Weighted GPA Calculator
A weighted GPA gives extra credit for harder courses: most US high schools add 0.5 grade points for an Honors class and 1.0 for AP or IB, on top of the normal 4.0-scale grade, before averaging by credit hours. Enter each course's base grade points, its credit hours, and its bonus (0 for Regular, 0.5 for Honors, 1 for AP/IB) to get your weighted GPA.
How Weighted GPA Is Calculated
For each course, add its level bonus (0 for Regular, 0.5 for Honors, 1.0 for AP/IB) to its base grade points on the 4.0 scale, multiply by that course's credit hours to get quality points, then divide the total quality points by the total credit hours: weighted GPA = Σ((grade + bonus) × credits) ÷ Σ(credits).
Worked Example
Three 3-credit classes, all A's (4.0 base): one Regular (bonus 0 → 4.0), one Honors (bonus 0.5 → 4.5), one AP (bonus 1.0 → 5.0). Quality points: 4.0×3 + 4.5×3 + 5.0×3 = 40.5. Total credits: 9. Weighted GPA = 40.5 ÷ 9 = 4.50.
Why Weighting Varies by School
There is no single national standard for weighted GPA — the 0.5/1.0 bonus is the most common convention among US high schools, but some use a 5.0 scale cap, some weight IB courses differently from AP, and some don't weight at all. Confirm your own school's policy before comparing your result to an official transcript GPA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a weighted and unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA caps every class at 4.0 for an A, no matter how hard it is. A weighted GPA adds bonus points for Honors (+0.5) and AP/IB (+1.0) classes, so a weighted GPA can go above 4.0.
How many bonus points do Honors and AP classes add?
The most common US convention adds 0.5 grade points for Honors and 1.0 for AP or IB courses, on a 4.0 base scale. An A in an AP class becomes 5.0 instead of 4.0.
Can a weighted GPA be higher than 4.0?
Yes. Taking several AP or Honors classes and earning high grades in them can push a weighted GPA above 4.0 — 5.0 or higher is possible with an all-AP course load of A's.
Does every school use the same weighting scale?
No. The 0.5 / 1.0 bonus is the most widely used convention, but some schools use different bonus values, cap how many weighted courses count, weight IB differently from AP, or don't weight at all. Check your school's handbook or registrar for its exact policy.
What bonus value do I enter for a regular (non-Honors, non-AP) class?
Enter 0. A regular class keeps its normal grade points (for example, an A stays 4.0) with no added bonus.
What if my school doesn't offer Honors or AP classes?
Enter 0 as the bonus for every course — the result will be the same as an unweighted GPA, since no course receives extra weight.