Pick a letter grade and class type (Regular, Honors, or AP/IB) for each class. The calculator returns both your weighted GPA — with the Honors +0.5 and AP/IB +1.0 bumps applied — and your unweighted GPA on the 4.0 scale.
How weighted and unweighted GPA work
Your unweighted GPA is the plain 4.0-scale average of your letter grades: an A is 4.0 no matter what class it's in. Your weighted GPA rewards course rigor by adding a bump to harder classes before averaging — most commonly +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP or IB, which is what this calculator uses. That's why weighted GPAs above 4.0 exist: an A in an AP class counts as a 5.0.
Each class counts equally here (one row, one class). Pick the grade and the class type, and you get both numbers at once — weighted as the headline, unweighted right beneath it.
The formula
Unweighted GPA = Σ grade points ÷ number of classes
Weighted GPA = Σ ( grade points + bump ) ÷ number of classes
Grade points use the standard scale (A = 4.0, A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, and so on down to F = 0.0), and bump is 0 for Regular, 0.5 for Honors, and 1.0 for AP/IB.
Worked example
Four classes: A in Honors English (4.0 + 0.5 = 4.5), B+ in AP Calculus (3.3 + 1.0 = 4.3), A− in regular Chemistry (3.7), and A in AP History (4.0 + 1.0 = 5.0).
Weighted GPA = (4.5 + 4.3 + 3.7 + 5.0) ÷ 4 = 17.5 ÷ 4 = 4.38
Unweighted GPA = (4.0 + 3.3 + 3.7 + 4.0) ÷ 4 = 15.0 ÷ 4 = 3.75
Same transcript, two very different-looking numbers — which is exactly why you should always say which GPA you're quoting.
Which GPA do colleges actually use?
Mostly neither, at least not as-is. Selective colleges typically recalculate GPA using their own method — often unweighted, often core academic classes only — and then judge course rigor separately by reading your transcript. So the AP bump doesn't literally transfer, but the AP class itself absolutely matters: admissions readers consistently say they'd rather see a B+ in a challenging course than an easy A. Where weighted GPA carries real official weight is inside your school — class rank, honor roll, valedictorian — since those compare students on the same weighting system. One more caveat: bump systems vary a lot by district (+0.5/+1.0 is common but far from universal, and some schools don't bump grades below a C), so treat your school's official transcript as the final word.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA treats every class the same on a 4.0 scale — an A is 4.0 whether it's in art or AP Physics. Weighted GPA adds bonus points for harder classes, typically +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP or IB, so an A in an AP class counts as 5.0.
How much does an AP class add to your GPA?
Under the most common system — the one this calculator uses — an AP or IB class adds 1.0 to the grade's point value, and Honors adds 0.5. So a B in AP Biology counts as 4.0 instead of 3.0. Districts vary, though: some use +0.04 per class, quality-point tables, or a 6.0 scale.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Most selective colleges recalculate your GPA themselves, often unweighted and sometimes using only core academic classes — then they evaluate course rigor separately from your transcript. Weighted GPA matters most locally, for class rank and honors like valedictorian. The winning combination is strong grades in the hardest courses you can handle.
What is the highest weighted GPA possible?
On the common +1.0 system this calculator uses, the ceiling is 5.0 — straight A's in all AP or IB classes. In practice almost nobody takes a schedule of 100% AP courses, so real-world top weighted GPAs usually land in the 4.5–4.9 range. Schools on other systems (like a 6.0 scale) have different ceilings.
Does a failing grade in an AP class still get the GPA bump?
Policies differ. This calculator applies the bump to every grade for simplicity, but many schools only award weighted credit for a C or better, and some exclude F's from any bump. If you have a low grade in a weighted class, check your school's specific policy — it can change your official GPA.