How to use this high school GPA calculator
- On the Semester / classes tab, choose the letter grade for each class.
- Pick the class type: Regular, Honors, AP, IB or Dual Enrollment.
- Enter the credits if your classes aren't all worth the same. Leave the box empty for 1 credit, or use 0.5 for a one-semester class.
- Your unweighted and weighted GPA appear as you go. Use Add class for more rows.
- On the Cumulative GPA tab, add this semester to your overall GPA, typed in or filled from tab 1.
How to calculate your high school GPA
Each letter grade is worth a number of grade points: an A is 4.0, a B is 3.0 and so on. Multiply each class's points by its credits, add the results, and divide by your total credits:
GPA = Σ(grade points × credits) ÷ Σ credits
Worked example: English 10, A (1 credit) · Algebra II Honors, B+ (1) · AP Biology, A− (1) · Spanish II, B (1) · PE, A (0.5 credits).
Unweighted: (4.0 + 3.3 + 3.7 + 3.0 + 4.0 × 0.5) ÷ 4.5 = 16.0 ÷ 4.5 = 3.56
Weighted: (4.0 + 3.8 + 4.7 + 3.0 + 2.0) ÷ 4.5 = 17.5 ÷ 4.5 = 3.89
The half-credit PE class counts half as much as the others, which is why credits matter.
Weighted vs unweighted GPA
| Unweighted GPA | Weighted GPA | |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | 0.0 to 4.0 | 0.0 to 5.0 |
| Class difficulty | Not counted | Bonus points |
| A in AP Biology | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| B in Honors English | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Most useful for | Comparing schools | Showing rigor |
An unweighted GPA treats every class the same. A weighted GPA rewards harder classes, so the same grades can produce different weighted GPAs.
Honors, AP, IB and Dual Enrollment: how bonus points work
This calculator uses the most common system: +0.5 for Honors classes and +1.0 for AP, IB and Dual Enrollment (college classes taken while in high school). An F stays at 0.0 in every class, and no class can count for more than 5.0. Schools set their own rules, though. Some give +1.0 for Honors, some only weight certain grades, and some don't weight at all, so check your school's policy.
How to calculate cumulative GPA
Your cumulative GPA covers every semester so far. To add a new semester, weight each GPA by its credits:
New GPA = (Current GPA × Credits so far + Semester GPA × Semester credits) ÷ (Credits so far + Semester credits)
Worked example: a 3.2 GPA over 20 credits, then a 3.8 semester worth 6 credits.
(3.2 × 20 + 3.8 × 6) ÷ 26 = 86.8 ÷ 26 = 3.34, up 0.14.
The more credits you've completed, the less one semester can move your GPA, so improvements made early count for the most.
What is a good high school GPA?
A 3.0 unweighted GPA is a B average and meets the minimum for many colleges and scholarships. Around 3.5 and above is generally seen as strong, and highly selective colleges often see many applicants near 4.0 unweighted. A weighted GPA above 4.0 usually means strong grades in advanced classes. Colleges consider much more than GPA, so treat these as general ranges, not guarantees.
Letter grade, percentage and GPA
| Letter grade | Percentage | Unweighted | Honors | AP / IB / DE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A | 93–96.99 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A− | 90–92.99 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 87–89.99 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| B | 83–86.99 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| B− | 80–82.99 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| C+ | 77–79.99 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| C | 73–76.99 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| C− | 70–72.99 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.7 |
| D+ | 67–69.99 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| D | 63–66.99 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| D− | 60–62.99 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| F | Below 60 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
These are the same ranges our Grade Calculator uses. Grading scales differ between schools and countries, so check yours.
Tips to raise your GPA
- Start now. Every completed semester makes your GPA harder to move.
- Prioritise high-credit classes. A full-year class affects your GPA twice as much as a half-credit one.
- Choose challenge you can handle. An AP class adds bonus points to a weighted GPA, but a much lower grade can cancel them out.
- Ask for help early. Tutoring works best weeks before a test, not the night before.
- Watch your trend. Colleges notice steady improvement.
Frequently asked questions
Can a high school GPA be higher than 4.0?
An unweighted GPA can't go above 4.0, because an A is worth 4.0 in every class. A weighted GPA can, because Honors, AP, IB and Dual Enrollment classes earn bonus points. On this calculator a weighted GPA can reach 5.0, for straight A's in AP, IB or Dual Enrollment classes.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted GPA?
It varies. Many colleges look at both, and many recalculate GPA on their own scale, often using only core academic classes. They also look at how challenging your classes were, so taking Honors or AP classes can matter even if a college recalculates your GPA.
Does freshman year count toward GPA?
Usually, yes. Your cumulative high school GPA normally includes every graded class from 9th grade onward. Some colleges pay closer attention to 10th and 11th grade or to an upward trend, but freshman grades are still part of your transcript.
What is a good high school GPA?
A 3.0 unweighted GPA is a B average and meets the minimum for many colleges and scholarships. Around 3.5 and above is generally seen as strong, and highly selective colleges often see many applicants near 4.0 unweighted. GPA is only one part of an application, so these are general ranges rather than guarantees.
How many credits is a high school class?
A full-year class is often worth 1 credit and a one-semester class 0.5 credits, but schools differ. Some use 5 or 10 credits per class. The calculator works with any system, because only the credits relative to each other affect your GPA.
How can I raise a low GPA?
Focus on the classes you're taking now, especially those worth the most credits, and get help early rather than before finals. Your GPA moves more slowly the more credits you have completed, so start as soon as possible. The Cumulative GPA tab shows how much one strong semester can lift your overall GPA.