Understanding the difference between these two GPA systems is essential for high school students navigating college admissions.
An unweighted GPA uses the standard 4.0 scale. Every course is treated equally, regardless of difficulty. An A in a regular class and an A in an AP class both earn 4.0 grade points.
The unweighted scale is straightforward: A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0, D = 1.0, F = 0.0. The maximum possible unweighted GPA is 4.0.
A weighted GPA uses a 5.0 scale (or sometimes 4.5) that awards extra grade points for advanced courses. This system rewards students who challenge themselves with harder classes:
Because of the extra points, a weighted GPA can exceed 4.0. A student taking mostly AP courses could have a weighted GPA of 4.5 or higher.
| Feature | Unweighted GPA | Weighted GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | 0.0 – 4.0 | 0.0 – 5.0 |
| A in Regular Class | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| A in Honors Class | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| A in AP/IB Class | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Reflects Course Difficulty | No | Yes |
| Maximum Possible | 4.0 | 5.0 |
Suppose a student takes four courses and earns the following grades:
| Course | Type | Grade | Unweighted Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP English | AP | A | 4.0 |
| Honors Chemistry | Honors | B+ | 3.3 |
| Algebra II | Regular | A | 4.0 |
| World History | Regular | A- | 3.7 |
Unweighted GPA = (4.0 + 3.3 + 4.0 + 3.7) ÷ 4 = 3.75
Using the same courses with weighted grade points:
| Course | Type | Grade | Weighted Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP English | AP (+1.0) | A | 5.0 |
| Honors Chemistry | Honors (+0.5) | B+ | 3.8 |
| Algebra II | Regular | A | 4.0 |
| World History | Regular | A- | 3.7 |
Weighted GPA = (5.0 + 3.8 + 4.0 + 3.7) ÷ 4 = 4.125
Notice how the weighted GPA exceeds 4.0 because of the bonus points from AP and Honors courses.
Most colleges recalculate your GPA using their own formula, but they pay close attention to course rigor. A student with a 3.8 unweighted GPA who took multiple AP courses is generally viewed more favorably than a student with a 4.0 unweighted GPA who avoided all advanced classes.
Weighted GPA helps admissions officers quickly see whether a student challenged themselves. However, many selective schools will recalculate using their own scale regardless.
Most high schools that rank students use weighted GPA. This ensures that students taking harder courses are not penalized compared to those sticking with easier classes.
Scholarship requirements usually specify a minimum GPA. Check whether the scholarship uses weighted or unweighted GPA. Merit scholarships at many universities are based on unweighted GPA.
Use our High School GPA Calculator to compute both your weighted and unweighted GPA. Just select the course type for each class and the calculator handles the rest.
An unweighted GPA uses a standard 4.0 scale for all courses. A weighted GPA uses a 5.0 scale that gives extra points for honors, AP, and IB courses to reflect their higher difficulty.
Most colleges recalculate GPA using their own formula, but they value course rigor. They look at both your GPA and whether you challenged yourself with advanced courses. A slightly lower unweighted GPA with AP/IB courses is generally viewed more favorably than a perfect 4.0 with only standard classes.
Yes, on a weighted scale, an A in an AP or IB course is worth 5.0 grade points, so students who take multiple advanced courses can have a weighted GPA above 4.0.
Honors classes typically add 0.5 grade points on a weighted scale. So an A in an honors class is worth 4.5 instead of 4.0, a B is worth 3.5 instead of 3.0, and so on.