This guide explains how weighted and unweighted GPA works in high school, how to include credits, and how to compare semester GPA with cumulative GPA.
What Is High School GPA?
Your high school GPA (Grade Point Average) is a single number that summarizes your academic performance across all your courses. It’s one of the most important factors in college admissions, scholarship applications, and class rank.
Most US high schools report both:
- Unweighted GPA — on a standard 4.0 scale where an A = 4.0 regardless of course difficulty.
- Weighted GPA — on a 5.0 scale that gives bonus points for Honors (+0.5) and AP/IB (+1.0) courses.
How to Calculate High School GPA
Step 1: Convert Grades to Points
| Letter Grade | Unweighted | Honors (+0.5) | AP/IB (+1.0) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| B | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| C | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| D | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| F | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Step 2: Multiply by Credits
Each course is typically worth 1.0 credit for a full year or 0.5 credits for a semester.
Step 3: Calculate the Average
GPA = Total Quality Points ÷ Total CreditsSemester vs. Cumulative GPA
- Semester GPA covers a single term — useful for tracking short-term progress.
- Cumulative GPA averages all semesters to date — this is the number colleges care about most.
Try the Calculator
Use the GPA Weighted Calculator on the homepage to model your schedule and GPA outcomes. Enter your courses, grades, and course levels to see both weighted and unweighted results instantly.
Calculate Your GPA Now
Use our free GPA weighted calculator to get instant, accurate results. Supports AP, IB, and Honors courses.
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