What’s the Difference Between Weighted and Unweighted GPA?

GPA breakdowns vary college by college, and weighted GPAs seem to have more significance than unweighted. In the case of unweighted GPAs, aim to take higher-level courses. In the case of weighted GPAs, aim to do well in higher-level courses as they contribute more to your GPA.

For an unweighted GPA, try to take challenging classes to show you can handle difficult coursework. For a weighted GPA, doing well in harder classes is important. You can calculate your GPA manually based on the courses you’ve taken and your grades, or you can use a GPA calculator for a quicker process. Both methods give you the same result.

What is an Unweighted GPA?

An unweighted GPA is calculated on a scale from 0 to 4.0. It does not account for course difficulty. Whether you take regular, honours, or AP classes, an “A” is always worth 4.0. Similarly, a “B” is always worth 3.0.

For example, if you take five classes and get:

2 A’s = 4.0 each
3 B’s = 3.0 each

Add them up
4.0 + 4.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 = 17.0

Divide by 5
17.0 ÷ 5 = 3.4 unweighted GPA

How to Calculate Unweighted GPA?

Calculating an unweighted GPA is simple. For example:

2 A’s = 4.0 each
3 B’s = 3.0 each

Add them
4.0 + 4.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 = 17.0

Divide by 5
17.0 ÷ 5 = 3.4 unweighted GPA

What is a Weighted GPA?

A weighted GPA includes the difficulty of your courses. It usually ranges from 0 to 5.0. Some schools may use a larger scale.

In weighted GPA:

An “A” in a regular class = 4.0
An “A” in honours class = 4.5
An “A” in AP class = 5.0

For example, if you get:

1 A in a regular class = 4.0
1 A in an honours class = 4.5
2 B’s in AP classes = 4.0 each
1 B in an honours class = 3.5

The weighted GPA is

4.0 + 4.5 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 3.5 = 20.0

Divide by 5
20.0 ÷ 5 = 4.0 weighted GPA

How to Calculate Weighted GPA?

Weighted GPA is more complex. It considers class difficulty. For example:

1 A in a regular class = 4.0
1 A in an honours class = 4.5
2 B’s in AP = 4.0 each
1 B in honours = 3.5

Add them

4.0 + 4.5 + 4.0 + 4.0 + 3.5 = 20.0

Divide by 5
20.0 ÷ 5 = 4.0 weighted GPA

Unweighted GPA Table

An unweighted GPA is much simpler to calculate than a weighted GPA. This is because you don’t have to consider the levels of your classes in the calculations. If your grades aren’t quite as simple as that, here’s a quick letter grade and percentage to GPA conversion chart to help you:

Letter Grade	Percentage	GPA
A+	97-100	4.0
A	93-96	4.0
A-	90-92	3.7
B+	87-89	3.3
B	83-86	3.0
B-	80-82	2.7
C+	77-79	2.3
C	73-76	2.0
C-	70-72	1.7
D+	67-69	1.3
D	65-66	1.0
F	Below 65	0.0

FAQs

Yes, they recalculate it based on the college’s system. They have their own way of standardising GPAs based on the different high schools they receive students from.

You should do both. A strong GPA and good activities give you both strong college impressions.

If your school has a weighted GPA, yours will be higher if you take advanced classes. It “rewards” students for taking harder classes and “challenges” themselves to take more difficult ones.

This is case-specific as it differs for every scholarship; however, most scholarships have a GPA requirement to be considered or merit-based scholarships.

Conclusion

Having a good understanding of weighted and unweighted GPAs is important. Unweighted GPAs only tell you a number and the college’s reflection upon it. On the other hand, weighted GPAs are more complex and account for more of the higher-level classes, like AP or honours, that you have taken. Both GPAs are considered by colleges alongside the courses you take and the activities you do.