Padding for a grade point average

EASYA

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue **\"Padding for a grade point average\"** with the answer **\"EASYA\"**:\n\n*\"It's a term for a course that boosts your academic record—just add a little extra to 'GPA'.\"*\n\nThis hint:\n- Suggests the answer is related to improving grades.\n- Hints at modifying the abbreviation \"GPA\" (without outright saying it).\n- Uses \"add a little extra\" to imply the wordplay of inserting a letter.\n- Avoids repeating the original clue or giving away the answer directly."]

The clue **"Padding for a grade point average"** leads to the answer **"EASYA"** through a combination of wordplay and abbreviation. 1. **"Padding"** suggests adding something extra or unnecessary, often to inflate a result. In this case, it hints at adding an extra letter to a word. 2. **"Grade point average"** is commonly abbreviated as **"GPA"** in academic contexts. 3. The wordplay involves taking **"GPA"** and "padding" it with an extra **"E"** at the beginning, turning it into **"EASYA"** (pronounced "easy A," meaning an effortless top grade). Thus, the clue cleverly combines the idea of inflating a GPA with the phrase "easy A," leading to the answer **"EASYA."**