Repeat & Grade Forgiveness Policies: What You Need to Know
How your school — and application services like LSAC and AMCAS — handle repeated courses can make a big difference in your GPA. Here's what each policy means and how to model it.
1. Grade Replacement (Most Common)
Under grade replacement, when you retake a course, only the new grade counts toward your GPA. The old grade remains on your transcript but is excluded from GPA calculation.
Example
You took Chemistry 101 and earned a D (1.0). You retake it and earn a B+ (3.3).
- With replacement: Only the B+ (3.3) counts — the D is excluded.
- Without replacement: Both the D and B+ count (averaged or summed).
Limitations to watch for:
- Most schools cap replacements at 2-3 retakes per course
- Some only replace grades below C
- Financial aid may not cover the retake
- Some schools only replace if the new grade is higher ("higher-only" replacement)
2. Count All Attempts (LSAC)
LSAC (Law School Admission Council) counts every grade earned, including all retakes. If you took a class twice — once earning a D and once earning an A — both grades factor into your LSAC GPA.
Why LSAC Does This
LSAC's philosophy is that law schools should see your complete academic record. Grade replacement may hide important patterns. The LSAC GPA often differs significantly from your transcript GPA.
Full LSAC, AMCAS & CASPA policy breakdown →
3. Higher-Only Replacement
Some schools only replace the original grade if the retake grade is higher. If you retake a B- and earn a C+, the B- stands. This protects your GPA from accidental drops on retakes.
4. Average Both Attempts
A less common policy where both the original and retake grades are averaged together. This is used at some international universities and occasionally for specific departmental policies.
5. Academic Forgiveness / Renewal
Academic forgiveness programs let students exclude an entire period of poor performance — usually after returning from a significant break (2+ years). This is different from course retakes:
- May exclude an entire semester or academic year
- Usually requires formal application to the registrar
- Credits from forgiven courses may not count toward the degree
- Application services (LSAC, AMCAS) will still count forgiven grades
Policy Comparison Table
| Policy | Original Counted? | Credits Double? | Impact | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Replace | No (excluded) | No | Highest boost | Most US colleges |
| Higher-Only | Only if retake is lower | No | Safe — can't hurt | Some state schools |
| Count All | Yes (both count) | Yes | Moderate boost | LSAC, some AMCAS |
| Average | Averaged with new | No | Smallest boost | Some international |
What Should You Do?
- Check your school's policy in the academic catalog or registrar's office.
- Consider application services — if you're applying to law or medical school, know that LSAC/AMCAS may recalculate your GPA differently.
- Use our calculator to model the impact before committing to a retake.
- Watch for limits — most schools cap retakes and may restrict financial aid.
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