How to Raise Your QPI: A Term-by-Term Guide

Because QPI is a weighted average, improving it is less about “trying harder in general” and more about understanding which courses move the number the most — and planning accordingly. If you need a refresher on the formula itself first, start with our complete guide to QPI.

1. Understand which courses have the most leverage

Since QPI weights each course by its units, a strong grade in a 5-unit course affects your QPI far more than the same grade in a 1-unit elective. Before a term starts, look at your unit load and prioritize your effort toward your highest-unit courses.

2. Know your school’s policy on retakes

Many universities let you retake a course to replace or supplement a low grade in your cumulative QPI calculation. Policies vary widely — some replace the old grade entirely, others average the two attempts — so check your registrar’s retake policy before assuming a retake will “erase” a low grade.

3. Watch your unit load, not just your grades

Taking on too many units in a single term to “catch up” can backfire if it drops your grades across the board. Use the QPI Calculator to model different scenarios: try entering your planned courses and grades for next term to see how they’d affect your cumulative QPI before you commit to a course load.

4. Triage mid-term

If you can see your standing partway through a term (via quizzes, midterms, or a professor’s grading breakdown), estimate your likely final grade in each course and plug it into the calculator’s breakdown. This tells you which specific course would benefit most from extra focus in the weeks that remain.

5. Don’t chase a number at the expense of learning

QPI is a useful summary statistic, but it’s a proxy — not the goal itself. Prioritizing genuine understanding in foundational courses tends to pay off both in your QPI and in how well-prepared you are for later, harder coursework that builds on them.

Model your next term

Use the QPI Calculator to test different grade and unit scenarios before you register, or check out QPI Meaning for a refresher on exactly how the number is computed.