High School GPA Calculator
Calculate your weighted or unweighted high school GPA in seconds. Supports all letter grades and credit hours.
Your courses
Your GPA
What is a High School GPA Calculator?
A high school GPA calculator converts your letter grades into a grade point average using the standard 4.0 scale. It handles both weighted and unweighted calculations, supports plus/minus grades, and accounts for credit hours per course. Students use it to track their academic standing, set grade goals, predict how future grades will affect their GPA, and prepare for college applications.
How to calculate GPA manually (the formula)
The basic formula is: GPA = Total grade points earned ÷ Total credit hours attempted
Step 1: Assign a point value to each letter grade: 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
Step 2: Multiply each grade point by the course's credit hours
Step 3: Add up all the weighted grade points
Step 4: Add up all the credit hours
Step 5: Divide total grade points by total credit hours
For weighted GPA, add 0.5 or 1.0 bonus points per grade for AP, IB, or honours classes before multiplying by credits.
Example calculation
A student has the following courses with unweighted grading:
English (4 credits): A (4.0) = 4.0 × 4 = 16.0 points
Math (4 credits): B+ (3.3) = 3.3 × 4 = 13.2 points
Science (3 credits): A- (3.7) = 3.7 × 3 = 11.1 points
History (3 credits): B (3.0) = 3.0 × 3 = 9.0 points
Elective (2 credits): A (4.0) = 4.0 × 2 = 8.0 points
Total points: 16.0 + 13.2 + 11.1 + 9.0 + 8.0 = 57.3
Total credits: 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 2 = 16
GPA: 57.3 ÷ 16 = 3.58
Common mistakes
- Using the wrong scale for weighted classes — not adding the extra 0.5 or 1.0 for AP/IB/honours classes makes your weighted GPA lower than it should be.
- Ignoring credit hours — a semester-long course and a year-long course count differently. Always multiply grade points by credits, not just by number of courses.
- Counting pass/fail or audit courses — these do not affect GPA and should not be included in the calculation.
- Mixing weighted and unweighted in the same calculation — decide which GPA you want to calculate and apply the corresponding scale consistently.
- Forgetting plus/minus adjustments — treating B+ the same as B (3.3 vs 3.0) changes your GPA noticeably across multiple courses.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my high school GPA?
Assign each course grade a point value on the 4.0 scale (A=4.0, B=3.0, etc.), multiply by the course credits, sum all grade points, and divide by the total credits. For unweighted, every A is 4.0 regardless of difficulty. For weighted, advanced courses get extra points.
What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
Unweighted GPA uses a 4.0 scale where an A is 4.0 regardless of course difficulty. Weighted GPA gives extra points for honours, AP, or IB classes (e.g. A in AP = 5.0). Weighted GPA can exceed 4.0, while unweighted caps at 4.0.
How do AP or honors classes affect GPA?
AP, IB, and honours classes increase your weighted GPA because they add bonus points (typically 0.5 to 1.0 extra per grade). An A in an AP class might be worth 5.0 instead of 4.0. This rewards students who take more challenging coursework.
What GPA do colleges look for?
Selective colleges typically look for a 3.5-4.0 unweighted GPA. A strong weighted GPA (4.0+) with advanced courses can improve your chances at competitive schools. Many colleges recalculate GPA using their own method.
Is a 3.5 GPA good in high school?
A 3.5 unweighted GPA is a B+ average and is considered good. It is competitive for many state universities and mid-tier colleges. For top-tier schools, aim for 3.8 or higher with a strong course load.
How do plus and minus grades affect GPA?
Plus grades add 0.3 to the base value (B+ = 3.3, C+ = 2.3). Minus grades subtract 0.3 (A- = 3.7, B- = 2.7). A+ is usually treated as 4.0, the same as A. The calculator above handles all these variations automatically.