Free · No sign-up · Honors/AP aware
High School GPA Calculator: weighted and unweighted
Mark each class as Regular, Honors, or AP/IB and get both your unweighted and weighted GPA side by side.
Weighted vs. unweighted
Why your GPA might read differently on two documents
Unweighted GPA treats every class equally on a 4.0 ceiling. Weighted GPA rewards harder course loads by adding extra grade points for Honors and AP/IB classes — which is why a student’s weighted GPA can climb above 4.0.
| Course Level | A grade points (Unweighted) | A grade points (Weighted) |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Honors | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| AP / IB | 4.0 | 5.0 |
Exact boosts vary by school — some use +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP, others use different scales entirely. Check your school profile for the precise numbers used on your transcript.
Here’s how a typical junior-year schedule scores under both systems:
| Course | Level | Grade | Unweighted Points | Weighted Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English 11 | Regular | A | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| AP Biology | AP | A- | 3.7 | 4.7 |
| Honors Precalculus | Honors | B+ | 3.3 | 3.8 |
| U.S. History | Regular | A- | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| GPA (4 courses, equal credit) | 3.68 | 4.05 | ||
The same transcript produces a sub-4.0 unweighted GPA and an above-4.0 weighted GPA — both numbers are “correct,” they just answer different questions: how you did versus how you did relative to course difficulty.
Beyond GPA
GPA, class rank, and college applications
Many U.S. high schools use weighted GPA specifically to calculate class rank, since it accounts for students who take on harder course loads. Unweighted GPA, meanwhile, is often what appears on standardized reporting and what some colleges recalculate from scratch using their own formula. Neither number alone tells the full story, which is why most applications ask for your full transcript rather than a single GPA figure.
FAQ
High school GPA questions
What’s the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted stays on a flat 4.0 scale. Weighted adds bonus points for Honors/AP/IB classes, which can push GPA above 4.0.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Many colleges recalculate GPA with their own formula. Knowing both numbers is useful, but check each college’s admissions policy.
Can a weighted GPA go above 5.0?
It’s uncommon but possible at schools with multiple AP/IB courses and a large boost per course — always check your specific school’s maximum scale.
Does every school offer weighted GPA?
No — some high schools only report unweighted GPA. Check your school profile or guidance counselor to see which system your transcript uses.