GPA calculator that shows weighted and unweighted together
Enter your courses once and get both numbers side by side, because they answer different questions. Comparing the wrong one against a published average is how people end up misjudging where they stand.
Useful alongside the AP Exam Hub if you are taking AP courses. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is stored or sent anywhere.
Two GPAs, two different questions
Your GPA is a credit-weighted average of grade points, not a plain average of grades. Each course contributes grade points × credits, its "quality points", and the GPA is the total quality points divided by total credits. A five-credit course moves your average far more than a one-credit one.
The unweighted figure caps at 4.0 and treats every course the same. The weighted figure adds bonus points for harder courses, which is why transcripts sometimes show a GPA above 4.0. Neither figure is more correct than the other. They are used for different things, and most colleges recalculate to their own scale anyway.
The 4.0 scale
A = 4.0, B = 3.0, C = 2.0
Plus and minus grades sit between: A− is 3.7, B+ is 3.3. A+ counts the same as A on most scales, which is what is used here.
Credit weighting
points × credits ÷ total credits
A course worth more credits pulls the average harder. This is why one bad grade in a heavy course hurts more than one in an elective.
Honors and AP bonuses
+0.5 and +1.0
Applied only to the weighted figure. The exact bonus varies by school, so check yours against these, which are the most common values.
Failing grades
F = 0.0, no bonus
An F earns zero either way. A failed AP course does not receive the +1.0 bonus, which some calculators get wrong.
How the arithmetic works
Four courses, one credit each
A−, B+ (AP), A, B (Honors)- Convert each grade to points: A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, A = 4.0, B = 3.0.
- Unweighted total: 3.7 + 3.3 + 4.0 + 3.0 = 14.0 quality points.
- Divide by total credits: 14.0 ÷ 4 = 3.50.
- Now add the bonuses: the AP course becomes 4.3 and the Honors course 3.5, giving 15.5 total.
- Weighted: 15.5 ÷ 4 = 3.88.
Why credits change everything
Same grades, different weights- Say you take a 4-credit course and get a C (2.0), and a 1-credit course and get an A (4.0).
- Quality points: 2.0 × 4 = 8 and 4.0 × 1 = 4, total 12.
- Total credits: 5. GPA = 12 ÷ 5 = 2.40.
- A plain average of the two letter grades would have suggested 3.0. The credit weighting is the whole difference.
GPA calculator FAQ
What's the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted treats every course equally on a 4.0 scale. Weighted adds bonus points for harder courses, typically +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP or IB, so it can exceed 4.0. Schools report one or both, and college admissions often recalculate using their own formula.
Is an A+ worth more than an A?
On most scales, no. Both count as 4.0, which is what this calculator uses. A few schools award 4.3 for an A+. If yours does, your official GPA will be slightly higher than the figure here.
How much do credits matter?
A lot. GPA is credit-weighted, so a grade in a 4-credit course counts four times as much as the same grade in a 1-credit course. That is usually the reason a GPA looks lower than the grades feel.
Does a failed AP class still get the bonus?
No. An F is zero points, and no bonus is added on top of zero. Some calculators incorrectly award 1.0 for a failed AP course.
Are my grades saved or sent anywhere?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is transmitted or stored. Close the tab and it is gone.
My school uses a different bonus. Can I still use this?
The unweighted figure is standard and will match. For weighted, check your school's bonus values; if they differ from +0.5 and +1.0 the weighted number here will be close but not exact.