The Chart 

This is a line chart showing one student’s term GPA over time. Each point is that student’s GPA for a given term, and the line connects the points, so you can see the pattern across semesters instead of treating each term as an isolated result. For advisors, this kind of simple line is helpful because it visually separates “a rough term” from “a consistent downward slide,” which can change the kind of conversation you have with the student. 

What It Answers 

Is this student experiencing repeat spring term struggles that should shape our advising and support plan? 

Read left to right and look for the shape of the line. Here, the student starts at a solid 3.0 in Fall 2022, drops sharply to 1.4 in Spring 2023, rebounds strongly to 3.3 in Fall 2023, dips again in Spring 2024, and recovers to just over 3.1 in Fall 2024. The pattern is not random. Fall terms are strong, and spring terms are weaker. In an advising meeting, this suggests targeted questions about what changes in spring: course load, work hours, health, or family responsibilities.  

Try it Yourself 

To build this view, start with a student-term dataset that includes student ID, term, and term GPA. Filter to one student and sort the terms chronologically. Create a line chart of term GPA by term, keep the y axis consistent with your grading scale (for example 0.0 to 4.0), and add data labels on each point.