What's the highest GPA possible?

I've been hearing some people talking about GPAs, but I'm not sure about the highest GPA you can get. What's the highest GPA possible? Is there a universal scale for it?

The highest GPA possible depends on the scale being used at your school. There are generally two GPA scales: unweighted and weighted.

Unweighted GPA scale ranges from 0.0 to 4.0, where 4.0 represents perfect grades, which means straight A's in all courses. This scale doesn't take into account the difficulty of the courses taken; an A in an honors or regular course would receive the same numerical value.

Weighted GPA scale, on the other hand, does account for course difficulty by assigning higher point values to grades earned in honors, AP, or IB courses. The exact scale can vary by school, but in general, it ranges from 0.0 to 5.0 or even higher.

For instance, an A in an AP course might be assigned a value of 5.0, while an A in a regular course would have a value of 4.0. The highest GPA you can achieve in a weighted scale is determined by how many advanced courses you take and how well you perform in them.

Ultimately, the highest possible GPA varies, and it's essential to check your school's specific grading system and policies. It's crucial to understand that college admissions committees consider the rigor of your course load and your GPA to evaluate your academic performance fairly.