What's the difference between unweighted vs weighted GPA? (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between unweighted vs weighted GPA? ›

Unweighted GPAs are calculated on a 4.0 scale, with F grades corresponding to zero points and A grades corresponding to four. A weighted GPA includes some advanced courses that are scored on a 5.0 scale, where an A contributes five points instead of four, boosting the overall GPA.

The short answer is that most colleges care somewhat more about weighted GPAs because they do a better job showing the difficulty of the classes you took. However, colleges care more about your entire record of coursework than just your GPA out of context.

A 3.7 weighted GPA may be around a 3.4 or 3.5 unweighted GPA, depending on your school's grading system. But remember, this can vary, so it's best to ask your school counselor for the exact conversion.

A GPA above 4 indicates that your institution employs a weighted GPA system (class difficulty is considered in conjunction with your grades). A 5.0 GPA is the highest possible in most high schools. If you got a 4.7 GPA in high school, you might probably do well in college.

Good Weighted GPA

For top-tier schools, aiming for a Weighted GPA close to the maximum, such as 4.4 on a 4.5 scale, is advised. Admissions officers prioritize strong grades in honors, advanced, and AP courses.

Is a 2.8 GPA Good? Because a 2.8 is two-tenths of a point from a B average, a 2.8 GPA indicates several above-average grades and that your performance on homework and exams was up to par. With a 2.8 GPA, several colleges will consider your application, so you have a decent number of options to choose from.

A 3.4 is on the verge of an A- and demonstrates consistently good test-taking, studying, and research skills. A 3.4 is comfortably above the national average GPA for high school graduates and is considered competitive at most colleges and universities.

Is a 2.3 GPA Good? In a by-the-textbook definition, a 2.3 GPA is considered “below-average.” Even though it's considered a passing grade, a 2.3 GPA, or a C-grade average, isn't ideal for getting accepted into college.

A 2.5 GPA is equivalent to80% or a B- letter grade. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 2.5 is below average.

A 3.9 unweighted GPA is definitely a strong academic record, and it's something to be proud of. It puts you in a competitive position among other Ivy League applicants. However, bear in mind that Ivy League schools have a holistic admissions process, meaning they consider much more than just your GPA.

How do you get a 8.0 GPA? ›

A 4.0 GPA, or Grade Point Average, is equivalent to an A letter grade on a 4.0 GPA scale. This means it is equivalent to 93-95%. The national average GPA is 3.0 which means a 4.0 is far above average.

Average ACT: 34

The 25th percentile ACT score is 34, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 36. In other words, a 34 places you below average, while a 36 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute ACT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 34 to have a chance at being considered.

With a 2.5 GPA, you're still below average, which can make it challenging to get into college. However, you can work for more hours in the remaining year and coming year to raise your GPA to 2.0 or higher.

A 3.9 GPA is considered a very good GPA and is an indicator of strong academic performance.

The GPA requirements for Harvard University are between 3.9 to 4.1. You will need an incredibly high GPA and will likely be graduating at the top of their class in order to get into Harvard University.

However, on a weighted GPA scale, an A in an advanced or honors class might be worth 5 points, a B might be worth 4 points, and so on. This calculation means that a student's weighted GPA can be higher than their unweighted GPA, showcasing the effort and difficulty of their coursework.

Harvard GPA Requirements

Weighted GPAs are not always as useful to determine how you are performing because high schools weight GPAs differently and because they can hide how far you are from a high enough GPA for Harvard. In truth, you need close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA to get into Harvard.

Is a 3.5 GPA Good? As a top-letter grade, a B+ or A- is considered "good." A 3.5 GPA means that a student consistently performs well on homework, tests, and projects in every subject, making it a desirable GPA across the board.

Is a 3.6 GPA Good? A 3.6 GPA is not only well above the national average GPA of 3.0 for all high school graduates, but it's also entering the realm of competitiveness for more selective colleges.