Alright, I feel like I'm missing something obvious here. How do I calculate my high school GPA? I've seen so many different scales and methods used, but I'm unsure which one to follow. Any guidance on the correct way to do it would be greatly appreciated!
The most common method for calculating your high school GPA is either the unweighted or weighted scale. Unweighted GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale, whereas weighted GPA accounts for the difficulty of the courses you've taken (e.g., Honors, AP, or IB) and often ranges higher than 4.0. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to calculate both:
Unweighted GPA:
1. Assign each of your classes a point value:
- A: 4 points
- B: 3 points
- C: 2 points
- D: 1 point
- F: 0 points
2. Add up the total points you earned for all of your classes.
3. Divide the total points by the number of classes you've taken.
4. Your unweighted GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale.
Weighted GPA:
1. Assign each of your regular classes the same point values as the unweighted GPA.
2. For Honors, AP, and/or IB courses, add an additional point (or sometimes more, depending on your school's system):
- Honors: usually an additional 0.5 points
- AP/IB: usually an additional 1 point
3. Add up the total points you earned for all your classes.
4. Divide the total points by the number of classes you've taken.
5. Your weighted GPA will likely be on a scale higher than 4.0, determined by your school.
Keep in mind that some schools may calculate GPA differently, so make sure to consult your school's guidelines or your school counselor for a more accurate GPA calculation. College applications will typically specify whether they prefer weighted or unweighted GPA.
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