Understanding the Mercer GPA Calculator
The Grade Point Average (GPA) is a crucial metric used by universities like Mercer to assess a student's academic performance. It provides a standardized way to compare the academic achievements of students. The GPA is calculated based on the grades a student receives in their courses and the credit hours associated with those courses.
How it Works:
At Mercer, and most institutions, the GPA is calculated using a simple formula:
GPA = Total Grade Points Earned / Total Credits Attempted
- Total Credits Attempted: This is the sum of all credit hours for courses you have officially enrolled in, regardless of whether you passed, failed, withdrew, or received a pass/fail grade.
- Total Grade Points Earned: This is calculated by multiplying the grade points assigned to each letter grade by the credit hours for that course, and then summing these values across all your completed courses. For example, an 'A' might be worth 4.0 grade points, a 'B' 3.0, and so on. If you earn an 'A' in a 3-credit course, you earn 3 credits * 4.0 points/credit = 12 grade points for that course.
This calculator simplifies the process. You just need to input your total attempted credits and the total grade points you have accumulated. The calculator will then provide your current GPA.
Example:
Let's say a student has attempted a total of 60 credit hours and has earned a total of 180 grade points. Using the formula:
GPA = 180 Grade Points / 60 Credits Attempted = 3.0
Therefore, the student's GPA is 3.0.
function calculateMercerGPA() {
var creditsAttempted = parseFloat(document.getElementById("creditsAttempted").value);
var gradePoints = parseFloat(document.getElementById("gradePoints").value);
var resultElement = document.getElementById("result");
if (isNaN(creditsAttempted) || isNaN(gradePoints)) {
resultElement.innerHTML = "Please enter valid numbers for both fields.";
return;
}
if (creditsAttempted <= 0) {
resultElement.innerHTML = "Total Credits Attempted must be greater than zero.";
return;
}
var gpa = gradePoints / creditsAttempted;
resultElement.innerHTML = "Your Mercer GPA is:
" + gpa.toFixed(2) + "";
}
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