Understanding GPA: How much is an A- and an A?

Hi everyone! I've been confused about how my GPA is calculated. I know an A- and an A have different numeric values, but I'm not sure what they are exactly. Could someone break it down for me, and maybe explain the difference between a weighted and unweighted GPA?

Hello! GPA calculations can indeed be confusing at first, so let's break down the values assigned to letter grades, specifically A- and A, when calculating your GPA.

In most high schools in the U.S., when calculating an unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale, an A (usually 90-100% or any score above a certain threshold) would be assigned a value of 4.0, while an A- (often around or exactly 90%) would be assigned a value of 3.7. These values vary between schools, but this is a standard method.

Now, let's discuss the difference between weighted and unweighted GPAs. An unweighted GPA is calculated by taking the average of the numeric values assigned to your letter grades, usually without considering the difficulty of the classes you took. It's typically on a 4.0 scale, where the highest possible score is 4.0, indicating that you earned straight A's.

On the other hand, a weighted GPA takes into account the difficulty of the classes you took (honors, AP, or IB classes) by adding bonus points to your numeric values. For example, if your school adds 0.5 bonus points to an honors class, an A in that class would be worth 4.5 instead of 4.0. Similarly, if they add 1.0 bonus points to an AP or IB class, an A in that class would be worth 5.0. Weighted GPAs can be on different scales depending on the school, but common ones include 5.0 and 6.0.

Keep in mind that GPA calculations might be different from one high school to another, so it's always a good idea to check your school's specific grading policies to determine your GPA more accurately. Additionally, colleges may recalculate your GPA based on their own criteria during the admissions process.