Why is GPA so inflated in some schools (especially in the US)?

I study in Europe, and something that really frustrates me is how different GPA systems are across countries and even schools. In some US schools, people get a 4.0 just for showing up, participating, and turning in homework. Meanwhile, at my school, you basically have to get 100% in every exam, test, and assignment in every subject just to get a 4.0 GPA equivalent.

To make it worse, in the U.S. it seems like getting 90% on a test is considered normal or even “average,” whereas here in Europe, if you score anything above 70%, you’re basically a genius. So obviously, GPAs look a lot higher on paper in the U.S., even though the grading is way more lenient.

It just feels unfair, like European students might be working harder and learning more, but we end up with lower GPAs that don’t reflect that. How do universities even compare international students fairly when the systems are so different?

Anyone else feel this? Or has any explanation?

Submitted June 22, 2025 at 06:24AM by vikjustagirl https://ift.tt/tSN6xl7