Weighted GPA Calculator
Add your courses, select AP / IB / Honors type, and see your weighted and unweighted GPA side by side — instantly updated as you type.
How Weighted GPA Works
A weighted GPA rewards academic challenge. While an unweighted GPA treats every class equally on a 4.0 scale, a weighted GPA awards bonus points to AP, IB, and Honors courses — pushing the maximum to 5.0.
| Course Type | Grade | Unweighted | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | A | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Honors | A | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| AP / IB | A | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| AP / IB | B | 3.0 | 4.0 |
Note: Weighted GPA applies to high school only. College GPA is always unweighted on the 4.0 scale.
Weighted GPA — Frequently Asked Questions
What is a weighted GPA?
A weighted GPA adds bonus points to your grade based on course difficulty. AP and IB courses add +1.0, Honors courses add +0.5. This means the maximum weighted GPA is 5.0, not 4.0. It rewards students who take harder classes.
How is weighted GPA calculated?
Weighted GPA = Σ((Grade Points + Course Bonus) × Credit Hours) ÷ Total Credit Hours. For example, an A in an AP class earns 4.0 + 1.0 = 5.0 grade points per credit. An A in a regular class earns just 4.0.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA uses a standard 4.0 scale for all courses regardless of difficulty. A weighted GPA gives extra points for AP, IB, and Honors courses. An A in AP Calculus (weighted: 5.0) is worth more than an A in a regular elective (4.0).
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Colleges look at both — but many selective schools recalculate your GPA on their own unweighted scale. What matters even more than the GPA number is your course rigor. A 3.8 unweighted with 5 AP classes is more impressive than a 3.9 unweighted with all regular courses.
Is a 4.5 weighted GPA good?
Yes. A 4.5 weighted GPA is excellent and reflects strong grades in advanced courses. It puts you in a competitive range for most top-25 universities. However, context matters — check what the average weighted GPA is at the schools you're applying to.
Can you have a weighted GPA above 5.0?
On the standard 5.0 weighted scale, the maximum is 5.0 (an A+ in AP/IB). Some school districts use different scales (e.g., 6.0 for AP), so always confirm which scale your high school uses.