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Weighted GPA Calculator
A weighted GPA gives extra points for harder courses: typically +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP or IB. Add up to six courses with their letter grades, credit hours, and levels, and this calculator applies the weighting and averages everything for you. It also shows the unweighted GPA alongside, so you can see exactly what the advanced courses added.
Leave unused course rows at 0 credits; they are skipped.
How to use
- For each course, pick the letter grade you earned.
- Enter the credit hours for the course.
- Choose the course level: Regular, Honors, or AP/IB.
- Click Calculate Weighted GPA. Leave unused rows at 0 credits.
Worked example you can check
Take three courses. Math: A in an AP class worth 4 credits. History: B+ in an Honors class worth 3 credits. English: B in a Regular class worth 3 credits.
Step 1, convert grades to points: A = 4.0, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0. Step 2, add the level bonus: Math becomes 4.0 + 1.0 = 5.0, History becomes 3.3 + 0.5 = 3.8, English stays 3.0 + 0 = 3.0. Step 3, multiply by credits: 5.0 x 4 = 20.0, 3.8 x 3 = 11.4, 3.0 x 3 = 9.0. Step 4, total the points (40.4) and the credits (10), then divide: 40.4 / 10 = 4.04 weighted GPA. Without the bonuses the same grades give 3.70, so the advanced courses added 0.34.
Check your school's scale before you trust the number
There is no single national weighting standard. The most common scheme is Regular +0, Honors +0.5, AP/IB +1.0, which this calculator uses. But some schools cap the bonus, award it only for grades of C or better, use +0.25 for Honors, or weight on a 5.0 or 6.0 scale instead of 4.0.
Colleges also recalculate: many strip all weighting and recompute your GPA on their own scale so applicants are comparable. Use this calculator to see your school's number, but check your school's handbook for the exact policy before reporting it anywhere official.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA averages your grades on a flat 4.0 scale, treating every class equally. Weighted GPA adds bonus points for advanced courses (usually +0.5 Honors, +1.0 AP/IB) before averaging, so it can rise above 4.0. Colleges look at both: weighted shows rigor, unweighted shows raw performance.
How many bonus points do Honors and AP classes get?
This calculator uses the most common scheme: Regular +0, Honors +0.5, AP/IB +1.0. So an A is 4.0 in Regular, 4.5 in Honors, and 5.0 in AP. F gets no bonus. Confirm your school's policy, since some schools differ.
Do all schools weight GPA the same way?
No. Weighting policies vary by school and district. Some cap the total bonus, some only award it for C or better, and some use different bonus amounts. This calculator uses the most widespread defaults.
Can my weighted GPA be higher than 4.0?
Yes, weighted GPAs above 4.0 are normal and expected. An A in an AP class counts as 5.0 here, so a schedule full of AP As can push the average toward 5.0. That is the whole point of weighting.
What credit values should I enter?
Use the credit hours your school assigns. Full-year high school courses are usually 1.0 credit and semester courses 0.5; college courses are typically 3 or 4 credits, with labs at 1. The calculator weights each course by its credits, so a 4-credit class counts more than a 1-credit lab.
Does an F in an AP class still get the bonus?
An F is 0.0 points and earns no level bonus, but its credits still count in the divisor, so it drags the average down hard. That is why one failed advanced class hurts more than skipping the bonus helps.
Do I get the AP bonus if I barely pass the class?
The bonus usually requires passing the class and sometimes a minimum grade like C. Check your school's handbook. When in doubt, this calculator's defaults (bonus for any grade except F) are a reasonable estimate.