How the Retake GPA Impact Is Calculated

The impact of a retake on your meðaleinkunn depends entirely on which policy your institution uses. There are two common policies in Iceland, and this calculator handles both.

Why the Credit Inertia Makes Retakes Less Powerful Late in a Degree

A key insight this calculator reveals: the more ECTS credits you have already earned, the smaller the GPA impact of any single retake. A student with 30 credits retaking a 6-credit course improves their GPA by (grade gain × 6/30) = 20% of the grade gain. A student with 150 credits gets only (6/150) = 4% of the grade gain per GPA point improved.

Edge Cases and Real Questions

I scored lower on the retake. What happens to my GPA?

Under the Replace policy, a lower retake grade will reduce your meðaleinkunn. Under the Average policy, the effective grade drops toward the lower end and still reduces your GPA. Many Icelandic institutions protect students from this by recording only the higher of the two grades, but this is not universal. Confirm with your faculty before registering for a retake.

Is it worth retaking a course just to clear a fail from my transcript?

A course fail (below 5.0) affects two things: your meðaleinkunn directly, and your graduation eligibility if the course is a required module. Even a small GPA improvement from replacing a 3.0 with a 5.0 is meaningful if it pushes you over a scholarship threshold. But if the course is an optional elective and your GPA is already above your target, the return on effort may be low.

My original grade was a 4.9. How much does clearing it help?

Very little in GPA terms if you replace it with a borderline pass (5.0 or 5.5). The gain is (5.0 − 4.9) × credits / total credits, which is tiny. The real benefit of clearing a near-fail is often academic standing, not GPA numbers. Use this calculator with different retake targets to see the GPA impact at 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 and decide what performance level is worth your time.

Can I retake a course I passed to improve my GPA in Iceland?

Most Icelandic universities only permit retakes for courses you failed. Retaking a passed course solely for GPA improvement is generally not allowed. Check with your faculty office. Some institutions allow one retake attempt regardless of original grade in specific circumstances.

What is the difference between a resit and a retake in Iceland?

A resit (endurtaka prófs) typically means sitting a new exam in the same course at the end of the semester or early in the next one, without re-attending lectures. A retake (endurtaka námskeiðs) usually means repeating the full course including coursework. The GPA impact and the policy governing grade recording may differ between the two. This calculator applies to both: enter your original grade, expected new grade, and the policy your institution uses.

How to Decide Whether a Retake Is Worth It

Ask these questions before registering:

• What is the GPA gain under my institution’s policy? (This calculator tells you.)
• Does the gain push me above a specific threshold (7.5 for scholarship, 6.5 for postgrad entry)?
• How many credits do I have? The higher the credit count, the smaller the GPA gain per retake.
• What grade do I realistically expect? Under averaging, a modest improvement gives half the replace gain.
• Is there a risk of scoring lower, and does my institution protect me from that?
• What is the opportunity cost? Could the time be spent improving grades in a higher-credit upcoming course instead?

Common Mistakes Students Make About Retakes

• Assuming the Replace policy applies when their faculty uses averaging
• Expecting a large GPA gain when they already have 150+ credits
• Retaking a low-credit elective when a high-credit core course would have more impact
• Registering for a retake without confirming the grade recording policy with their faculty
• Not checking whether their original grade can be replaced or only averaged

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a retake show up on my Icelandic transcript?

Yes. Both the original attempt and the retake are typically recorded on your transcript, along with the date of each. The grade that counts toward your meðaleinkunn is determined by your faculty’s policy. Admissions committees at international institutions will see both grades. This is normal for European transcripts and generally understood.

How many times can I resit a course at an Icelandic university?

Most institutions allow one formal resit attempt. If you fail the resit, you typically need to repeat the full course. Some faculties allow a second resit in exceptional circumstances (medical, compassionate). Check your institution’s student handbook (leiðbeiningar fyrir nemendur) for the exact rules.

If I retake and do worse, will my GPA drop?

It depends on your institution’s policy. Some Icelandic faculties record the higher of the two grades. Others record the most recent attempt. Others average both. If there is any risk of recording a lower grade, confirm explicitly with your faculty before registering. This is too important to assume.

Is a retake GPA gain worth more early in my degree?

Yes, significantly. With fewer credits on your record, each credit-point improvement has more proportional weight. A first-year student with 30 credits who retakes a 6-credit failed course can gain up to 0.70 GPA points from a strong retake. A third-year student with 150 credits gains at most 0.14 points from the same retake and same grade improvement.