What is Unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA is the standard method for measuring academic performance. It uses a scale from 0.0 to 4.0. In this system, the difficulty of the course does not matter.
An 'A' in P.E. counts exactly the same as an 'A' in AP Calculus: 4.0 points.
Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA
- Raw performance metric
- Equal value for all classes
- Includes difficulty bonus
- AP/Honors count more
How to Calculate Unweighted GPA
First, you must convert your letter grades into "Quality Points" using the standard table below.
| Letter Grade | Percent | GPA Points |
|---|---|---|
| A / A+ | 93-100% | 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 |
| D | 65-69% | 1.0 |
| F | < 65% | 0.0 |
Calculation Formula
Example Scenario
Do Colleges Look at Weighted or Unweighted GPA?
Why do colleges still look at Unweighted GPA if AP classes are harder?
It serves as the Great Equalizer. Not every high school offers 20 different AP classes. Unweighted GPA allows admissions officers to see how well you performed in the core subjects (Math, Science, English) without the noise of different weighting systems.
Admissions Benchmarks
*Note: Colleges will look at your Course Rigor alongside these numbers. A 4.0 with only easy classes is less impressive than a 3.8 with rigorous ones.
Unweighted GPA FAQ
Common questions about the standard 4.0 grading scale.