What is the difference between unweighted and weighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA measures grade averages on a standard 4.0 scale regardless of course difficulty (A=4.0). Weighted GPA awards extra points for challenging courses: Honors (+0.5, 4.5 scale) and Advanced Placement (AP) / International Baccalaureate (IB) (+1.0, 5.0 scale).
What grade points correspond to letter grades in the US?
Standard US grade points: A+ (4.0), A (4.0), A- (3.7), B+ (3.3), B (3.0), B- (2.7), C+ (2.3), C (2.0), C- (1.7), D+ (1.3), D (1.0), F (0.0).
How do credit hours affect GPA calculation?
GPA is a credit-weighted average. A 4-credit course has twice the impact on your overall GPA as a 2-credit course. Multiply each grade point by credit hours, sum them up, and divide by total credit hours.
What is considered a good GPA for US college admissions?
A 3.0 to 3.5 unweighted GPA is solid for state universities. Top 50 universities generally look for a 3.75+ unweighted GPA, while Ivy League and top tier colleges expect 3.9+ with high AP/IB course rigor.
How does this tool calculate cumulative GPA?
Your cumulative GPA combines your prior total grade points and credits earned with your current semester total grade points and credits to yield your updated total GPA.
Can weighted GPA exceed 4.0?
Yes! Students taking multiple AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment courses who achieve straight A's can reach weighted GPAs of 4.5, 4.8, or up to 5.0.