What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?

An unweighted GPA treats all courses the same on a 4.0 scale. A weighted GPA gives bonus points for more challenging courses, AP, IB, and Honors, so the resulting GPA can exceed 4.0 and reflects how demanding your schedule was, not just what grades you earned. Common weighted scales go up to 5.0 for AP and IB courses.

How much does an AP class boost my GPA?

Most weighted GPA systems add 1.0 grade point for AP and IB classes and 0.5 for Honors. An A in an AP class counts as 5.0 on a 5.0 scale instead of 4.0. A B in an AP class (base 3.0 + 1.0 boost = 4.0) equals an A on the regular scale.

Do colleges use weighted or unweighted GPA?

Colleges vary. Many recalculate applicant GPAs using their own scale and often strip course-type boosts. However, your weighted GPA still signals course rigor to admissions offices, and the courses you took carry as much weight as the number itself. Selective schools often review your transcript course by course rather than relying solely on a single GPA figure.

What if my school uses percentage grades instead of letters?

Enter the letter-grade equivalent. Most grading scales convert 90-100% to A, 80-89% to B, 70-79% to C. Some schools use finer breakdowns (93-100 = A, 90-92 = A-). Select the custom grading scale option in the settings to match your school's exact cutoffs. If your school uses a 100-point scale with unusual thresholds, check your student handbook or transcript key before converting.

Does course type affect credit hours?

No, credit hours are the same regardless of course type. The boost applies to the grade-point value, not to how many credits the course earns. A 3-credit AP course and a 3-credit regular course carry the same weight in the denominator. The only difference is that the AP course converts, say, a B (3.0) to a boosted 4.0 before multiplying by credits.

Can I include a course I am currently in progress on?

Yes. Enter your current grade or projected grade. The calculator will show you the GPA at that grade level. Run the calculation with your target grade to see what you need to finish the semester at a specific GPA. This is especially useful for identifying which in-progress course has the biggest impact on your cumulative GPA if you raise or lower your final grade.

Weighted GPA Calculator

Compute semester GPA with credit hours, letter or percent grades, and Honors or AP boosts.

GPA settings

GPA scaleHonors boostAP / IB boost

Courses

CourseGradeCreditsType

Weighted semester GPA

4.00

on 4.0 scale

Unweighted GPA

3.63

4.0 scale, no boosts

Boosts applied: Honors +0.5, AP/IB +1. Points cap at 4 for weighted rows.

Course breakdown

Course	Grade	Base	Weighted	Credits	Share
English	A	4	4	3	30%
US History	A-	3.7	4	3	30%
AP Biology	B+	3.3	4	4	40%

GPA by course

GPA rules vary by school. Confirm boosts and letter cutoffs with your registrar or counselor.

How this tool works

The weighted GPA calculator computes a GPA that awards additional grade points for advanced coursework. Weighted scales add 0.5 grade points for honors courses and 1.0 for AP or IB courses to the standard 4.0 conversion: an A in an AP course = 5.0 (4.0 + 1.0), a B in an honors course = 3.5 (3.0 + 0.5). Formula: Weighted GPA = Sum of (Weighted Grade Points x Credit Hours) / Total Credit Hours. The tool computes both weighted and unweighted (standard 4.0) GPA side by side from the same course list. It also computes Core GPA, which includes only the core academic subjects (English, math, science, social studies, foreign language) and excludes electives -- the figure most college admissions offices review for academic rigor. Key assumption: the tool uses the most common AP/honors weighting (0.5 honors, 1.0 AP/IB). Some school districts apply different bonus amounts; update the bonus values in the settings panel to match your school's published scale. Edge case: many colleges recalculate GPA on their own unweighted scale during review, effectively removing the honors and AP bonuses. Always report both the weighted and unweighted GPA separately on applications, since some admissions reviewers use the unweighted figure for cross-applicant comparison. The weighted GPA matters most when it appears on official transcripts alongside the course rigor notation.

Worked example

Total weighted points: 20.0 + 9.9 + 12.6 + 4.0 = 46.5 Total credits: 11 Weighted GPA: 46.5 / 11 = 4.23 Unweighted (same courses, no boosts): (4.0 x 4 + 3.3 x 3 + 3.7 x 3 + 4.0 x 1) / 11 = 3.76 The difference, 0.47 GPA points, shows the value of the rigorous course load.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA treats all courses the same on a 4.0 scale. A weighted GPA gives bonus points for more challenging courses, AP, IB, and Honors, so the resulting GPA can exceed 4.0 and reflects how demanding your schedule was, not just what grades you earned. Common weighted scales go up to 5.0 for AP and IB courses.
How much does an AP class boost my GPA?
Most weighted GPA systems add 1.0 grade point for AP and IB classes and 0.5 for Honors. An A in an AP class counts as 5.0 on a 5.0 scale instead of 4.0. A B in an AP class (base 3.0 + 1.0 boost = 4.0) equals an A on the regular scale.
Do colleges use weighted or unweighted GPA?
Colleges vary. Many recalculate applicant GPAs using their own scale and often strip course-type boosts. However, your weighted GPA still signals course rigor to admissions offices, and the courses you took carry as much weight as the number itself. Selective schools often review your transcript course by course rather than relying solely on a single GPA figure.
What if my school uses percentage grades instead of letters?
Enter the letter-grade equivalent. Most grading scales convert 90-100% to A, 80-89% to B, 70-79% to C. Some schools use finer breakdowns (93-100 = A, 90-92 = A-). Select the custom grading scale option in the settings to match your school's exact cutoffs. If your school uses a 100-point scale with unusual thresholds, check your student handbook or transcript key before converting.
Does course type affect credit hours?
No, credit hours are the same regardless of course type. The boost applies to the grade-point value, not to how many credits the course earns. A 3-credit AP course and a 3-credit regular course carry the same weight in the denominator. The only difference is that the AP course converts, say, a B (3.0) to a boosted 4.0 before multiplying by credits.
Can I include a course I am currently in progress on?
Yes. Enter your current grade or projected grade. The calculator will show you the GPA at that grade level. Run the calculation with your target grade to see what you need to finish the semester at a specific GPA. This is especially useful for identifying which in-progress course has the biggest impact on your cumulative GPA if you raise or lower your final grade.