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Students scoring 3 or higher on Advanced Placement (AP) exams had higher first-year college GPAs, according to the Mattern, Shaw, and Xiong report.
Weighted GPA is a system giving students additional points for completing more difficult classes.
What Is a Weighted GPA and Why Does It Matter?
Let’s take a closer look at what GPA is and why students should know about it.
How Is a Weighted GPA Different from an Unweighted GPA?
The difference between these GPAs is unweighted GPA gives no advantages to students. Weighted GPA provides an advantage for completing more challenging elements. Such elements include AP subjects, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, and Honors classes.
Why Do Colleges Consider Weighted GPAs?
Colleges strive to be fair and recognize students who do the additional work and achieve strong results. Unweighted GPA reflects standard performance where students did not take additional courses or more difficult exams. Weighted GPA shows students put in extra effort and went beyond the standard curriculum. Weighted GPA also indicates students have good knowledge and the ability to set and achieve goals.
How Does the Weighted GPA Impact College Admissions?
Students with this GPA have a higher chance of admission because a weighted GPA with a score of 3.0 often looks better to colleges than an unweighted GPA with a 4.0. Colleges want to see strong students, and weighted GPA serves as a good indicator of such students.
Here are examples of how some colleges reward students for weighted GPAs:
| AP Score | Impat | College |
| 4.5-5.0 | Top universities prefer this range. Shows success in AP/Honors classes | Harvard, Stanford |
| 4.0-4.4 | Competitive for many selective schools | University of Michigan |
| 3.5-3.9 | Many colleges accept students in this range | University of Florida |
| 3.0-3.4 | Good for less selective schools | Arizona State University, University of Oregon |
| Below 3.0 | Low, may need extra factors like strong essays | Community colleges |
How to Calculate Your Weighted GPA?
There are several ways students can calculate their GPA.
What Tools or Calculators Can Help in Calculating GPAs?
Students use special GPA calculators to estimate their GPA.
Legacy Online School gives students a calculator to help with GPA calculation. Our school checks and updates it to use the latest methods. Some students prefer to calculate their GPA manually using standard formulas in Excel or Google Sheets. This method can sometimes be more accurate, but it takes more time and effort.
How Does the 4.0 Scale Work in Weighted GPA Calculation?
A score of 4 is the maximum in an unweighted GPA. Students can earn higher scores in a weighted GPA. A score of 4 can be earned for a grade B in AP/IB classes. The same grade in regular classes would be a 3. Давайте подробнее посмотрим на эти отличие в таблице ниже.
| Letter Grade | Regular Class (Unweighted GPA) | Regular Class (Unweighted GPA) | AP/IB Class (Weighted GPA) |
| A (90-100%) | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| B (80-89%) | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| C (70-79%) | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| D (60-69%) | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| F (Below 60%) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
What Factors Influence the Weighted GPA Scale?
The types of courses taken and credit hours matter, but schools have different policies determining the GPA scale. Let’s see some examples in the table below.
| GPA | What College Offers | College |
| 4.0 and above | Easy admission, big scholarships, best student housing | Harvard University, Stanford University |
| 3.75-3.99 | Good chance for admission, some scholarships | University of Michigan, Emory University |
| 3.50-3.74 | Some scholarship options, special programs | San Diego State University, University of Florida |
| 3.00-3.49 | Admission possible, small scholarships | Arizona State University, University of Oregon |
| 2.50-2.99 | Some colleges accept, must improve grades | Texas State University, Ball State University |
| Below 2.50 | Open admission, basic classes first, transfer to a bigger college later | Houston Community College |
Some schools cap the GPA at 5. Other schools set the maximum at 6. Contact the specific school to get accurate information.
What Role Do AP Classes Play in Weighted GPAs?
“A student could earn a grade of D and basically it appeared from a weighted GPA that they made a B”
Phil Cauley, Citizen Times
AP classes affect weighted GPAs, and here’s what students need to know.
How Do AP Classes Affect Your GPA?
These classes can improve GPA and students’ chances of getting into college with advantages. Kids must earn good grades for this. Their GPA will be higher in this case, and their knowledge will be better compared to students who followed the standard curriculum.
What Is the Impact of AP Exam Scores on Weighted GPAs?
AP exams help determine whether students have truly understood their AP classes. Good scores on AP exams increase GPA and improve students’ chances of getting into college with added benefits. Poor scores do not contribute to a high GPA, may raise doubts about a student’s performance in AP classes, and bring no advantage over students with an unweighted GPA.
The table below shows what students can get when they take an AP course and pass the exam with a good score.
| AP Course | Grade | AP Exam Score | Unweighted GPA | Weighted GPA (AP Class) | Bonus GPA for AP Exam |
| Computer Science | A | 4 | 4.0 | 5.0 | +0.1 (some schools) |
| History | B | 4 | 3.0 | 4.0 | +0.1 (some schools) |
| Regular English | A | N/A | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 |
How to Balance AP Coursework with Regular Classes?
These courses have a more complex curriculum compared to standard classes and take up a lot of students’ time. Some students struggle with their standard coursework because they can’t balance both. Kids need to create a study plan, either on their own or with the help of teachers, to manage the new workload. Different apps can also be a solution to help students have good results with their schedule.
How Do Colleges Use Weighted and Unweighted GPAs?
Weighted and unweighted GPAs are accepted by colleges, but there are important details students shouldn’t forget.
What Is the Importance of Weighted GPAs in College Admissions?
Such GPAs show a student went beyond the standard curriculum, learned more challenging topics, and has strong knowledge. These skills give them an advantage over students with an unweighted GPA. Students with a strong weighted GPA are given higher priority in college admissions. Colleges, depending on their policies, may also allow these students to skip introductory courses and earn college credits.
Do All Colleges Use Weighted GPAs?
Colleges have different policies. Some colleges use their own system and do not consider weighted GPA. Other colleges consider weighted GPA and give it priority. Сheck with a specific college for exact details.
How to Present Your GPA on College Applications?
Mistakes must not be made when presenting GPA to a college, and the information must be provided accurately. Students should read the college’s requirements regarding which GPA to submit and how to present it carefully. They can find their GPA on their school transcripts and must report it exactly as stated. Misrepresenting transcript information may be considered intentional falsification.
Some schools use their own unique grading system instead of GPA. Students from such schools should write a separate letter to colleges explaining this.
How Can Students Improve Their Weighted GPA?
Here are some strategies and tips for kids to improve their weighted GPAs.
What Strategies Can Help Raise Your GPA?
There are many useful strategies for students. We will focus on five strategies anyone can use:
- The Pomodoro Technique. This method helps you stay focused. Set a timer for 25 minutes, study with full concentration, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle to have enough energy for learning
- Work with long-term memory. Go back to previous topics from time to time to make sure you don’t forget them after learning new material
- Practice tests. Look for sample exams online. Practicing with real questions will help you understand what you’re good at and what you need to work on before the actual exam
- No to rote memorization. Focus on truly understanding concepts so you can answer any question, rather than hoping for familiar ones
- Ask for help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers or classmates when you’re experiencing some problems. They will help you solve all the issues
Contact Legacy Online School to get more strategies and professional support from our experts.
How Can Tutors Assist in GPA Improvement?
Tutors are especially helpful for students who struggle to understand the material on their own. Tutors personalize lessons and ensure all topics are fully mastered.
Tutors are also useful for students who can deal with the most topics independently. These students can schedule a few sessions to focus on specific topics they find problematic.
Should Students Take More Honors and AP Classes?
This decision can be a good choice if students want to increase their weighted GPA and are confident taking more classes won’t interfere with other programs. Consulting with a teacher is a smart idea if a student is unsure whether they can deal with the added workload.
