Base GPA Scale
Select the scale your school uses for standard courses
Please fill in the grade, credits and course type for every row before calculating.
Your Courses
Course Name (optional) Credits Grade Course Type
Your Weighted GPA
0.00
Weighted across all course types
Unweighted GPA
Boost from AP/IB/Honors
Total Credits

How weighted GPA works

A weighted GPA rewards students who take more challenging courses. On a 4.0 base scale an A in a standard course is worth 4.0, honors adds 0.5 making it 4.5, and AP or IB adds 1.0 making it 5.0. On a 5.0 base scale the same bonuses apply on top.

This calculator shows both your weighted GPA and your unweighted GPA side by side so you can see exactly how much your advanced course choices are boosting your number.

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New to GPA calculations?
Read the full How to Calculate GPA guide with step by step formulas and examples.

Frequently asked questions

How do I select the right course type?
Select Standard for regular courses, Honors for honors-level classes, AP for Advanced Placement, IB for International Baccalaureate, and Dual Enrollment for college courses taken in high school. The bonus points applied to each type are shown in the scale reference banner above.
What weight does Dual Enrollment carry?
Dual Enrollment courses are college-level classes taken while still in high school. Most schools apply the same +0.5 weight as Honors courses, though this can vary. Check with your school's registrar to confirm. This calculator uses +0.5 for DE by default.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Most colleges look at both and often recalculate your GPA using their own formula. A high weighted GPA shows you challenged yourself, while the unweighted GPA shows your raw academic performance. Both matter in the application process.
Can my weighted GPA go above 4.0 or 5.0?
Yes. On a 4.0 base scale with AP or IB classes it can exceed 4.0 and approach 5.0. This is completely normal and not a calculation error it simply reflects the bonus points earned from advanced coursework.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA treats all courses equally on a 4.0 scale regardless of difficulty. A weighted GPA gives extra points to harder courses like AP, IB and Honors so your GPA can exceed 4.0. Weighted GPA reflects the rigor of your course load while unweighted GPA shows your raw grade performance across all classes.
Do colleges recalculate your weighted GPA?
Yes. Most colleges recalculate your GPA using their own formula when reviewing applications. They often convert your grades back to an unweighted scale or apply their own weighting system. This means your weighted GPA from high school is a reference point but colleges make their own assessment of your academic record.
Do HL and SL IB courses carry different weight?
In this calculator both IB HL and SL courses receive the same bonus weighting since the grade itself reflects the level of challenge. Some schools do distinguish between HL and SL when recalculating GPA but there is no universal standard. Check with your specific school or program to understand how they treat IB course levels.
Does TOK or Extended Essay count toward GPA?
No. Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay are components of the IB Diploma but they do not factor into your standard GPA calculation. They contribute to your IB Diploma score but most US colleges do not include them in their GPA recalculation. Leave them out when using this calculator.

Weighted GPA and college admissions

Colleges and universities almost always recalculate your GPA using their own formula when evaluating applications. This means your weighted GPA from high school is a starting point for discussion, not the number that definitively represents you in admissions. Most selective colleges convert everything to an unweighted scale or apply their own course difficulty adjustments. Your weighted GPA still matters because it signals that you challenged yourself, but a 4.2 weighted is not directly comparable across every school transcript.

For college students using this calculator to understand how AP or dual enrollment credits factor into their overall record: many colleges award credit for AP exams passed at a certain score but do not include the AP course grade itself in the college GPA. Check with your registrar to confirm how transfer and AP credits are handled at your specific institution before relying on this number for official planning purposes.

The most practical use of the weighted versus unweighted comparison this calculator shows is to understand how much your course choices are actually boosting your number. If you are taking challenging courses but not seeing much of a GPA benefit, it may be worth reconsidering whether you are taking on more than is strategically useful for your specific goals.

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