Is either a B+ or an A- considered a terrible grade? If I received a B+ for two essays that I was assigned and then an A- for another, will these grades ultimately cause a decrease in my GPA? I want to enter into either a film or art college, and I want to retain my 4.0 GPA when I do.

Your final grade in a class is made up of assignments and tests. We have no way of knowing how your teacher will figure these essays into your final grade.

Please talk with her/him about your grade.

Alright. However, in your own opinion as a teacher, would you consider these grades to be terrible?

I told you before. Those grades are above average so they are good grades.

To determine whether a B+ or an A- is considered a "terrible" grade and how it will affect your GPA, we need to understand the grading scale and how GPAs are calculated.

Grading scales can vary across different educational institutions, but generally, they follow a standard range from A+ to F, with each grade point being assigned a numerical value. For example:

A+ or 4.0
A or 4.0
A- or 3.7
B+ or 3.3
B or 3.0

To calculate your GPA, you need to multiply the grade points for each course by the credit hours assigned to that course, add them all together, and divide by the total credit hours.

Now, let's address your specific scenario. If you received a B+ for two essays and an A- for another, we need to know the credit hours assigned to each essay to determine the impact on your GPA. Most essays are typically worth fewer credit hours compared to a full course, so their impact on your GPA might be relatively smaller.

Assuming all three essays have the same weight, for example, 1 credit hour each, here's how you can calculate the GPA impact:

1. Assign numerical values to the grades (based on the grading scale mentioned above):
B+ = 3.3
A- = 3.7

2. Calculate the weighted grade points:
Grade point for the first B+ = 1 (credit hours) x 3.3 (grade value) = 3.3
Grade point for the second B+ = 1 (credit hours) x 3.3 (grade value) = 3.3
Grade point for the A- = 1 (credit hours) x 3.7 (grade value) = 3.7

3. Calculate the total grade points:
Total grade points = 3.3 + 3.3 + 3.7 = 10.3

4. Determine the total credit hours of the three essays (in this example, 3 credit hours).

5. Calculate the GPA:
GPA = Total grade points / Total credit hours = 10.3 / 3 = 3.43

If you have a 4.0 GPA currently and want to maintain it, a GPA of 3.43 may cause a slight decrease. However, keep in mind that this calculation is based on the assumption that all three essays carry equal weight.

It's essential to consult your school's specific grading scale and GPA calculation methods to get a more accurate understanding of how your grades will affect your GPA. Additionally, remember that different colleges may have varying GPA requirements for admission into their film or art programs. It's important to research the GPA requirements of the specific colleges you are interested in to determine the target GPA you need to maintain.