Weighted GPA Calculator
Include AP, IB, and Honors course bonuses for an accurate weighted GPA.
A weighted GPA adds 0.5 points for Honors courses and 1.0 point for AP or IB courses before capping at 5.0. A student with all A's in AP classes can have a 5.0 weighted GPA even though the standard 4.0 scale caps at 4.0. Many colleges recalculate GPAs on an unweighted scale when comparing applicants.
What Is a Weighted GPA?
A weighted GPA gives additional grade points to students who take more challenging courses. The standard 4.0 scale treats every class equally — but a weighted system rewards you for enrolling in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Honors courses.
The most common weighting system:
- Regular courses: no bonus — standard 4.0 maximum
- Honors courses: +0.5 bonus — 4.5 maximum
- AP or IB courses: +1.0 bonus — 5.0 maximum
Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA: Side-by-Side
Here's how the same set of grades looks on both scales:
| Course | Grade | Type | Unweighted Points | Weighted Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | A | Regular | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| AP Calculus | B+ | AP | 3.3 | 4.3 |
| Honors Biology | A− | Honors | 3.7 | 4.2 |
| AP US History | B | AP | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Spanish | A | Regular | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| GPA (3 credits each) | 3.60 | 4.10 | ||
Do Colleges Use Weighted GPA?
Most selective colleges recalculate your GPA using their own methodology, often stripping weights and re-evaluating your transcript directly. However, course rigor — the fact that you took AP and Honors courses — is always evaluated alongside your GPA. Taking challenging courses and earning B's is often viewed more favorably than taking easier courses and earning A's.
Community colleges and many regional universities typically use your transcript GPA as-is, so weighted GPAs can directly benefit you in those applications.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter each course name (optional), your grade, number of credits, and course type
- Select Regular, Honors, or AP / IB for each course
- Your weighted GPA updates in real time
- Most high school courses are 1 credit — adjust as needed
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a weighted GPA?
A weighted GPA accounts for course difficulty by adding bonus points to grades earned in advanced courses. AP and IB courses receive a +1.0 bonus, Honors courses receive +0.5. This allows your GPA to exceed the standard 4.0 scale.
How much does an AP course boost my GPA?
An AP or IB course adds 1.0 bonus point to the grade-point value. An A in an AP class counts as 5.0 (instead of 4.0) in a weighted calculation. A B in AP equals 4.0, which is the same as an A in a regular class.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Most colleges recalculate GPA using their own formula. They review both, but unweighted GPA is often used for direct comparison. Your course rigor — taking AP/IB classes — is evaluated independently and is highly valued at selective institutions.
What is a good weighted GPA?
A weighted GPA above 4.0 indicates you are taking and passing advanced coursework. A 4.2–4.5 is considered very strong. A 4.5+ is typically seen at students taking multiple AP and Honors courses and earning mostly A's in them.