The Difference Between Weighted and Unweighted GPA

Many high schools in the United States have implemented a weighted GPA scale to encourage students to take honors and AP classes.  The logic behind this is to have a more fair class rank--you have to take more difficult classes to rank highly in your classes.  But many admissions committees and scholarship committees do not look at weighted GPA in the admissions process.  Here is an explanation of the difference between weighted GPA and unweighted GPA.

Weighted GPA
This uses a weighted scale to determine your GPA.  Additional points are given for AP and honors classes.  Therefore, if you get a B in AP European History and an A in wood shop, both will have a similar impact on your weighted GPA (depending on your school's exact weighting scale).  The GPA grade calculation of the weighted GPA is the same once you use the weighted scale.

Unweighted GPA
This is the traditional way of calculating grade point average.  Each class is given the same importance.  An A in wood shop gets the same points as an A in AP Calculus.  You still weigh the classes by the number of credit hours to get a weighted average GPA.

To better understand the difference, you can use a weighted grade calculator to see how the increased weighted grade points for advanced classes effect improve your weighted GPA.  When converting unweighted GPA to weighted GPA, the grade average will always increase.  This is because the grades for honors and AP classes receive more points for the same grade when converting to a weighted grade scale.

The Difference Between Weighted GPA and Unweighted GPA in High School
Many high schools have both types of grading scales.  The weighted scale is often used in high schools to determine class ranks.  This class rank is the measure used to select a valedictorian.  By using a weighted grading system, high schools can separate those students who excel in difficult classes from those who do well in easier courses.

The Difference Between Weighted GPA and Unweighted GPA for College Admissions
While most colleges do not use weighted grades once you enroll, many colleges use weighted GPA as part of the application process.  It helps college admissions committees to reward students who took difficult classes in high school.  Students can increase their chances of getting into the college of their choice by increasing their weighted grades.