The quick answer: on the most common US grading scale, a B is 80–89%. If your school uses plus and minus grades, a B- is usually 80–82%, a B is 83–86% and a B+ is 87–89%. On a 4.0 GPA scale, a B is worth 3.0 grade points. Cut-offs vary by school and even by teacher, so your syllabus always has the final say.
Already have your scores? Drop them into our grade calculator to get your percentage and letter grade in seconds, or use the test score calculator for a single quiz or exam.
Letter grade to percentage chart (US)
This is the plus/minus scale used by many US high schools and colleges. If your school only uses plain letters, every grade in a band (for example 80–89%) is simply a B.
| Letter grade | Percentage | GPA points (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0* |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 |
| A- | 90–92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 |
| B- | 80–82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 |
| C- | 70–72% | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66% | 1.0 |
| D- | 60–62% | 0.7 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
*Most colleges cap an A+ at 4.0, but a few award 4.3. Some schools also use a stricter scale where a B starts higher (for example 85–92%), so treat this chart as the typical version, not a universal rule.
What about Canada, the UK and Australia?
Outside the US, the same letter can mean a different percentage, and some countries do not use letters at all. Here are common university ranges (they vary by institution):
| Country | Grade | Typical percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (e.g. many Ontario universities) | B | 73–76% (B+ 77–79%, B- 70–72%) |
| UK universities | Upper Second (2:1) | 60–69% |
| Australia (many universities) | Credit (CR) | 65–74% |
So a 75% could be a C in a US class, a B in Canada, a 2:1-plus in the UK and a Distinction in parts of Australia. Always compare grades using the scale your own school publishes.
How to work out your letter grade
- Add up the points you earned.
- Divide by the total points possible.
- Multiply by 100 to get a percentage.
- Check whether your teacher rounds (for example 86.5% up to 87%) or not.
- Match the percentage to your school’s grading scale.
Worked examples
Example 1: a single test
You score 42 out of 50. 42 ÷ 50 = 0.84, and 0.84 × 100 = 84%. That is a B on the plain scale and also a straight B on the plus/minus scale (83–86%).
Example 2: when rounding matters
You score 26 out of 30. 26 ÷ 30 = 0.8667, which is 86.67%. Without rounding that is a B. If your teacher rounds to the nearest whole number, it becomes 87%, which is a B+. Same score, different grade, so it is worth asking how your class handles it.
Example 3: a weighted class grade
Your class counts homework 20%, tests 50% and the final 30%. You have 95% in homework, 78% in tests and 85% on the final.
- Homework: 0.20 × 95 = 19
- Tests: 0.50 × 78 = 39
- Final: 0.30 × 85 = 25.5
- Total: 19 + 39 + 25.5 = 83.5%, a B
Notice that a simple average of 95, 78 and 85 would be 86%, which hides how much the weaker test score pulls you down. Our guide on how to calculate a weighted grade goes deeper.
How many questions can you miss and still get a B?
Here is the maximum you can miss on an equally weighted test and still reach 80% (the bottom of the B range on a standard scale):
| Total questions | Correct needed for 80% | Questions you can miss |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 16 | 4 |
| 25 | 20 | 5 |
| 40 | 32 | 8 |
| 50 | 40 | 10 |
If you need a straight B (83%) on a plus/minus scale, the bar is higher. On a 40-question test, 33 correct is only 82.5%, so you need 34 correct (85%) and can miss just 6.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every class uses 90/80/70. Many do, but some use stricter cut-offs. Check the syllabus.
- Ignoring weights. A great homework average cannot fully cover weak tests if tests count for half the grade.
- Guessing the rounding rule. Some teachers round 89.5% up to an A-, others do not.
- Mixing up plus/minus GPA points. A B+ is usually 3.3, not 3.5.
- Comparing grades across countries directly. A Canadian B and a US B can cover different percentages.
Frequently asked questions
Is an 85 a B?
Yes. On the standard US scale, 85% is a B, and on a plus/minus scale it sits in the middle of the B range (83–86%).
Is 89.5% an A or a B?
It depends on rounding. If your teacher rounds to the nearest whole number, 89.5% becomes 90%, usually an A-. If not, it stays a B+.
Is a B a good grade?
A B shows solid understanding and is above average on most US scales. Straight B’s give you a 3.0 GPA. Whether that is “good enough” depends on your goals, since some honors programs and scholarships want higher. See what counts as a good GPA for typical benchmarks.
What GPA is a B+?
A B+ is usually 3.3 on a 4.0 scale, though a few schools use 3.33.
Want to turn your percentages into a GPA? Read how to convert a percentage to GPA, then check your semester with the GPA calculator.
Related guides
- How to Convert a Percentage to GPA (4.0, 5.0 and 10-Point Scales)
- How Many Questions Can You Miss and Still Get an A?
- How to Calculate Percentage of Marks (With Examples)
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