How this calculator works — formula, examples & limitations
Weighted vs unweighted, on the same transcript
The difference between weighted and unweighted GPA is the number of points added under this model. It is not a separate assessment of course quality or admission competitiveness. Schools may cap bonuses, exclude courses or use different grade-point tables; check your transcript rules.
Bonus points by class type
| Grade | Regular | Honors (+0.5) | AP / IB (+1.0) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A− | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Read the B row carefully: a B in an AP class carries the same weighted points as an A in a regular class. That's the design — weighting exists so students aren't punished for taking harder courses. Note the F row: most districts give no bonus to a failing grade, and this calculator follows that rule. Districts vary beyond this table too — some award +1.0 for Honors, some weight on a 4.5 cap, some only weight sophomore year up. Your counselor's handbook is the authority on your school's exact scheme.
Which number do colleges actually use?
Usually their own. Large universities recalculate every applicant's GPA from the transcript — commonly unweighted, academic-core courses only — and then evaluate rigor separately by counting your Honors/AP load against what your school offered. So the honest read is: unweighted GPA measures your grades, the weighted-minus-unweighted gap measures your schedule, and admissions wants both to be strong.Class rank, where your school reports it, is usually computed on the weighted figure, which is why two students with identical unweighted GPAs can sit many ranks apart.
Tracking across semesters
Your classes save in this browser automatically, on the same record theGPA calculator edits. At semester's end, archive the term in the cumulative GPA calculator and start the next one — by application season you'll have your 9th-through-11th-grade cumulative GPA rebuilt term by term, on both scales. If your GPA needs to climb junior year, theGPA raise calculator shows exactly what the remaining semesters have to deliver.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA grades every class on the same 4.0 scale. Weighted GPA adds difficulty bonuses — typically +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP or IB — so an A in AP Biology counts 5.0 instead of 4.0 and the scale tops out at 5.0. The same transcript often differs by 0.3–0.5 between the two.
How do I calculate my weighted high school GPA?
Convert each grade to points (A = 4.0, B+ = 3.3, etc.), add the class-type bonus (+0.5 Honors, +1.0 AP/IB — usually no bonus on an F), multiply by credits, and divide by total credits. An A in AP Bio, a B+ in Honors English and an A− in regular Algebra II = (5.0 + 3.8 + 3.7) ÷ 3 = 4.17 weighted.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Both — and often neither as your school reports them. Admissions offices commonly recalculate GPA on their own scale from your transcript, dropping non-academic courses and applying their own weights, so schedule rigor shows up separately from grades. The unweighted figure travels best for comparing across schools.
What does a weighted GPA of 4.2 mean?
Its meaning depends on the weighting rules. This calculator adds 0.5 for Honors and 1.0 for AP/IB under the model shown here. A single weighted average does not establish your letter grades, course rigor or admission prospects. The unweighted model ends at 4.0.