When jumping from elementary school to middle school, letter grades start to matter for the first time. Middle school (usually grades 6-8) uses a standard unweighted 4.0 scale to calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA). Under an unweighted scaling system, the difficulty of the class doesn't matter mathematically (an 'A' in advanced math equals 4.0, an 'A' in gym also equals 4.0).

Why 8th Grade is Crucial

While colleges won't look at your 7th grade math score, your high school counselors will. High schools use 8th grade transcripts to build your 9th grade schedule. Getting consistent A's and B's in middle school is the primary requirement for being placed on the track that leads to Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses later on.