Pass/Fail & Grade Forgiveness GPA Calculator

Make smarter decisions about your grades. Compare the impact of taking a class Pass/Fail versus for a grade, or calculate the GPA boost from retaking a class.

GPA Impact Toolkit

Switch between tabs to analyze Pass/Fail decisions or Grade Forgiveness scenarios.

Course in Question

Enter details to see the comparison.
*Calculations assume your school uses a standard 4.0 scale and "Grade Replacement" policy for retakes.

Should You Take a Class Pass/Fail?

Many colleges allow students to take a certain number of elective courses as "Pass/Fail" (or Credit/No Credit). This means:

  • If you Pass: You get the credits, but the grade does not affect your GPA.
  • If you Fail: You get no credits, and it usually counts as an "F" (0.0) in your GPA (check your school's specific policy).

Strategy: Use the calculator above to see if your expected letter grade is lower than your current GPA. If it is, taking the class Pass/Fail might protect your GPA. If the grade is higher, taking the letter grade will boost your GPA.

How Grade Forgiveness Works

"Grade Forgiveness" or "Grade Replacement" policies allow you to retake a class you did poorly in.

  • Replacement: The new grade replaces the old grade in your GPA calculation. The old grade remains on your transcript but doesn't weigh down your GPA. This offers the biggest GPA boost.
  • Averaging: Some schools average the two grades together.

This calculator uses the Replacement method, which is the most common form of "forgiveness." By removing a "D" or "F" and replacing it with a "B" or "A," your GPA can jump significantly because you are removing negative weight while adding positive weight.