Weighted vs unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA uses the plain 4.0 scale: an A is 4.0 in any class. A weighted GPA adds bonus points for harder classes, so an A in AP Biology can count as 5.0. Colleges usually see both, and many recalculate your GPA with their own rules.
| Class level | Usual bonus | A becomes | B becomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | +0 | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Honors | +0.5 | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| AP, IB, dual enrollment | +1.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 |
Bonuses go to passing grades only. An F stays 0 in any class.
Check your school's rules
- Some schools give Honors +1.0, or weight only junior and senior years.
- Some cap the number of weighted classes.
- Many colleges recompute a weighted GPA from your 10th and 11th grade academic classes only.
Set the bonuses under Settings, and leave the level at Regular for classes your school doesn't weight.
Questions
What is a good weighted GPA?
It depends on how many weighted classes your school offers. A weighted 4.0 with mostly AP classes can be stronger than a 4.3 from a school that weights everything. Colleges read GPA together with course rigor.
Is a 4.0 weighted GPA good?
A weighted 4.0 usually means mostly A’s and B’s with some honors or AP classes. Compare it with your unweighted GPA and your school’s profile, which colleges also see.
Do colleges use weighted or unweighted GPA?
Both appear on your application. Many selective colleges recalculate GPA themselves, often using only core academic classes from grades 10 and 11.
Sources
- UC Berkeley Office of the Registrar, Grades and grading (A+ = 4.0; P, NP, I excluded): registrar.berkeley.edu/academic-records/grades-grading (checked 2026-11-06)
- Cornell University, transcript key (A+ = 4.3): registrar.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/2025-10/BACK_PDF%20for%20web.pdf (checked 2026-11-06)
- Columbia University School of Professional Studies, grades (percentage bands): sps.columbia.edu/students/student-advising-academic-success/academic-policies-procedures/grades (checked 2026-11-06)