GGrade and GPA Calc
Last Updated: May 2026

Weighted GPA Calculator

Built for AP, IB, and Honors students. See how your advanced courses boost your GPA on a 5.0 scale.

A weighted GPA gives you credit for taking harder classes. Most high schools add bonus points to your grade when you enroll in AP, IB, or Honors courses. This calculator applies those bonuses automatically.

Here is how the bonus system works. A regular class has no bonus. An Honors class adds 0.5 to your grade point value. An AP or IB class adds 1.0. So an A in a regular class equals 4.0. An A in an Honors class equals 4.5. An A in an AP class equals 5.0.

Colleges see both your weighted and unweighted GPA. Many use only the unweighted GPA for comparison since grading scales vary by school. But a strong weighted GPA still signals that you challenged yourself. Use the GPA Scale page to see all grade point values.

Enter your courses below. Select the course type for each one. The calculator handles the bonus math instantly.

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Unweighted GPA
3.60
out of 4.0
Weighted GPA
4.10
out of 5.0
Unweighted breakdown
3.60
Good Standing
0.0ProbationAverageGoodHonor RollDean's List4.0
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Calculation breakdown

CourseGradeCreditsQuality Pts
AP US HistoryA15.00
AP Calculus BCB+14.30
Honors EnglishA-14.20
Spanish 3B13.00
ChemistryA14.00
Total520.50
Formula: 20.50 ÷ 5 = 4.10
What weighted GPA tells colleges: Your weighted GPA rewards the harder courses you're taking. Admissions officers at most colleges will recalculate your GPA using their own method — but weighted GPA signals course rigor.
Weight legend
Course TypeGrade BonusA =B =
Regular+0.04.03.0
Honors+0.54.53.5
AP / IB+1.05.04.0
Ivy League context: For context, the average unweighted GPA of admitted students at Ivy League schools is approximately 3.9. Colleges typically look at both GPAs and your course rigor.

How Weighted GPA Is Calculated

The formula is the same as standard GPA, with one change. Before multiplying by credits, you add the course-type bonus to the grade point value.

Example: You earn a B+ in an AP class worth 3 credits. B+ is normally 3.3 points. Add the 1.0 AP bonus. Your adjusted value is 4.3. Multiply by 3 credits: 12.9 quality points.

Run the same calculation for each course. Add all quality points. Divide by total credits. That is your weighted GPA.

The national average weighted high school GPA is around 3.5. Ivy League admits typically show a weighted GPA above 4.2. High-achieving students at competitive high schools often reach 4.5 or higher.

Need to know how your GPA stacks up for college applications? Try the High School GPA Calculator side by side with this one.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A weighted GPA is a GPA calculation that gives bonus points to grades earned in more challenging courses. Under the most common system used by U.S. high schools, Honors classes add 0.5 bonus points to the base grade point value, and AP (Advanced Placement) or IB (International Baccalaureate) classes add 1.0 bonus point. This means an A in an AP class is worth 5.0 instead of the standard 4.0, and the GPA is calculated on a 5.0 scale rather than a 4.0 scale.
Most colleges recalculate your GPA on their own scale during admissions review, which means they often strip away the bonus points and compare all applicants on an unweighted 4.0 scale. However, rigorous course selection still matters. Admissions offices look at both the GPA and the transcript to see how challenging your schedule was. A student with a 3.8 unweighted GPA in all AP courses is generally viewed more favorably than a student with a 3.8 in all standard courses.
The highest possible weighted GPA under the standard Honors/AP/IB bonus system is 5.0, which would require earning an A or A+ in every AP or IB course with no non-advanced courses on the transcript. In practice, most students carry a mix of course types. A weighted GPA above 4.0 is strong and above 4.5 is exceptional at most U.S. high schools.
No. Colleges use their own GPA scale, typically an unweighted 4.0 scale. Once you enroll, your grades are calculated fresh with no high school bonus points. College courses do not distinguish between levels the same way high school does. Some colleges use plus and minus grades; others use straight letter grades. Your college GPA starts at zero on day one.
AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International Baccalaureate) classes receive the same 1.0 bonus point in most weighted GPA systems. Both add 1.0 to the base grade point value. An A in either an AP or IB class equals 5.0 on a weighted scale. The difference between the programs is in curriculum structure. AP courses are standalone classes with a single exam. IB is a full diploma program with interconnected coursework. For GPA calculation purposes, they are treated identically by most U.S. high schools.
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