses taken at foreign institutions (excluding most Canadian schools) are generally not verified by AMCAS. You must usually use a third-party evaluation service, and these grades are typically **not included** in the AMCAS GPA, though they appear on your application.
Calculate Your Verified GPA
Don't let manual math errors delay your application. Our tool applies these 2026 weights automatically.
Open Science GPA CalculatorGrade Conversion FAQ
Do 0.5 unit courses count differently?
AMCAS standardizes all units into Semester Hours. If your school uses a Quarter system, multiply your credits by 0.67. (e.g., 4 quarter hours = 2.7 semester hours). The AMCAS weight is then multiplied by these standardized hours.
What if my school uses a numerical 0-100 scale?
AMCAS uses specific conversion tables for percentage-based schools. Generally, a 93-100 is a 4.0, and an 89-92 is a 3.7. Our calculator uses the official 2026 AMCAS percentage-to-letter conversion logic.
How are Narrative Evaluations handled?
If your transcript *only* has narratives (no letter grades), these credits are listed but not factored into your GPA. However, if your school provides a "suggested" letter grade alongside the narrative, AMCAS will include that grade in your GPA.
Important for Science GPA:
All conversion rules above apply to both your Cumulative GPA and your BCPM (Science) GPA. If you fail a Pass/Fail Biology course, it will count as a 0.0 in your Science GPA.