How to use the GPA Calculator
Add each course, pick your grade and credit hours. The calculator shows your GPA instantly on a 4.0 scale. Enable Weighted GPA to add +1.0 for Honors, AP, or IB courses.
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What GPA do colleges want?
Most 4-year colleges expect 3.0+. Selective schools (top 50) look for 3.7–4.0. Community colleges generally accept any GPA.
Weighted vs Unweighted
Unweighted treats all classes equally (max 4.0). Weighted rewards harder courses — AP/IB/Honors get +1.0, so max is 5.0.
How to improve your GPA
Focus on high-credit courses first. Retaking a failed course replaces the F at many schools. Consistent B+ beats one A and several C's.
Grade point scale
| Grade | Points | Grade | Points | Grade | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 4.3 / 4.0 | B+ / B | 3.3 / 3.0 | C+ / C | 2.3 / 2.0 |
| A− | 3.7 | B− | 2.7 | D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 | ||||
Weighted vs unweighted GPA: what colleges actually see
An unweighted GPA treats every course the same on a 4.0 scale, so an A in physical education is worth as much as an A in AP Calculus. A weighted GPA adds extra points for honors, AP, and IB courses — typically +0.5 for honors and +1.0 for AP/IB — so a student with challenging classes can exceed 4.0.
Colleges use both numbers, but for different purposes. Your cumulative weighted GPA shows the rigor of your schedule, while the unweighted GPA is used for class ranking and for many scholarship formulas. A 3.5 weighted GPA with four AP classes is generally viewed more favorably than a 4.0 from an easy schedule.
How to raise your GPA
- Recheck your school's scale — some districts use 4.33, 5.0, or 100-point scales
- Prioritize high-credit courses: one bad grade in a 1-credit elective hurts less than the same grade in a 4-credit core class
- Ask about grade replacement or retake policies before signing up for expensive summer classes
- Balance rigor: an A in regular physics beats a C in AP physics for both GPA and admission
Enter your courses above to see both scales, then talk to your counselor about your school's exact weighting policy — many transcripts list a different GPA than students calculate on their own.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.5 GPA good for college admissions?
A 3.5 unweighted GPA is above the national average of about 3.0 and competitive at most public universities and many selective private colleges. For the most competitive schools, admitted students typically average 3.7–4.0 with a heavy load of AP or IB courses, which is why weighted GPA is shown alongside the unweighted number.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA scores every course on the same 4.0 scale, so an A in gym is worth the same as an A in AP Calculus. Weighted GPA adds bonus points for advanced courses — typically +1.0 for AP, IB, and Honors — so a weighted GPA can exceed 4.0, often reaching 4.5–5.0. Colleges see both: the unweighted number shows your baseline, the weighted number shows course rigor.
How much does one bad grade hurt my GPA?
It depends on the course's credit weight. A single C in a 4-credit course on an otherwise perfect 4.0 transcript drops the GPA to roughly 3.9; a C in a 1-credit elective barely moves it. Because every grade is averaged into the same pool, earlier grades have less influence as you take more courses — one low grade matters most in freshman year.
How do I convert percentage grades to a 4.0 GPA?
The standard conversion is: 90–100% = A (4.0), 80–89% = B (3.0), 70–79% = C (2.0), 60–69% = D (1.0), below 60% = F (0.0). Many schools use plus/minus adjustments — for example 93–96% = A (4.0) and 90–92% = A− (3.7). The calculator above lets you enter grades directly on whichever scale your school uses.