What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?

An unweighted GPA uses a standard 4.0 scale where every course is equal, regardless of difficulty. A weighted GPA adds bonus points for more rigorous courses — typically +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP/IB — raising the possible maximum to 5.0.

How are weighted grade points calculated?

Start with the standard grade point value (e.g., A = 4.0, B+ = 3.3). Then add the course weight: +0 for Standard, +0.5 for Honors, +1.0 for AP/IB. Multiply the weighted grade points by the credit hours to get quality points. GPA = total quality points / total credit hours.

What letter grade values does this calculator use?

A+/A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7, F = 0.0. These are the standard college-preparatory grade point values.

Do colleges use weighted or unweighted GPA?

Practices vary by institution. Many colleges recalculate your GPA on their own scale during review, but weighted GPA does signal course rigor. Submitting both values (as this tool provides) gives the clearest picture.

Does this tool save my course data?

No data is ever sent to a server. Everything runs entirely in your browser. Closing or refreshing the page resets all entries.

Weighted GPA Calculator

Name: Weighted GPA Calculator
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter your courses with letter grades, credits, and course type (Standard/Honors/AP) to instantly see your weighted and unweighted GPA side by side.

Course Entry

Standard (+0) Honors (+0.5) AP/IB (+1.0)

Course	Grade	Credits	Type

Enter your courses and click Calculate GPA

Weighted and unweighted GPA will appear here

Weighted GPA

(5.0 Scale)

0.00

Unweighted GPA

(4.0 Scale)

0.00

Total Credits

0.00

Weighted Qual. Pts

0.00

Unweighted Qual. Pts

Grade Point Breakdown

Course	Grade	Base	Bonus	Credits	W. Pts

Done!

Summary

Enter your courses with letter grades, credits, and course type (Standard/Honors/AP) to instantly see your weighted and unweighted GPA side by side.

How it works

For each course, enter the course name, select the letter grade, enter the number of credit hours, and choose the course type: Standard, Honors, or AP/IB.
Click "Add Course" to add more rows if you have additional courses.
Click "Calculate GPA" to see your weighted GPA (5.0 scale) and unweighted GPA (4.0 scale) instantly.
The breakdown table shows grade points, weight bonus, and quality points for every course.
Click "Reset" to start over with fresh default rows.

Use cases

High school students can determine their weighted GPA for college applications by marking AP and Honors courses to see the weight bonus reflected.
Students can compare their weighted (5.0) vs unweighted (4.0) GPA to understand how rigorous coursework impacts their transcript.
Counselors can show students exactly how taking an AP or Honors course affects overall GPA before course selection.
Students can model "what if" scenarios by changing grades or course types to see the GPA impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-10 · Reviewed by Nham Vu