Unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA is on a 4.0 scale: A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0. Many schools also use pluses and minuses, such as A− = 3.7 and B+ = 3.3.
It shows how well you did, but not how hard your classes were.
Weighted GPA
A weighted GPA adds a bonus for harder courses, so it can go above 4.0. One common setup, used by many districts, is:
| Course level | Typical bonus | An A becomes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | +0 | 4.0 |
| Honors | +0.5 | 4.5 |
| AP, IB or dual enrollment | +1.0 | 5.0 |
There's no national standard. Your school's weighting may be different, so a 4.3 at one school isn't the same as a 4.3 at another. That's why colleges look at your school profile and your actual courses.
Calculate yours
GPA calculator
Add each class with its letter grade. Use 0.5 credits for a one-semester class.
Schools weight differently. These defaults (+0.5 Honors, +1.0 AP/IB/dual enrollment) are a common convention; change them to match your school. A+ counts as 4.0, and failing grades get no bonus. Colleges often recalculate GPA their own way.
How colleges recalculate GPA
Many colleges ignore your school's GPA and compute their own. Three real examples:
- University of California: uses only A–G courses from the summer after 9th grade through the summer after 11th grade, ignores pluses and minuses, and adds 1 point per semester of approved honors courses (AP, IB HL and others), capped at 8 points in total and no more than 4 from 10th grade. The minimum is 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for nonresidents.
- University of Florida: a weighted GPA in core subjects, adding 1.0 for AP, IB, AICE and core dual enrollment, and 0.5 for Honors.
- Oberlin College: recalculates an unweighted GPA from core academic subjects only, leaving out classes like PE and music ensembles.
So the most useful thing you can do is take challenging core classes and do well in them. Use IvyscoreAI to see how your GPA compares with the colleges on your list.
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