đšâđïž What Is High School GPA?
GPA means Grade Point Average. This is a way to measure a student'sacademic performance in high school or college.
To count a GPA, one has to divide the total number of grade points earned by the totalnumber of credits taken. The GPA is usually calculated on a scale of 0 to 4.0, with 4.0being the highest possible GPA.
As an excellent way to reflect a high school student's academic ability and potential, GPAis essential in college admissions.
Most colleges and universities have minimum GPA requirements for admission, and a high GPAcan make a student a more competitive applicant. It is also crucial for students to maintaina high GPA to stay in good academic standing and be eligible for scholarships and financialaid programs.
âïž Weighted and Unweighted GPA
The most difficult part about calculating your current GPA is thedifference between weighted and unweighted courses.
- How to know if your school gives extra points for certain classes?
- How to transform your letter grade into a percentage if the course is weighted?
- Are there any advantages of taking AP or Honors classes?
In this chapter, weâll answer all these questions. Just keep reading!
Unweighted GPA
Usually, you get letter grades for passed courses throughout the year. Thereâs nothingdifficult in converting those letters into a percentage (read the next chapter to figure outhow exactly) until there are weighted courses.
With unweighted GPA system, there are possibilities of having a regular letter grading orone with pluses and minuses.
In this case, every letter with plus or minus has its own GPA values, except for A and A+that both equals 4.0.
Weighted GPA
This is where everything becomes more complicated, but weâre here to help!
In many schools, there are classes with higher standards. They are usually calledAP(Advanced Placement) programs. Their mission is to give more information than regularcourses do and prepare you for a college. These classes also are a great chance to earnpoints in your future college while youâre still a high-school student.
APs are usually scored on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0 but can also be higher, depending on yourschoolâs decision.
Why take those courses?
The entire period that you spend in high school, youâre fighting for the place in a college.The majority of colleges appreciate it when you take challenges during your studies. Even ifyou get a B, it still shows you as a dedicated student, and, by the way, when converted intoGPA, APâs B equals 4.0, which is A or A+ in your regular courses. It also introduces you tothe college program, and you may try out your skills and learn your weaknesses.
Along with regular and AP classes, there are alsoHonorsones. Their scores are more challenging to achieve, thatâs why they usually are estimated0.5 higher than regular courses.
For example, if you get B- it equals 2.7 for regularcourses and 3.2 for Honors courses.
In conclusion, we must say: you donât have to attend every weighted class. Itâs stillimportant to gain as high grades as you can during regular classes, prepare for SAT, andparticipate in clubs and scholarships.
Weighted & Unweighted GPA Calculators
The difference between an unweighted and weighted GPA calculator is that the latter takesinto account youâre the type of the course: regular, AP, or honors.
When computing your GPA, be careful to use the calculator that suits your requirements.
In other words, if youâre a student who attends AP or Honors classes and wants to know theexact GPA, use only those calculators that consider weighted courses.
𧟠How to Calculate Your High-School GPA?
There are several excellent tools for GPA calculating online. Using one of them is the bestway to figure out all you want to know in a short period.
Donât always have access to the internet? Then, weâll teach you to calculate GPA without anytools.
This chapter is a detailed guide on how to do it on a piece of paper with the help of theformula and a couple of tables.
Step 1 â Make a Table of the Courses
Make a table with the list of the courses taken. See the example below. Be accurate whenfilling in your class types as they determine how high your letter grades are. Also, noticethat credit hours may be different for two courses.
| Course | Letter Grade | Credit Hours | Class type |
|---|---|---|---|
| History | A | 3 | Regular |
| Literature | B | 3 | Regular |
| English | B+ | 4 | Honors |
| Biology | A- | 4 | AP |
| Math | A+ | 3 | AP |
Step 2 â Convert Letter Grades into Percentages
After that, use the following table to convert letter grades into percentages. Make sure totake GPA score appropriate to your class type: Regular, Honors, or AP.
| Letter Grade | Percent Grade | Regular | Honors | AP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97-100 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
| B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.7 |
| C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 |
| C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 |
| D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| F | 0-59 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
Step 3 â Count the Grade Points
To do that, write down the score you you got for each of the classes and multiply it bycredit hours for every course. Also, determine the total credit hours during your semester.
| Course | Letter Grade | Credit Hours | Class type | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| History | A (4.0) | 3 | Regular | 3 x 4.0 = 12.0 |
| Literature | B (3.0) | 3 | Regular | 3 x 3.0 = 9.0 |
| English | B+ (3.8) | 4 | Honors | 4 x 3.8 = 15.2 |
| Biology | A- (4.7) | 4 | AP | 4 x 4.7 = 18.8 |
| Math | A+ (5.0) | 3 | AP | 3 x 5.0 = 15.0 |
| Total | 3 + 3 + 4 + 4 + 3 = 17 | 12.0 + 9.0 + 15.2 + 18.8 + 15.0 = 70 |
Step 4 â Count the Semester GPA
Divide the sum of the grade points by the sum of credit hours:
70/17 = 4.12
In our example, 4.12 is the studentâs GPA.
Want to check your result? Use an online GPA calculator to estimate your current grade pointaverage.
Step 5 â Count the Total GPA
Many students have been asking about the overall GPA formula.
To figure out cumulative GPA, you need to know every semesterâs GPA and total grade points.To know grade points, you should simply multiply GPA by credit hours. After that, divide thetotal number of grade points by the sum of credit hours:
| Semester | GPA | Credit Hours | Grade Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.5 | 13 | 3.5 x 13 = 45.5 |
| 2 | 3.7 | 14 | 3.7 x 14 = 51.8 |
| 3 | 5.0 | 14 | 4.0 x 14 = 56 |
| 4 | 4.6 | 12 | 4.6 x 12 = 55.2 |
| Total | 13 + 14 + 14 + 12 = 53 | 208.5 |
Grade Points sum / Credit Hours sum = Overall GPA
208.5/53 = 3.9
These were guidelines on how to calculate high-school GPA on a weighted scale (5.0) orunweighted scale (4.0). If you still have any questions, feel free to ask them in comments!
âïž How to Raise Your High-School GPA?
This chapter is the last part of our guide but may be the most significant.
Once you figure out your GPA, you may want to make it even higher. Thatâs why weâvecollected some pretty helpful tips to show you the right direction.
Ready?
1. Keep the Balance
The most common problem students may have with GPA is when they start putting efforts onlyduring the last weeks. This attitude projects on all of your studies even if you catch upall the material at the end.
So, our tip is to have a nice start andhandle your procrastinationas soon as possible. Study every day to avoid putting 3-monthâs material into the memory inthe last week.
2. Mind the Schedule
Determinethe hours at which youâre most productiveand include them in your schedule. Stick to the plan. Put all the efforts to follow yourschedule.
Organize not only your time but workplace and notes as well. The more structured yourlearning is, the easier itâs to get higher grades.
3. Revise
Any school program implies daily and weekly revisions of the material you get. Make sure youcatch up with understanding and remembering all the significant information.
Every week go throughyour notesto find out weaknesses and pass a quiz to memorize the topic better.
4. Ask Questions
The majority of teachers have office hours when you can discuss some challenging topics withthem or ask for help. Donât be shy to use this opportunity as long as it helps to understandthe subject and shows your teacher you care about the studies.
5. Be Confident
It may seem boring or uncomfortable to participate in discussions in a class but give it atry. Your teacher wants to know which students care about their grades and make thechallenging work to improve.
The only way to show them is toparticipate in their lessons.
6. Challenge Yourself
You will never be fully prepared for difficult courses. So, take on some risks and subscribeto a couple of AP classes!
Itâs significant to attend some because any college youâll apply in future is interested inthis aspect of your academic achievements. The higher grades you have for AP classes, themore your GPA and chances to get into a good college are.
7. Learn for Tests
GPA isnât everything. To raise your chances to get into a college of your dreams, you mayput a lot of efforts into studying for standardized tests likeSAT.
You can find a lot of worksheets and guides online to practice.
8. Choose the Place
Feel unfocused and procrastinate a lot? Try to change your studying place. At home or in adorm you may experience too loud noises and many distractions.
If you study at the library or in an empty class, things are different. You feel moreconcentrated and can accomplish more tasks at a time.
These were tips on how to raise your GPA, and now youâre definitely ready to know yourresult. We hope, our guide is helpful to calculate your high-school GPA whether using tools,detailed guidelines, or charts.
đ 7 Best High-school GPA Calculators
Many students are puzzled by the questionâhow high-school GPA is calculated.
The point is:
If you have access to the Internet, you donât need to figure it out on your own.
1.IvyPanda GPA Calculator
A high-school GPA calculator by IvyPanda is user-friendly and versatile. The tool issuitable for counting both weighted and unweighted GPA. Moreover, it allows you to useeither letter or percentage grading standard.
To calculate a semester GPA, you need to insert the course names, grades, credits, andcourse types in case youâre using the weighted version. Your semester GPA will be countedautomatically. To count an overall GPA for several semesters, you need to add anothersemester and insert all the necessary information once again.
2.GPACalculator.net
This one is both a letter and a percentage GPA calculator. You can easily switch betweenformats by clicking Grade Format button in the top right corner.
Then, youâre free to put data like course names, credit hours, and grades. If you wish, youcan add other semesters that are calculated automatically as long as you do.
Below the tool, youâll find useful instructions on how to calculate. Although the tool issuper easy to use, youâll find illustrative examples and detailed guidelines.
3.GPACalculator.io
Another good tool to know your GPA in seconds.
You can control the process by switching between weighted and unweighted grades. When youturn on weighted grades, you can choose Honors, IB, AP, and College credits.
Want to know your GPA for four years? Just add as many semesters as you need.
By the way, the cumulative GPA is presented within the pieâitâs comfortable to estimate yourabilities with such visualization.
4.Scholaro GPA Tool
Scholaro is an international GPA calculator that allows you to convert grades or points fromany country to the U.S. grades and calculate GPA.
Choose the country and grading scale, type your grades and find out your GPA. The tool alsoallows you to save the GPA report.
Scholaro will be especially helpful for international students who plan to apply to USschools, colleges or universities.
5.Studentshare GPA Tool
A fantastic tool to calculate GPA on the 12-point scale. Enter your data, e-mail, and getthe result!
The best part about this scoring calculator:
You donât have to enter coursesâ names and letter grades. Just choose them right on thepage.
The list of subjects is enormousâalong with Math, Science, and History, you can chooseGenetics, Anthropology, Interpersonal Communications, Liberal Arts, Manufacturing, and more.
6.College Simply GPA Tool
This tool is developed for those who want easily know their GPA by using a weighted GPAcalculator. The difference between high-school and college GPA is that in high school, thereare often specific courses that have higher worth such as AP, Honors, or College.
Theyâre classified as weighted as long as theyâre much harder to pass. This way, you get 0.5or 1 point higher grade than during regular classes.
For one class, you can choose only grade and course type (Regular, AP/Honors, College).
7.Chegg GPA Calculator
Chegg is a wonderful service for students. It offers books and publications for rent thathelps you to save money. It also has fantastic tutors and test preparation programs.
Along with these services, you can find dozens of guides and instructions on their blog.
And now you can even use their tool to figure out your GPA.
On the right side, you can see the table with percentages and letter grades. Here you canfigure out your grades in points including those cases when you apply for Honors or APclasses.
You can also print the results with one click.
â High School GPA FAQ
đ What Is a Good GPA in High School?
In general, your GPA is between 0 to 4.0, with 4.0 being the highest possible GPA. A good GPA for college admissions is usually considered to be around a 3.0 or higher. This is equivalent to a B average. Some colleges might have higher GPA requirements for admission, especially for highly competitive programs or scholarships.
đ What Is the Average High School GPA?
In the US, the average high school GPA is around 3.0. It is worth noting that the average GPA for females is 3.1, while the average male GPA is 2.9. For college applicants, however, the average GPA is around 3.5.
đ How to Find Your High School GPA?
To find your high school GPA, you can either use an automated tool or make all the calculations manually. If you want to count your GPA by yourself, you need to make a table with the list of the courses taken, letter grades, credit hours, and class types. Then you need to convert letter grades into GPA scores using a special table. Multiply them by credit hours for each course, summarize, and then divide by the sum of credit hours.
đ What Is SGPA?
SGPA stands for semester grade point average. It is a measure of a student's academic performance over a single semester. It is calculated by dividing the total number of grade points earned in a semester by the total number of credits taken. The SGPA is usually between 0 to 4.0, with 4.0 being the highest possible GPA.
đ References
FAQs
How do you calculate unweighted GPA from weighted high school? âș
- Multiply the numeric value of your grade by the number that course was worth.
- Do this for all of your classes and add the numbers together.
- Divide that number by how many classes you took.
- The number you have at the end is your GPA.
...
Unweighted GPA.
| Letter Grade | Percent Grade | Grade Point |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97-100 | 4.0 |
| A | 93-96 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90-92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 |
A simple way to find your weighted GPA is to take your unweighted GPA and multiply that by the number of classes you've taken. Then, add 0.5 for every mid-level class and 1.0 for every high-level class you've enrolled in. Finally, divide the result by the number of classes you've taken, and voila!
What is a 4.2 weighted GPA unweighted? âșA 4.2 GPA is above a 4.0, so it's outside of the normal range for unweighted GPAs. If you have a 4.2, your school uses weighted GPAs, meaning they take class difficulty into account when calculating GPA. A 4.2 indicates that you are earning Bs and B+s in high level classes or As and A+s in mid level classes.
What is a 3.7 weighted GPA unweighted? âș...
Here's what educators are talking about when referring to an âunweighted GPA.â
An unweighted GPA of 3.7 is good: the national average unweighted GPA of high school students is 3.0. If you took high-level courses such as AP or IB classes, an unweighted 3.7 GPA is good and shows you performed well even when taking the most rigorous curriculum available to you.
Why don t colleges look at weighted GPA? âșNo, universities do not take weighted GPAs because not all schools offer the same amount of AP courses, not all schools allow students to take them at the same years, and not all schools even offer AP/IB curriculum. That would make comparing an unweighted vs weighted GPA, unfair to some students.
Does it matter if GPA is weighted or unweighted? âșA high unweighted GPA indicates an academically successful student, and a high weighted GPA demonstrates they can maintain that level of success when faced with rigorous coursework. Institutions value both of those indicators when they consider students for admission.
Does Harvard look at weighted or unweighted GPA? âș...
Average GPA (weighted) of Accepted Students at Top Schools.
| University | Average GPA (weighted) of Accepted Student |
|---|---|
| Harvard University | 4.15 |
| Columbia University | 4.14 |
Unweighted to Weighted GPA
Multiply your unweighted GPA by the count of classes you have taken. Add 0.5 for each mid-level course you've registered for and 1.0 for each high course.
How does weighted GPA work in high school? âș
What is weighted GPA? Weighted GPA is calculated after adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses. Basically this means that an A in these courses receives 5 points rather than 4 and a B receives 4 rather than 3, so the overall GPA can exceed 4.0.
How do you calculate high school GPA? âșHow do you calculate your GPA in high school? To calculate your high school GPA, add together your grades on the 4.0 scale after converting them from letter grades, and divide the sum by the number of classes you are taking.
Do colleges look at weighted or unweighted? âșColleges will look at either weighted or unweighted GPAs in your application. They do tend to prefer weighted, because it gives more information about the difficulty of your classes, but don't worry if your school uses an unweighted scale.
Is GPA out of 4.0 weighted or unweighted? âșThere are two main kinds of GPA: weighted and unweighted.
The traditional unweighted GPA scale ranges from 0 to 4.0, while the weighted scale spans from 0 to 5.0. Schools that use a weighted scale assign more points to honors and AP classes.
However, unweighted GPAs are not very useful, because high schools weight GPAs differently. In truth, you need close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA to get into Harvard.
Is a 3.8 unweighted GPA good enough for Ivy League? âșFor most of the Ivy League schools, they expect as close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA as possible.
Is a 3.8 unweighted good for Harvard? âșHowever, classing a 3.8 GPA as âgoodâ depends on your chosen colleges and the difficulty of your courses. For example, Harvard's average GPA is 4.18, so you'll have to get straight As in nearly all of your classes to be a competitive applicant.
Is a 3.9 unweighted GPA good for Harvard? âșIf you want to get into Harvard, you should aim for a GPA of at least 4.0. The average GPA of successful Harvard applicants is around 3.9 unweighted, which translates into a 4.15 weighted GPA. (A weighted GPA takes into account extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.)
What is a 4.3 weighted GPA unweighted? âș...
Unweighted vs Weighted GPA Scale.
What's the Difference Between a Weighted 3.8 GPA and an Unweighted? A weighted 3.8 GPA takes the difficulty of your courses into account and is typically measured between 0 to 5.0. An unweighted GPA of 3.8 is considered âhigherâ because it's on a 4.0 scale.
What is a 3.5 weighted GPA unweighted? âș
A 3.5 unweighted GPA means that you've earned an A- average across all of your classes. You're well above the national average for GPA and should have a solid chance of acceptance at a wide variety of colleges. 76.4% of schools have an average GPA below a 3.5.
Does weighted GPA count as unweighted? âșThe main difference between the two is that weighted GPAs take into account the difficulty of your coursework and unweighted GPAs don't. Most unweighted GPAs are recorded on a scale of 0 to 4.0, and most weighted GPAs are recorded on a scale of 0 to 5.0.