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grade point average

grade point average

14 3.2
A number that shows how well a student does in tests and classes, based on their marks
  • noun
  • /ɡreɪd pɔɪnt ˈævərɪdʒ/
  • US
translation icon : promedio de calificaciones
  • Your grade point average is calculated by dividing the total grade points earned by the credits attempted.
  • grade point average (GPA)
  • cumulative grade point average
  • high grade point average

The so we're not very interested in grade point average.

Examples

  • Students look for ways to raise their grade point averages to improve their range of college acceptances.

    Academic text (1994)
  • This contract states that you will maintain a 2.3 grade point average.

  • Your grade point average is extremely low.

  • The difference in grade point average was not significant over the same period of time.

    Academic text (2011)
  • You require your players to maintain a 2.3 grade point average.

  • The contract states that the players maintain a 2.3 grade point average.

  • It's embarrassing when your mother has a higher grade point average than you do.

  • I'm ranked third in our class for grade point average.

  • First-generation students report less social and academic satisfaction as well as a lower grade point average.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Twenty students were selected for HGL based on an established grade point average of 3.0 or greater and faculty recommendation.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

average
vsgrade point average
739 1.3

The usual level of something, often shown by a number

is a specific numerical student performance measure using grade points and credits
GPA
vsgrade point average
  • Specialized
46 3.4

A number that shows a student's average grades at school or college

is the full term rather than an abbreviated label
mean
vsgrade point average
  • Specialized
29 3.5

The average of a set of numbers

focuses on academic performance using total grade points divided by credits
arithmetic mean
vsgrade point average
  • Specialized
1 3.0

A number you get when you add numbers and divide by how many numbers there are

uses credits as the divisor rather than just the simple count

Surface Forms

Morphology

grade + point + average

The phrase 'grade point average' is directly compositional: it denotes the average of 'grade points' (where 'grade' = academic mark and 'point' = scoring unit) and thus a learner who knows the constituent words can reconstruct its meaning. This is a common, cross-linguistic academic concept and follows standard noun–noun–noun composition, so a B1 learner familiar with the words is likely to understand it.

Etymology

Grade point average comes from a simple school practice: teachers turn each grade (like A, B, C) into a point number and then find the average of those points. So, the phrase means the 'average' number that shows a student's 'school performance'.