Repeat course planning
Retake GPA Calculator
Model your school’s repeat-course policy — grade replacement, both attempts counting, or averaging — and see the projected GPA change before you commit to a retake.
Your academic record
Include the original attempt of the repeated course.
Calculation Guide
How repeating a course changes your GPA
Retaking a course can raise a GPA quickly because the improved grade replaces, averages, or adds to the original attempt. Which of those three happens depends entirely on your school’s repeat policy.
This calculator models all three common policies from your current GPA, completed credits, and the old and new grades, so you can compare the effect before registering.
How to use the calculator
- 1
Enter your current record
Use the cumulative GPA and completed GPA credits from your transcript, including the original attempt.
- 2
Enter the repeated course
Add its credits, the original grade, and the grade you expect on the retake.
- 3
Select the repeat policy
Choose grade replacement, both attempts counting, or averaging, then compare the projected GPA change.
GPA formula
New GPA = adjusted total quality points / adjusted total credits
Replacement removes the old attempt quality points; dual counting adds a second set of points and credits; averaging swaps the old grade points for the average of both attempts while counting credits once.
Retake GPA example
A student with a 3.00 GPA over 60 credits repeats a 3-credit course, turning a D (1.0) into an A (4.0):
| Step | Quality points | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Current record | 180.0 | 60 |
| Remove old attempt | -3.0 | — |
| Add new attempt | +12.0 | — |
| New totals | 189.0 | 60 |
The projected GPA is 189 / 60 = 3.15, a gain of 0.15 — larger than the same A spread across new credits.
Retake policy checks
- Many schools cap the number or credits of replaced courses and may restrict replacement to the first retake.
- Both attempts usually remain visible on the transcript even when one is excluded from the GPA.
- Graduate programs and centralized application services often recalculate GPA with every attempt included.
Frequently asked questions
Which retake policy should I choose?
Use the policy printed in your school catalog or confirmed by the registrar. When in doubt, model all three and treat the range as the estimate.
Is it better to retake a course or take a new one?
Under grade replacement, retaking a low-grade course usually moves GPA more per credit than adding new courses, because the old quality points are removed. Compare both scenarios with this tool and the Target GPA planner.
Does the original grade disappear from my transcript?
Typically no. Most transcripts keep both attempts with notation; grade replacement usually affects only the GPA math.
Is the projected GPA official?
No. It is an estimate under the policy you select. The registrar repeat rules, attempt limits, and deadlines control the official record.