Weighted Vs. Unweighted GPA: How Do Weighted GPAs Work? (2024)

If you’re preparing to apply to college, you’ve probably thought a lot about earning good grades and a high grade point average, or GPA. While it can’t tell your whole story, GPA is an important indicator of your academic success throughout high school. Many institutions require applicants to meet a minimum GPA to qualify.

If your goal is to get into college, a strong GPA—weighted or unweighted—is critical. But what’s the difference between a weighted versus unweighted GPA?

Advanced high school classes, such as Advanced Placement (AP®) and honors courses, often contribute more points to your GPA than standard courses, giving you a weighted GPA. This means if you take advanced classes and earn straight A’s, your GPA may exceed a 4.0.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the difference between a weighted and unweighted GPA.

Unweighted vs. Weighted GPA: What’s the Difference?

Before we dive into the details of unweighted versus weighted GPAs, let’s define GPA and how it’s calculated.

GPA measures a student’s academic success. Each letter grade is worth a certain number of points on a predetermined scale—usually a 4.0 scale, which we’ll discuss in more detail below. Just average those numbers to calculate your final GPA. But how do you know which numbers correspond to which letter grades? That’s where the concept of weighted and unweighted GPAs comes in.

But when it comes to GPA, not every class is weighted equally. Classes that are more academically advanced may carry a higher value. Weighted classes may be scored on a 4.5 or 5.0 scale rather than a 4.0 scale.

What’s the 4.0 GPA Scale?

Unweighted GPAs are calculated on a scale of zero to four, with four being the highest score. Each unweighted class carries the same value when calculating GPA. So if you earn A’s in both calculus and art class, each of those grades will contribute four points to your overall GPA.

Let’s break down the point values of letter grades on the 4.0 scale:

What’s a Weighted GPA?

A weighted GPA assigns higher point values to more challenging and advanced classes, often calculated on a scale of zero to five. In this scenario, earning an A in a weighted calculus class earns you five points, while an A in your standard art class still counts for four.

Weighted GPA scales vary by school. The table below provides an example of what a weighted GPA scale might look like. It’s common for schools to award an extra full point for each AP class and a half-point for each honors course.

However, D and F letter grades do not earn extra points on weighted GPA scales in most cases.

Can a Weighted GPA Help You Get Into College?

A weighted GPA demonstrates that you’ve taken the initiative to enroll in challenging classes during high school. This may be particularly important for students applying to highly competitive colleges and universities, which seek out students with strong academic abilities and a willingness to take on challenging coursework.

The College Board’s college directory shows typical high school GPA ranges for admitted applicants at various schools. The directory reveals that at Ivy League universities, such as Harvard College and Princeton University, nearly all admitted applicants (more than 90%) have GPAs exceeding 3.75. Some state schools, like the University of California, Berkeley, are just as competitive. A weighted GPA can give you a leg up against other applicants during admissions season.

However, GPA isn’t the only thing college admissions officers look for in an application. Along with a demonstrated commitment to academic rigor, your extracurricular activities, college essay, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation and other factors will contribute to admissions decisions.

A weighted GPA may highlight your academic success, but it won’t tell the story of your achievements outside of the classroom.

How Do You Get a Weighted GPA?

Your GPA will be weighted if you take advanced courses. Below are a few examples of classes that will count towards a weighted GPA.

Honors Classes

Honors classes are advanced courses that have more challenging curriculums than standard classes.

Honors classes do not count for college credit, nor are they standardized across school systems. Still, having honors classes on your transcript shows admissions officers that you’re up to the challenge of rigorous, fast-paced coursework.

Each high school and college weights GPAs differently, but in most cases, honors classes add an extra half point to your GPA. So if you earn a C in an honors course, for example, your grade will contribute two and a half points to your overall GPA, rather than just two.

AP Classes

AP classes are college-level classes offered to high school students. Each course is accompanied by an end-of-year, subject-specific AP exam—scored on a scale of one to five—that tests your mastery of the subject matter.

Many colleges grant credit for AP exam scores of three and above. This means taking AP classes can help you make progress toward your degree before you’ve even enrolled in college.

AP classes usually add a full extra point to your GPA. For example, earning a B in an AP course would equal four points on the weighted GPA scale, rather than three.

IB Classes

International Baccalaureate® (IB) classes follow a designated layout determined by the International Baccalaureate Organization. IB scores are recognized by academic institutions worldwide.

Students taking individual IB classes earn a certificate of completion for each class. IB classes typically weigh one extra point compared to standard high school classes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Weighted vs. Unweighted GPAs