Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is a single number that represents your average academic performance across all courses. Most US high schools and colleges use a 4.0 scale, where an A equals 4.0 grade points, a B equals 3.0, and so on.
An unweighted GPA treats all classes the same, regardless of difficulty. An A in gym class counts the same as an A in AP Physics. Most schools calculate GPA this way for basic records.
A weighted GPA gives bonus points for harder courses. AP and IB classes typically add 1.0 point to the grade, and Honors classes add 0.5. This means the theoretical maximum GPA is 5.0 for a full schedule of AP classes with all A's.
When applying to college, most schools will recalculate your GPA using their own formula anyway, but knowing your weighted GPA is useful for understanding where you stand relative to your peers who are taking harder classes.
GPA is calculated as a credit-weighted average:
GPA = Σ(Grade Points × Credits) / Σ(Credits)
This means classes with more credit hours have proportionally more impact on your GPA. A 4-credit class that you get an A in matters twice as much as a 2-credit class.
| Letter Grade | Standard GPA | Honors GPA | AP / IB GPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Note: Some schools cap the weighted GPA at 4.0, others allow 5.0 or even higher. Check your school's specific policy.
That depends entirely on your goals. For context:
Remember, GPA is just one factor. Admissions offices also look at course rigor, test scores, extracurriculars, and essays. A 3.5 with a schedule full of AP classes is often viewed more favorably than a 4.0 with all easy electives.
Need to figure out what you need on your finals first? Use our finals grade calculator to see exactly what score you need.