How to Calculate Weighted and Unweighted GPA: Student Guide

Your GPA (Grade Point Average) is one of the most important numbers in your academic journey. It not only reflects your performance in high school or college but also plays a key role in college and medical school applications. Understanding the difference between weighted and unweighted GPAs is essential for tracking your progress, selecting the right courses, and preparing a strong application.

This guide explains both types of GPAs, how to calculate them, and what admissions committees look for beyond the numbers.

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Weighted GPA vs. Unweighted GPA: The Key Difference

Unweighted GPA: Calculated on a 4.0 scale, treating all classes the same regardless of difficulty. An A equals 4.0 whether it’s earned in a standard class or an advanced one.
Weighted GPA: Adjusts for the rigor of courses such as AP, IB, or honors. Schools often use a 5.0 scale (sometimes higher), meaning you could earn above a 4.0 if you excel in advanced classes.

In short, unweighted GPAs show performance alone, while weighted GPAs recognize students who challenge themselves with more rigorous coursework.

How to Calculate an Unweighted GPA

Convert each course grade into grade points (see table below).
Add up all grade points.
Divide by the total number of courses.

Grade Point Conversion Table

Letter Grade	Percent Range	Grade Point
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+	67–69	1.3
D	65–66	1.0
F	Below 65	0.0

Example:

If a student takes six courses and earns grade points totaling 22.3, dividing by six gives an unweighted GPA of 3.72.

How to Calculate a Weighted GPA

Weighted GPA adds extra points for advanced courses. A common system assigns:

+1.0 for AP or IB classes
+0.5 for honors classes

Example:

AP English (A+) = 5.0
Calculus (B+) = 3.3
Chemistry (B) = 3.0
World History (A) = 4.0
Band (A+) = 4.0
AP Spanish (A) = 5.0

With weighting, the GPA rises to 4.72 instead of 3.72. This difference highlights the value of advanced coursework in boosting your GPA.

Do Colleges Look at Weighted or Unweighted GPAs?

The answer depends on the institution. Many schools consider both, but medical schools and competitive programs often recalculate GPAs to focus on core subjects like biology, chemistry, and math.

For admissions committees, context matters:

A 3.7 GPA in advanced courses may be more impressive than a perfect 4.0 in standard courses.
Extracurriculars, research, volunteer work, and strong recommendation letters often weigh as heavily as GPA.

For students considering medicine, GPA is just one component. Clinical exposure, such as shadowing or internships, also makes a significant difference. Opportunities like Go Elective’s pre-med internships abroad can strengthen your profile by combining academic performance with real-world healthcare experience.

Weighted & Unweighted GPA Calculators

Many online GPA calculators can simplify the process by letting you input your grades and course types. These tools are especially useful if your school uses an uncommon GPA scale (such as 6.0, 9.0, or 10.0 systems).

FAQs About GPA

#1. Is it better to report weighted or unweighted GPA?

Report whichever is higher, but expect colleges to review both.

#2. What is a 3.7 weighted GPA unweighted?

It may convert to around 3.4–3.5, but this varies by school system.

#3. Do colleges prefer weighted GPAs?

Most give added value to weighted GPAs because they reflect course rigor.

Final Thoughts

Understanding how to calculate both weighted and unweighted GPAs is an important step in preparing for college or medical school. While GPA is critical, admissions committees consider more than numbers. A strong application combines challenging coursework, extracurricular involvement, clinical or research experience, and compelling personal narratives.

For aspiring healthcare professionals, pairing strong academics with hands-on exposure through Go Elective’s medical internships abroad can make your application stand out.

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