Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA treats every class the same. A weighted GPA gives extra points for harder classes, so it can go above 4.0.
The difference at a glance
| Unweighted | Weighted | |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | 0 to 4.0 | Usually 0 to 5.0 |
| A in a regular class | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| A in an honors class | 4.0 | 4.5 (common rule) |
| A in an AP or IB class | 4.0 | 5.0 (common rule) |
| Used by | Most colleges, many high schools | Many high schools for class rank |
What is a weighted GPA?
A weighted GPA rewards course difficulty. Schools add a bonus to the grade points of advanced classes before averaging. The most common bonus is 0.5 points for honors and 1.0 point for AP, IB and dual-enrollment classes. Schools set their own rules, so a 4.3 at one school is not directly comparable with a 4.3 at another.
What is an unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA uses the plain 4.0 scale: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0. A straight-A student has a 4.0 whether the classes were regular or AP. It is the easier number to compare across schools.
Example with the same grades
| Class | Grade | Unweighted | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Chemistry | B+ | 3.3 | 4.3 |
| Honors English | A | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Algebra II | A- | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| History | B | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| GPA | 3.50 | 3.88 |
Which one do colleges look at?
Colleges see your transcript as reported, but many recalculate a GPA with their own method. Most also look at how many advanced classes you took, so a slightly lower GPA with a harder schedule is often viewed favorably. When you compare yourself with a college's published GPA range, check whether the range is weighted or unweighted.
Calculate both with the high school GPA calculator.