The difference in one table
The difference between weighted and unweighted GPA is only the bonus for course level: both average your grade points by credits, but the weighted version adds points for honors, AP, IB or college courses before averaging.
| Unweighted GPA | Weighted GPA | |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | 0–4.0 | usually 0–5.0 (some schools higher) |
| A in a regular course | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| A in honors | 4.0 | 4.5 with +0.5 |
| A in AP / IB / dual enrollment | 4.0 | 5.0 with +1.0 |
| Rewards hard courses | No | Yes |
| Easy to compare across schools | Yes | Less so: bonuses differ |
The calculator above shows both numbers for the same courses. With an A in AP Biology, an A in English 11 Honors, a B+ and a B, the grade points are 4.0 + 4.0 + 3.3 + 3.0 = 14.3, so the unweighted GPA is 3.58. Adding 1.0 for AP and 0.5 for honors gives 15.8, a weighted GPA of 3.95.
How schools weight GPA
There is no national rule, so weighted GPAs depend on your school system. South Carolina and North Carolina add 0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP, IB and college courses statewide.[1][2] Broward County, Florida, keeps a district GPA where AP, AICE, IB and dual enrollment add 2 points, so an A counts 6.0, next to a “core” GPA where the same A counts 5.0.[3]
| Policy | Points for the A |
|---|---|
| Unweighted | 4.0 |
| South Carolina / North Carolina (+1.0) | 5.0 |
| Broward County core GPA | 5.0 |
| Broward County district GPA (+2) | 6.0 |
Which GPA do colleges use?
Colleges see both numbers on your transcript, but many recalculate their own. The University of Georgia recalculates a GPA for every freshman applicant from core courses and AP/IB grades, noting that schools report on scales from 4.00 to 6.00.[5] The University of California uses a capped weighted GPA from 10th and 11th grade,[4] and the University of Florida computes a core weighted GPA with its own +0.5 and +1.0.[6] College Board puts it simply: the 4.0 scale is “just one common example.”[7]
- Report what your transcript shows, and name the scale: “3.95 weighted (5.0 scale), 3.58 unweighted.”
- Don’t mix them when you compare with a college’s published range; check whether its number is weighted.
- Use the right tool: the weighted GPA calculator lets you set bonuses, the unweighted GPA calculator strips them, and the UC GPA calculator applies the UC cap.
Is a weighted 4.2 better than an unweighted 3.9?Not necessarily. Convert both to the same scale first: the 4.2 might be a 3.7 unweighted with several AP courses. Compare like with like.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA uses 4.0 for an A in any course. Weighted GPA adds bonus points for harder courses, often +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP or IB, so it can go above 4.0.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Both appear on your transcript, and many colleges recalculate their own version, such as the UC’s capped GPA or the University of Georgia’s core GPA.
Is a 4.0 weighted GPA good?
It depends on the courses. A 4.0 weighted can mean straight A’s in regular courses or a mix of A’s and B’s with AP bonuses; check the unweighted number too.
Can an unweighted GPA be above 4.0?
Not on the standard scale. Only weighted GPAs, or colleges that give an A+ more than 4.0, go higher.
Sources
- South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy
- Policy GRAD-009, High School Grading and Transcript Standards
- High School Grading & Grade Point Averages
- GPA requirement
- Fulton County students: new material (how UGA recalculates GPA)
- Freshman Decision Process (core, weighted GPA and admitted-student profile)
- How to Calculate Your GPA on a 4.0 Scale