Understanding High School GPA
Your high school GPA is one of the most important factors in college admissions. It represents your academic performance throughout high school and is calculated based on your grades in all courses.
There are two types of high school GPAs:
- Unweighted GPA: Uses a standard 4.0 scale where A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, etc.
- Weighted GPA: Gives extra points for advanced classes (AP, IB, Honors), typically using a 5.0 scale
Weighted vs Unweighted GPA
Unweighted GPA (4.0 Scale)
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| B | 3.0 |
| C | 2.0 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
Weighted GPA (5.0 Scale)
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A (AP/IB/Honors) | 5.0 |
| B (AP/IB/Honors) | 4.0 |
| C (AP/IB/Honors) | 3.0 |
| D (AP/IB/Honors) | 2.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
How to Calculate High School GPA
- List all your courses from each semester or year
- Assign point values based on letter grades (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0)
- Add +1 point for AP, IB, or Honors courses if calculating weighted GPA
- Calculate total points: Multiply each grade's points by credit hours
- Divide total points by total credit hours to get your GPA
Example Calculation:
Student taking 5 courses (each 1 credit):
- • AP Calculus: A (5.0 weighted) = 5.0 points
- • English: B+ (3.3 unweighted) = 3.3 points
- • AP History: A- (4.7 weighted) = 4.7 points
- • Chemistry: B (3.0 unweighted) = 3.0 points
- • Spanish: A (4.0 unweighted) = 4.0 points
Weighted GPA = (5.0 + 3.3 + 4.7 + 3.0 + 4.0) / 5 = 4.0
What Classes Are Weighted?
Weighted grades typically apply to:
AP Classes
Advanced Placement courses from College Board
IB Classes
International Baccalaureate program courses
Honors Classes
Accelerated or honors-level courses
GPA Requirements for College
| College Type | Typical GPA Range | Weighted/Unweighted |
|---|---|---|
| Ivy League | 3.9-4.0+ | Weighted 4.5+ |
| Top Private Universities | 3.7-3.9 | Weighted 4.2+ |
| State Universities | 3.0-3.7 | Varies |
| Community Colleges | 2.0+ | Open admission |
High School GPA FAQs
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
Most colleges consider both. They look at unweighted GPA to see your actual grades and weighted GPA to see the rigor of your course load.
Can my GPA be higher than 4.0?
Yes, with weighted grades! If you take AP, IB, or honors classes, your weighted GPA can exceed 4.0, sometimes reaching 5.0 or higher.
How can I raise my high school GPA?
Focus on getting better grades in your current classes, take weighted courses if available, and do well in all your classes, especially core subjects.