Weighted GPA Calculator: Compare Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA
A weighted GPA gives extra points for honors and AP classes. An A in an AP class = 5.0 instead of 4.0. An A in an honors class = 4.5 instead of 4.0.
This calculator shows both your weighted GPA with bonuses for advanced classes and your unweighted GPA, where all classes are equal. Enter your courses, mark which ones are honors or AP, and see both GPAs side by side.
Colleges look at both numbers to understand your course rigor and academic performance.
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Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA
Unweighted GPA (4.0 scale): All classes are treated equally. An A is always 4.0, whether it is regular English or AP Chemistry. The maximum is 4.0.
This shows your raw academic performance without accounting for course difficulty.
Weighted GPA (5.0 scale or higher): Advanced classes get bonus points:
- Regular classes: No bonus (A = 4.0, B = 3.0)
- Honors classes: +0.5 bonus (A = 4.5, B = 3.5)
- AP/IB classes: +1.0 bonus (A = 5.0, B = 4.0)
The maximum can be 5.0 or higher, depending on how many AP classes you take.
This shows your willingness to take challenging courses. A 3.8 weighted GPA with 5 AP classes looks better than a 4.0 unweighted GPA with no advanced classes.
How Course Weighting Works
The bonuses apply directly to your GPA points:
Regular Class:
- A (4.0) × 3 credits = 12.0 quality points
Honors Class:
- A (4.0 + 0.5 bonus = 4.5) × 3 credits = 13.5 quality points
AP/IB Class:
- A (4.0 + 1.0 bonus = 5.0) × 4 credits = 20.0 quality points
The bonus increases your quality points for advanced classes, raising your weighted GPA.
Example calculation:
- 3 regular A’s (3 credits each): 36 quality points
- 2 AP A’s (4 credits each): 40 quality points
- Total: 76 quality points ÷ 17 credits = 4.47 weighted GPA
Same grades without weighting: 68 quality points ÷ 17 credits = 4.0 unweighted GPA
Why Colleges Care About Weighted GPA
Colleges use weighted GPA to assess course rigor, did you challenge yourself with hard classes?
Example:
- Student A: 4.0 unweighted, no AP classes
- Student B: 3.7 unweighted, 6 AP classes, 4.3 weighted
Student B appears stronger despite a lower unweighted GPA because they took more challenging courses.
Selective colleges (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT) expect to see 4.5+ weighted GPAs with many AP classes. They want students who challenge themselves.
Public universities often have minimum weighted GPA requirements for honors programs or automatic admission.
Scholarship applications sometimes ask for a weighted GPA because it shows both performance and rigor.
This calculator helps you see where you stand on both scales.
Can Weighted GPA Go Above 5.0?
Yes. If you take many AP classes, your weighted GPA can exceed 5.0.
Example:
- All AP classes, all A’s = 5.0 weighted GPA
- A mix of AP (A’s) and regular (B’s) might still be a 4.8 weighted GPA
- Some students reach 5.2, 5.5, or higher with many AP courses
The maximum depends on:
- How many AP classes does your school offers
- How many AP classes do you take
- Your grades in those classes
There is no strict upper limit. The weighted GPA scale goes as high as your AP course load allows.
Unweighted vs. Weighted: Which Matters More?
Both matter. Colleges look at both for different reasons:
Unweighted GPA shows your raw academic performance. Colleges use this to compare students fairly across schools with different weighting policies.
A weighted GPA shows you challenged yourself. A 3.6 unweighted with 7 AP classes (4.2 weighted) demonstrates more rigor than a 4.0 unweighted with no AP classes.
When reporting GPA:
- Most applications ask for both
- Transcripts show both (usually)
- Colleges recalculate using their own formula anyway
The ideal: High unweighted GPA (3.8+) AND high weighted GPA (4.3+). This means you took hard classes and succeeded.
Use this calculator to check both numbers.
Honors vs. AP: What is the Difference?
Honors classes (+0.5 bonus)
- Advanced version of the regular class
- More depth, faster pace, harder material
- School-designed curriculum
- No standardized exam at the end
AP (Advanced Placement) classes (+1.0 bonus)
- College-level course in high school
- Standardized curriculum (set by the College Board)
- AP exam at the end (scored 1-5)
- A score of 3+ can earn college credit
IB (International Baccalaureate) classes (+1.0 bonus)
- International program (similar to AP)
- Standardized curriculum
- IB exams for college credit
Both honors and AP get weighted GPA bonuses, but AP gets twice the boost because it is college-level work.
FAQ: Weighted GPA Calculator
Does every school weight GPA the same way?
No. Some schools use +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP (most common). Others use different formulas. This calculator uses the standard weighting (+0.5 honors, +1.0 AP), but check your school’s policy.
Do colleges recalculate my GPA?
Yes. Many colleges recalculate GPAs using their own formulas (often based on core classes only, with specific weightings). Your school’s GPA might not match what colleges see on your transcript. But this calculator shows you the standard weighted vs. unweighted comparison.
Can I have a higher unweighted GPA than a weighted GPA?
No. Weighted GPA is always equal to or higher than unweighted GPA. If you take no honors/AP classes, they are the same (both 4.0 max). If you take advanced classes, the weighted grade is higher.
Should I take more AP classes to raise my weighted GPA?
Only if you can handle them. A 3.5 unweighted with 5 AP classes (4.0 weighted) is better than a 2.8 unweighted with 8 AP classes (3.5 weighted). Quality matters more than quantity.
What if my school does not offer many AP classes?
Colleges know what courses your school offers. You will not be penalized if your school has limited AP options. But if your school offers 15 AP classes and you took zero, that looks bad.
Do I need to track this by year, like in the high school GPA calculator?
Not with this tool. This calculator is for a quick comparison of weighted vs. unweighted grades for one semester or term. If you need year-by-year tracking (9th-12th grade), use the high school GPA calculator.
When to Use This vs. Other GPA Calculators
Use this weighted GPA calculator when:
- You want to compare weighted vs. unweighted GPA quickly
- You are taking honors or AP classes this semester
- You do not need a year-by-year organization
- You want a simple calculation for one term
Use the high school GPA calculator when:
- You need to track your GPA across all 4 years (9th-12th)
- You want a year-by-year breakdown
- You need to see GPA progression over time
The line: this is the QUICK weighted vs. unweighted tool. The high school calculator is for comprehensive multi-year tracking.
Weighted GPA gives bonus points for honors (+0.5) and AP (+1.0) classes. Enter your courses, mark which ones are advanced, and see both your weighted and unweighted GPAs.
Colleges want both numbers to understand your course rigor and academic performance.