An unweighted GPA scores every class on the same 0–4.0 scale, so an A is a 4.0 whether it came from a regular class or an AP class. A weighted GPA adds bonus points for harder classes, usually 0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP or IB, so it can go above 4.0. A cumulative GPA is your average across all terms so far, weighted by credits. One student can have all three numbers on the same transcript.
The GPA Calculator shows all three at once: set each class to Regular, Honors or AP/IB, and add your previous GPA and credits for the cumulative figure.
Unweighted GPA
Each letter grade maps to fixed points: A = 4.0, A− = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, and so on down to F = 0. The full mapping is in the GPA scale chart. Class difficulty is ignored, which makes unweighted GPAs easy to compare between schools.
How to calculate it: multiply each class's grade points by its credits, add the results, and divide by your total credits.
| Class | Credits | Grade | Points | Credits × points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | 3 | A | 4.0 | 12.0 |
| AP Biology | 4 | B+ | 3.3 | 13.2 |
| Spanish | 3 | A− | 3.7 | 11.1 |
| Total | 10 | 36.3 |
36.3 ÷ 10 = 3.63 unweighted.
Weighted GPA
Weighted GPAs reward course rigor. A typical high school scheme:
- Regular classes: standard points (A = 4.0).
- Honors classes: +0.5 (A = 4.5).
- AP, IB and dual-enrollment classes: +1.0 (A = 5.0).
Using the table above, AP Biology's B+ becomes 4.3, adding 4 × 1.0 = 4 extra points: (36.3 + 4) ÷ 10 = 4.03 weighted. Schools vary in which classes earn a boost and how much, so the same transcript can produce different weighted GPAs at different schools.
Note that "weighted" also has a second meaning. Colleges and most GPA calculators weight by credit hours, so a 4-credit class counts more than a 1-credit lab. That kind of weighting applies to every GPA. The honors and AP boost is a separate, mostly high-school practice. UtilityKit's calculator always weights by credits, and shows the unweighted GPA next to a weighted GPA that adds 0.5 for classes marked Honors and 1.0 for classes marked AP/IB. The bonus applies only to passing grades, so an F stays at 0.
Cumulative GPA
Your cumulative GPA (sometimes called CGPA) combines every term you have completed. Calculate it from total quality points and total credits, not by averaging your term GPAs:
| Term | Credits | Term GPA | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | 15 | 3.20 | 48.0 |
| Spring | 12 | 3.80 | 45.6 |
| Total | 27 | 93.6 |
93.6 ÷ 27 = 3.47 cumulative. Averaging the two term GPAs gives 3.50, which is wrong, because the 15-credit fall term should count for more.
To get a cumulative GPA in the calculator, enter this term's classes, then type your previous cumulative GPA and the credits it covers. It does the same quality-point math as the table above. Use your unweighted previous GPA, because the cumulative figure is built from the unweighted term GPA.
Which GPA do colleges look at?
Both, in context. Many colleges recalculate applicants' GPAs with their own method, often using unweighted core academic classes, because high schools weight so differently. They also read your school profile and transcript to see how many honors and AP classes were available and how many you took. A slightly lower GPA earned in harder classes is usually viewed more favorably than a perfect GPA in the easiest track.
For college students, the cumulative GPA is the number that matters most: it decides academic standing, Latin honors, many scholarships, and what graduate schools and employers see.
FAQ
What is a weighted GPA?
A weighted GPA gives extra grade points for harder classes, usually 0.5 for honors and 1.0 for AP or IB, so an A in an AP class counts as 5.0 instead of 4.0. That lets weighted GPAs go above 4.0.
What is an unweighted GPA?
An unweighted GPA uses the same 4.0 scale for every class regardless of difficulty, so it tops out at 4.0. It is the easiest GPA to compare between schools.
What does cumulative GPA mean?
Cumulative GPA is your grade point average across all completed terms combined. It is calculated as total quality points divided by total credits attempted.
How do I calculate my cumulative GPA?
Multiply each term's GPA by its credits to get quality points, add the quality points for all terms, and divide by the total credits. Do not average the term GPAs directly unless every term had the same number of credits.
Do colleges prefer weighted or unweighted GPA?
Most look at both and many recalculate their own version. Unweighted GPA shows your grades; the classes you took show rigor. Report whichever your school's transcript lists and let the course list speak for difficulty.
Is a 4.0 weighted GPA the same as a 4.0 unweighted GPA?
No. A 4.0 unweighted GPA means straight A's. A 4.0 weighted GPA can come from B+ and A− grades boosted by honors or AP points, so it reflects a different mix of grades.