Unweighted GPA Calculator
Calculate your unweighted GPA on the plain 4.0 scale — every course counts the same, no matter how difficult it is. Enter your courses below to see your unweighted GPA, and at the same time convert it to a weighted GPA with honors and AP/IB bonuses.
What Is an Unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA is a grade point average calculated on the plain 4.0 scale, with no extra credit for how difficult a course was. An A is worth 4.0 grade points whether the course is a regular class, an honors class, or an AP or IB class. A B is worth 3.0, a C is worth 2.0, and so on, regardless of the course level.
Because every course is treated the same way, an unweighted GPA gives a straightforward picture of grades alone. It does not reward students for taking harder courses — that is what a weighted GPA does. The highest possible unweighted GPA is 4.0, and it cannot go above that cap, even if a student earns all As in advanced courses.
Many high schools report unweighted GPA alongside weighted GPA, and many colleges use the unweighted figure when they want to compare students from different schools on a common scale.
Unweighted vs Weighted GPA
The difference comes down to one question: does course difficulty change the grade points? In an unweighted GPA, it does not. In a weighted GPA, it does.
| Unweighted GPA | Weighted GPA | |
|---|---|---|
| Scale cap | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Honors or AP bonus | No | Yes |
| Value of an A | 4.0 in every course | 4.0 regular, 4.5 honors, 5.0 AP/IB |
| Who uses it | High schools and colleges that want a standard, comparable measure | High schools that want to recognize advanced coursework; colleges may recalculate it |
For example, an A in an AP course is still 4.0 in an unweighted GPA. In a weighted GPA using the rules on this page, that same A becomes 5.0. The grade has not changed — only the way difficulty is rewarded.
How to Calculate Unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA is a credit-weighted average. Each course contributes quality points based on its grade and its credits, and the total is divided by the total credits.
First, convert each letter grade to grade points on the 4.0 scale. Then multiply those points by the course credits to get that course's quality points. Add up the quality points for every course, add up the credits, and divide. Courses with more credits carry more weight in the result, because they contribute more quality points.
Unweighted GPA Calculation Example
Suppose you completed three courses, each worth 3 credits:
| Course | Grade | Grade Points | Credits | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calculus | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| English | B | 3.0 | 3 | 9.0 |
| Psychology | B+ | 3.3 | 3 | 9.9 |
Total quality points = 12.0 + 9.0 + 9.9 = 30.9.
Total credits = 3 + 3 + 3 = 9.
Unweighted GPA = 30.9 ÷ 9 = 3.43
So the unweighted GPA for these three courses is 3.43 on the 4.0 scale.
If the Psychology Course Were AP
Now suppose the Psychology course were an AP course instead of a regular course. The unweighted GPA would not change, because difficulty does not affect it. The weighted GPA, however, would add 1.0 to the B+ value of 3.3, giving 4.3 — still below the 5.0 cap.
Weighted GPA = (12 + 9 + (3.3 + 1.0) × 3) ÷ 9 = (12 + 9 + 12.9) ÷ 9 = 33.9 ÷ 9 = 3.77
The same three courses therefore give an unweighted GPA of 3.43 and a weighted GPA of 3.77.
How the Unweighted to Weighted Converter Works
This calculator shows both figures from the same courses. The unweighted GPA uses the plain grade points for every course. The weighted GPA then adjusts each course by its course type:
- Regular: no bonus — the grade points stay the same.
- Honors: add 0.5 grade points.
- AP/IB: add 1.0 grade points.
- Each course's weighted grade points are capped at 5.0, so an A in an AP/IB course is 5.0, not 6.0.
Weighted quality points are then calculated the same way as unweighted quality points — weighted grade points multiplied by credits — and divided by total credits.
Please note: weighting policies vary by school. Some schools use different bonus amounts, different caps, or do not weight grades at all, and many colleges recalculate GPA themselves using their own rules. Treat the weighted figure here as a useful estimate based on the common rules above, not as an official transcript value.
What Is a Good Unweighted GPA?
There is no single number that is good in every situation, but the 4.0 scale gives a useful guide. A GPA around 3.0 represents roughly a B average. A GPA of 3.5 or higher is generally considered strong, and a GPA near 4.0 means almost all As.
Context matters. A 3.5 alongside demanding honors or AP courses tells a different story than the same number in only regular courses, and different programs, scholarships, and colleges set different expectations. Use your GPA as one measure of your progress, alongside your course choices, improvement over time, and the requirements of the programs you are aiming for.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the name of each course, or leave the course name blank — it is optional.
- Select the letter grade you received or expect to receive for each course.
- Enter the number of credits for that course.
- Select the course type: Regular, Honors, or AP/IB. Regular courses add no bonus; Honors adds 0.5 and AP/IB adds 1.0 to the weighted GPA only.
- Add more courses with the "+ Add another course" button, or remove a course with the × button on its row.
- Select Calculate my GPA to see your unweighted GPA, weighted GPA, total credits, and total quality points. Use Reset all to start over.
You can use the calculator for a single semester by entering only that term's courses, or for a longer period by entering all the eligible courses together.
4.0 GPA Scale
This is a common reference scale. Your institution may use different grade-point values or percentage boundaries.
| Letter grade | Common percentage range* | Grade points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96% | 4.0 |
| A− | 90–92% | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89% | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86% | 3.0 |
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 |
| D | 60–69% | 1.0 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
*Percentage ranges are shown only as a general example. Schools may use different percentage-to-letter-grade boundaries.
Unweighted GPA is capped at 4.0
No matter how many honors or AP courses you take, an unweighted GPA cannot go above 4.0. Extra points for advanced courses only appear in the weighted GPA.
Check your school's weighting policy
Weighting policies vary by school, and many colleges recalculate GPA themselves. Always use your institution's official grading policy when an exact GPA is required.
Unweighted GPA Calculator FAQs
Answers to common questions about unweighted GPA, weighted GPA, and converting between the two.
An unweighted GPA uses the plain 4.0 scale with no extra points for course difficulty. A weighted GPA adds bonus points for advanced courses such as honors, AP, or IB, so it can rise above 4.0.
No. An unweighted GPA is capped at 4.0 on the standard scale, because no bonus points are added for honors or AP/IB courses. Only a weighted GPA can go above 4.0.
Yes, on the 4.0 scale used by this calculator an A+ counts as 4.0, the same as an A. Some schools use different scales, so check your school's official grading policy if an exact value is required.
Add 0.5 grade points for each honors course and 1.0 for each AP/IB course, cap each course at 5.0, then divide the total weighted quality points by total credits. This calculator does that conversion automatically when you choose a course type for each course.
Many colleges look at both, and many recalculate GPA using their own rules so applicants from different schools can be compared fairly. An unweighted GPA gives a clear, standard measure, while a weighted GPA also shows how much advanced coursework a student took.
Yes, 3.5 on the 4.0 scale is generally considered strong, above a B average. What counts as good still depends on your school, program, and goals, so compare it with the expectations of the programs you are aiming for.
Often they do not contribute grade points to a GPA, because they do not receive a normal letter grade. Policies vary by school, so check your school's academic regulations before including a pass/fail course in a GPA calculation.
Enter each course's letter grade, credits, and course type. The calculator multiplies grade points by credits, adds the quality points, and divides by total credits for the unweighted GPA, then applies the honors and AP/IB bonuses for the weighted GPA.