Weighted Grade Point Average
Jonas Hanks | October 24, 2011There are many different groups that use weighted grade point average as a measure for selection. College admissions committees, scholarship committees, and even some employers are interested in weighted grade point average. Therefore, it is important to be able to tabulate your weighted GPA.
The first order of business is to determine which grading scale is to be used. Most schools and employers will use the 5-point scale. This is the same as a 4.0 scale, except that advanced courses (usually honors and advanced placement classes) receive an additional grade point beyond the usual maximum of 4. This helps to compensate for the difficult nature of these courses.
The second step is to get a transcript of all your classes, including grades and number of credits. For every class in your schedule, multiply the number of credits by the number of grade points from the weighted GPA scale.
For instance, a 2-credit class with a grade of B (not honors or AP) would be 2 credits multiplied by 3 grade points for a total of 6. Do this for each class and then sum all of the results. Take this final number and divide by the total number of credits. The quotient is your weighted GPA.
After figuring out your weighted grade point average you may want to boost the number to improve your chances of getting a job, landing a scholarship, or getting into college. The best way to do this is to take courses in which you can excel, especially if they are honors or advanced placement. These advanced classes will not only receive more grade points, but they will also look better on your transcripts.
One of the most important things you can do in your education is to plan ahead. When you are at the point of applying for schools, scholarships, and jobs it is too late to affect your grades. Learn about the selection criteria several semesters before you need to submit anything. This will allow you to bump up your weighted GPA before it is too late.
Learn more about unweighted GPA. Use the weighted GPA calculator to prepare for your applications.






