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Weighted GPA Calculator

Add your classes and mark each one Regular, Honors, AP/IB, or college to see your weighted GPA — the one that can go above 4.0.

Short answer

A weighted GPA takes the standard 4.0 scale and adds a bonus for harder classes — +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP, IB, or dual-enrollment — then averages by credits. So an A in an AP class is 5.0 while an A in a regular class is 4.0, and a B in AP (4.0) is worth the same as an A in a regular class. That’s why a weighted GPA can exceed 4.0 and an unweighted one can’t.

How much does one AP class actually move your GPA?

Less than most students expect, because GPA is an average rather than a total. On a six-class schedule, swapping one regular class for an AP class adds +1.0 to a single course — which lifts the average by roughly 1.0 ÷ 6 ≈ 0.17. Two AP classes move it about 0.33. The effect shrinks as your schedule grows, and it shrinks again once those classes are averaged into a multi-year cumulative GPA.

This is worth knowing before you load up on AP classes purely for the GPA bump: the bump is real but modest, and a B in an AP class (4.0 weighted) is worth exactly the same as an A in a regular class. Enter your own schedule above to see the actual difference rather than the rule of thumb.

How we calculate this

Your GPA is a credit-weighted average of your grade points — not a plain average of your letter grades. This tool applies that arithmetic exactly:

  1. Letter grades become grade points. Each letter maps to a point value on the scale below — A = 4.0, A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, and so on down to F = 0. An unrecognised grade scores 0 rather than breaking the calculation.
  2. Weighted mode adds a bonus for harder classes. Honors adds +0.5; AP, IB, and dual-enrollment classes add +1.0. The bonus is capped one point above the scale maximum, so an A in an AP class is worth 5.0 and never more. In unweighted mode the course level is ignored entirely.
  3. Each course is weighted by its credits. Grade points are multiplied by credits, so a 5-credit class moves your GPA five times as much as a 1-credit class. An A in a 1-credit art class and a C in a 5-credit chemistry class is (4.0 × 1 + 2.0 × 5) ÷ 6 = 2.33 — not the 3.0 a plain average of an A and a C would suggest.
  4. Total points divided by total credits. GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ(credits). Cumulative GPA rolls your prior transcript in the same way: (prior GPA × prior credits + this term's points) ÷ all credits combined.

Assumptions

  • Defaults to the standard 4.0 scale with plus/minus grades, with A+ capped at 4.0 — the most common US convention, but not universal. Your registrar's published scale is authoritative; edit the scale to match it.
  • Weighted bonuses (+0.5 Honors, +1.0 AP/IB) are conventions, not standards. Schools weight differently, and some don't weight at all.
  • Only graded, credit-bearing courses count. Pass/fail, audited, and withdrawn courses are normally excluded from GPA — leave them out.
  • Courses with zero or negative credits are skipped rather than silently averaged in.
  • Everything is computed in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.

Sources

Last reviewed: July 15, 2026

Weighted GPA bonus by course level

Course levelBonus addedAn A is worthA B is worth
Regular+0.04.03.0
Honors+0.54.53.5
AP / IB+1.05.04.0
Dual-enrollment / College+1.05.04.0

The most common US convention. A weighted course tops out one point above the scale maximum, so an A in AP is 5.0 — never higher. Schools vary: some give Honors a full point, some don't weight at all.

Standard 4.0 grade scale (unweighted)

Letter gradeGrade points
A+4.0
A4.0
A-3.7
B+3.3
B3.0
B-2.7
C+2.3
C2.0
C-1.7
D+1.3
D1.0
D-0.7
F0.0

The scale most US schools use. Some award 4.3 for an A+, and some don't use minus grades at all — if yours differs, edit the scale in the calculator and every figure updates.

How do you calculate a weighted GPA?+

Start from the standard 4.0 scale, then add a bonus for each course's difficulty — usually +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP, IB, or dual-enrollment classes. Multiply each course's adjusted points by its credits, total them, and divide by total credits. An A in AP is 5.0; an A in a regular class is 4.0.

Can a weighted GPA be higher than 4.0?+

Yes. That's the whole point of weighting — it rewards taking harder classes. A student with straight As in all AP classes has a 5.0 weighted GPA. On this calculator a weighted course tops out one point above the scale maximum, so 5.0 on a 4.0 scale.

How much does one AP class raise my weighted GPA?+

Less than most people expect, because GPA is an average. Adding one AP class to a 6-class schedule adds +1.0 to one course, which lifts the average by roughly 1.0 ÷ 6 ≈ 0.17. Use the calculator to see the exact effect on your own schedule.

Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?+

Both, and many recalculate their own. Weighted GPA shows you challenged yourself; unweighted shows raw performance. Since weighting rules vary between schools, admissions offices often re-derive a GPA from your transcript using their own scale, which is why your course rigour matters as much as the number.

What bonus do Honors and AP classes get?+

This calculator uses the most common convention: +0.5 for Honors and +1.0 for AP, IB, and college/dual-enrollment classes. Schools vary — some give Honors a full point, some weight nothing at all. If yours differs, edit the grade scale.

Not weighting your classes? Use the standard GPA calculator, or roll this term into your cumulative GPA.