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Weighted GPA Calculator
A weighted GPA gives extra grade points for harder classes. Most US high schools add 0.5 for Honors and 1.0 for AP, IB or dual-enrollment classes, so an A in AP Chemistry counts as 5.0 instead of 4.0. Enter each class with its letter grade, credits and level. The calculator shows your weighted GPA, your unweighted 4.0 GPA, and the points behind each class.
The formula is the same as any GPA, with the bonus added first: weighted GPA = Σ((grade points + level bonus) × credits) ÷ Σ credits. An F earns no bonus. If your school uses a different bonus, for example +1.0 for Honors, change it in the settings. Year-long classes are usually 1 credit and semester classes 0.5.
Worked example (the default above): six classes worth 5.5 credits earn 22.5 weighted quality points, so 22.5 ÷ 5.5 = 4.09 weighted. The same grades give 20.0 points unweighted, which is 3.64. Colleges usually see both numbers on your transcript. Many of them also recalculate GPA with their own rules.
Result and step-by-step working
Unweighted GPA: 3.64 on the 4.0 scale · 5.5 credits
| Class | Grade | Level | Credits | Unweighted pts | Weighted pts | Weighted × credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English 11 | A- | Honors | 1 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.20 |
| AP US History | B+ | AP/IB/DE | 1 | 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.30 |
| Algebra II | B | Regular | 1 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.00 |
| AP Chemistry | A | AP/IB/DE | 1 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 5.00 |
| Spanish III | A | Regular | 1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.00 |
| Health | A | Regular | 0.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.00 |
- Convert each grade to pointsA = 4.0, A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0 … F = 0 (unweighted). Honors adds 0.5, AP/IB/dual enrollment adds 1 (an F gets no bonus).
- Multiply by credits and add upWeighted quality points = 22.50; unweighted = 20.00; total credits = 5.5.
- DivideWeighted GPA = 22.50 ÷ 5.5 = 4.09. Unweighted GPA = 20.00 ÷ 5.5 = 3.64.
Weighted GPA scale
| Letter | Regular | Honors (+0.5) | AP / IB / DE (+1.0) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A / A+ | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A− | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| B− | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| C− | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| D− | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| F | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good weighted GPA?
- It depends on how many advanced classes your school offers. A weighted GPA above 4.0 is only possible with Honors or AP grades. Selective colleges usually look for a high unweighted GPA (3.7+) together with a demanding schedule, and many recalculate GPA themselves.
- How much does an AP class raise my GPA?
- On the usual +1.0 scale, an A in an AP class counts 5.0 instead of 4.0. With one 1-credit AP class among six equal credits, that raises the weighted GPA by about 1.0 ÷ 6 ≈ 0.17.
- Do colleges use weighted or unweighted GPA?
- Both appear on most transcripts. Many colleges recalculate an unweighted academic GPA from core classes, and some add their own weighting for AP/IB. The UC system, for example, adds at most 8 semesters of honors points.
- Is dual enrollment weighted like AP?
- At many high schools yes (+1.0), at others it is weighted like Honors or not at all. Pick the bonus that matches your school’s profile or student handbook.
- What is the difference between a 5.0 and a 4.0 scale?
- A 4.0 scale is unweighted: an A is 4.0 everywhere. A 5.0 scale is weighted, so an A in an AP class is 5.0. Use the GPA to Letter Grade calculator to read a 5.0-scale GPA back as a letter.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026. Calculations run in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.