A B+ sits at the top of the B range, just below an A−. On the most common U.S. grading scale, a B+ is 87% to 89%, and on a standard 4.0 GPA scale it is worth 3.3 grade points. That short answer covers most classes, but scales do vary, and the more useful question is often "how close am I to the next grade, and what do I need to stay here?" This guide answers both, with worked examples.
Your syllabus is always the final word. Teachers and schools set their own cutoffs, so check yours before relying on any chart.
The short answer
On the common plus/minus scale (the one GradeCalc Lab uses):
| Letter | Percent | GPA (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 |
So 87%, 88% and 89% are all a B+ on this scale. An 86% is a B, and a 90% is an A−. The full chart from A+ to F is on our letter grade scale page.
B+ on other grading scales
Not every school uses the same cutoffs. Common variations include:
- No plus or minus grades. Many schools simply use A = 90–100, B = 80–89, and so on. In that system there is no B+; an 88% is just a B, worth 3.0.
- Different cutoffs. Some schools and teachers use narrower or shifted ranges, so the B+ band might start or end a point or two away from 87–89%. Your syllabus or student handbook lists the exact numbers.
- Different grade points. Most 4.0 scales give a B+ 3.3, but some institutions use 3.33 or another nearby value. Check your school's GPA policy.
- Weighted classes. In high schools that weight honors, AP or IB courses, a B+ in one of those classes may count for more than 3.3 in a weighted GPA. Our post on weighted vs unweighted GPA explains how that works.
Check your weighted grade or what you need on the final — free, in your browser.
Open the free grade calculator →How to tell if you have a B+
First, get your grade as a percentage. In a points-based class, it is simply:
- Grade % = points earned ÷ points possible × 100
Example: you have 435 points out of 500. 435 ÷ 500 = 0.87, so your grade is 87%, a B+.
In a weighted class, each category (homework, quizzes, tests, final) counts for a set share. Multiply each category average by its weight and add them up.
Example: homework 95% (weight 20%), quizzes 85% (weight 30%), tests 86% (weight 50%).
- 95 × 0.20 = 19.0
- 85 × 0.30 = 25.5
- 86 × 0.50 = 43.0
- Total = 19.0 + 25.5 + 43.0 = 87.5%, a B+
Notice that averaging the three numbers without weights would give about 88.7%, a different answer. See how weighted grades work and our guide to calculating a grade percentage for more detail, or let the grade calculator do the math.
How close is a B+ to an A−?
On the common scale, the line between B+ and A− is 90%. From an 87% you need three more percentage points; from an 89% you need just one. How hard that is depends on how much of the grade is still to come.
Example 1: Points left in the semester
You have 392 out of 450 points so far (about 87.1%), and 50 points remain. The course total is 500 points.
- For an A− (90%), you need 0.90 × 500 = 450 points. You would need 450 − 392 = 58 of the remaining 50, which is not possible without extra credit.
- To keep your B+ (87%), you need 0.87 × 500 = 435 points, so 43 of the remaining 50 (86% on what is left).
That is useful information: your effort should go into protecting the B+ rather than chasing an A− that is out of reach.
Example 2: A weighted final exam
Your current grade is 88% and the final is worth 25% of your grade. The rest of the course (75%) is already graded. Use this formula:
- Needed on final = (target − current × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight
For an A− (90%): (90 − 88 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = (90 − 66) ÷ 0.25 = 96%.
To keep a B+ (87%): (87 − 66) ÷ 0.25 = 84%.
To stay at least a B (83%): (83 − 66) ÷ 0.25 = 68%.
So a 96% on the final would lift this student to an A−, an 84% keeps the B+, and anything from 68% to just under 84% lands in the B range. Our final exam grade page and the post on what you need on your final walk through more cases.