How do I set a realistic range for an open course?

Use Highest Possible Course Grade and a reasonable worst case for that course's own maximum and minimum, rather than the theoretical A-to-F scale.

What if all my courses are locked in?

The lower and upper bound will be identical, since there is no remaining uncertainty left in your semester.

What if all my courses are still open?

Leave the locked-in section empty; the range is computed from your open courses alone.

How is this different from GPA Scenario Comparison?

GPA Scenario Comparison compares a few named flat-GPA plans; this tool computes the full mathematical bounds from per-course ranges instead.

Can I narrow the range as the semester progresses?

Yes; recalculate as more courses become locked in, narrowing the range naturally toward a single final GPA.

What GPA range is still possible with some grades locked in?

Enter each course that already has a final grade locked in, then each remaining course with a realistic minimum and maximum quality-point range. This reports the full semester GPA range those open courses could still produce.

Need your next decision? GPA Scenario Comparison

How we calculated this

Locked-in courses contribute a fixed quality-point total; each open course contributes its own minimum and maximum quality points, aggregated (M-04) at each extreme across all credits together. Using the example values above (3 locked credits at 4.0, and 3 remaining credits ranging from 3.0 to 4.0), the semester GPA range is 3.5 to 4.0.

Locking a course's grade (by setting its minimum and maximum to the same value) collapses only that course's own contribution to a fixed point, without affecting any other open course's range.

Limitations

This range depends entirely on the minimum and maximum you enter for each open course being realistic; an unrealistically wide range produces a misleadingly wide GPA range. It does not predict which specific outcome within the range is likely, only the mathematical bounds.

Common mistakes

A common error is setting a course's minimum grade far below what is actually still possible given work already completed, which makes the lower bound of the GPA range look worse than reality. Another is forgetting to include a locked-in course at all, which understates the true GPA range since its fixed contribution is missing entirely.

Frequently asked

How do I set a realistic range for an open course?: Use Highest Possible Course Grade and a reasonable worst case for that course's own maximum and minimum, rather than the theoretical A-to-F scale.
What if all my courses are locked in?: The lower and upper bound will be identical, since there is no remaining uncertainty left in your semester.
What if all my courses are still open?: Leave the locked-in section empty; the range is computed from your open courses alone.
How is this different from GPA Scenario Comparison?: GPA Scenario Comparison compares a few named flat-GPA plans; this tool computes the full mathematical bounds from per-course ranges instead.
Can I narrow the range as the semester progresses?: Yes; recalculate as more courses become locked in, narrowing the range naturally toward a single final GPA.

Next decision

To compare a few specific named GPA scenarios instead of a full range, see GPA Scenario Comparison.

For why a GPA range is a more honest mid-term answer than one guessed number, read Locked Grades and a Real GPA Range.