How to Calculate Weighted Grades


Weighted grades are used by colleges and high schools to gauge students' academic performance.  Schools use a variety of weighted grade calculations and weighted grade scales.


How to Calculate Weighted Grades

Weighted grades are calculated using a weighted grade scale.  The most common weighted grade scale is the 5.0 scale.  Certain advanced classes (such as Advanced Placement and honors classes) are given additional grade points.
Take the following steps to calculate weighted grade point average:
  1. List all classes, grades, and number of credits for each.
  2. Determine the number of grade points for each class using the weighted grade scale.
  3. Multiply the number of credits by the number of grade points for each class.
  4. Divide this number by the total number of credits.
  5. The result is your weighted grade point average.

How Weighted Grades are Used

College applications are the main use for weighted grades.  Colleges frequently use their own weighted grade systems to evaluate applicants and to award scholarships.  When applying for college, it is important to learn how each college wants high school GPA reported.  Some may use unweighted GPA, some may use standard high school weighted GPA, and others may use their own proprietary system to calculate weighted grades.

Grading Scale for Weighted GPA

Learn how to calculate your weighted GPA.  It is important because many colleges use a weighted GPA to evaluate applicants.  They take regular GPA and use it to calculate weighted grades.  A weighted GPA scale gives additional grade points for courses that are more challenging than others, such as advanced placement (AP) and honors classes.  College admissions committees and scholarship committees often use this weighting system to encourage students to take more difficult courses.  By rewarding students with a higher weighted GPA score for taking AP and honors classes in high school, they aim to discourage students from taking classes that are just "easy A" classes.  This, in turn, helps them decide which students are more academically gifted. Some people argue that this method is unfair to some students.  The fact is that many admissions committees are deeply entrenched in the idea that weighted grades show a more accurate profile of a student's abilities.
There are many different GPA grading scales in use, but the most common is the 5-point weighted GPA scale (see below).  It is a traditional 4-point GPA scale for most classes.  The difference is that advanced placement (AP) and honors classes receive an extra grade point.  So, for instance, an A grade in a regular class, such as Home Economics, will receive 4 points for an A.  In comparison, an A in AP English will receive 5 grade points.  A B grade in the same AP English class would receive 4 weighted GPA points.  Here is a breakdown of the 5-point GPA scale for weighted grades:
Regular GPA:
A: 4 points
B: 3 points
C: 2 points
D: 1 point

Weighted GPA (applies to Advanced Placement and honors courses only):
A: 5 points
B: 4 points
C: 3 points
D: 2 points

Each partial grade step adjusts by 0.333.

Online GPA

When you think about calculating your grade point average, it can get overwhelming.  You have to think about weighted GPA, unweighted GPA, number of credits, and a whole slew of other things.  It's important to stay on top of your grades when you are preparing to apply for college admissions and scholarships.  To make this easier, we have created a weighted grade calculator tool.
For your other needs, we have also found some other sources online to help you out:

Unweighted GPA
GPA Excel Template
GPA Estimator


We've scoured the web and these are the best gpa calculators we have found.  In addition to being proactive about your grades for college, it is also smart to focus on SAT preparation and college essay writing skills.  It's never too early to start preparing for college and scholarship applications.
weighted GPA calculator