China does not have one university GPA formula that can be converted to a U.S. 4.0 scale with a national table. Universities publish different internal grade bands and GPA rules, and a receiving institution controls what an applicant must report.
A named example: Peking University
Peking University's undergraduate grading regulation defines an internal course-grade formula for covered percentage courses:
course grade point = 4 − 3(100 − X)² ÷ 1600
for 60 ≤ X ≤ 100, with values below 60 receiving zero grade points under the rule. Course credit grade points are course grade points multiplied by credits, and GPA is calculated from the included credit totals.
This is a PKU internal rule. It is not a China-to-U.S. credential conversion and should not be applied to another university's transcript.
Different universities use different tables
Tsinghua's grading-policy notice documents its own transition to letter grading. Shanghai Jiao Tong's undergraduate grade table publishes another institutional rule, including A+ and A bands with its own point values.
These named policies show why statements such as “85 always equals 3.0” or “90 always equals 4.0” are unsupported.
Build an issuer record
| Field | Entry |
|---|---|
| University and faculty | ____ |
| Credential level | ____ |
| Cohort or effective year | ____ |
| Original average or GPA | ____ |
| Original scale | ____ |
| Transcript legend URL | ____ |
| Credits or units | ____ |
| Repeat and failure rule | ____ |
Do not describe a university as practicing grade inflation or deflation without a defined dataset and source.
Follow the recipient's instruction
The University of Maryland Graduate School provides an example of a recipient allowing applicants to report GPA on the original institution's scale. Other applications may calculate internally or require a named evaluator.
If a 4.0 conversion is not requested, preserve the original value and scale. If an evaluation is required, use the report type and service accepted by that recipient.
Planning example
You may use PKU's formula to reproduce a PKU record only when the cited regulation applies. Calculate each covered course first, multiply by credits, then divide by included credits. Do not convert an already averaged percentage using one final formula unless the official rule says to do that.
FAQ
Is the PKU formula a U.S. GPA conversion?
No. It is PKU's internal grade-point rule.
Is there one Chinese 100-point grading table?
No reliable country-wide table is established by these sources. Use the issuing university's current regulation.
Should I submit a self-converted 4.0 GPA?
Only when the application requests a conversion and supplies or accepts the method. Otherwise report the original scale as instructed.