Understanding Your High School GPA
Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is one of the most important metrics for college admissions. There are two main types:
- Unweighted GPA: Calculated on a standard 4.0 scale. It treats all classes equally, regardless of difficulty.
- Weighted GPA: Gives extra points for difficult classes (Honors, AP, IB). This better reflects the rigor of your coursework.
How It's Calculated
Each letter grade is assigned a number (A=4, B=3, etc.). For Weighted GPA, we add bonus points:
- Regular Classes: No bonus (A = 4.0)
- Honors Classes: +0.5 bonus (A = 4.5)
- AP / IB Classes: +1.0 bonus (A = 5.0)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale regardless of class difficulty. Weighted GPA adds extra points (usually 0.5 for Honors, 1.0 for AP/IB) to reflect the difficulty of advanced courses.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Most colleges look at both. They consider your unweighted GPA to see your raw grades and your weighted GPA to understand the rigor of your curriculum.
How much is an AP class worth?
In most weighted systems, an AP (Advanced Placement) or IB (International Baccalaureate) class is worth an extra 1.0 point. So an 'A' is 5.0 instead of 4.0.