Best way to calculate my weighted GPA?

Hey guys, just trying to figure out my weighted GPA here. I guess I don't trust the online calculators much, and I kinda get how it works with each class having a 'weight'. Could anyone share a reliable method or perhaps a similar experience?

Sure, you can calculate your weighted GPA manually, although it takes a bit of work. Let me tell you a strategy.

First and foremost, you have to understand that different schools could have different methods of computing weighted GPAs. Some schools calculate on a 4.0 scale while some may use a 5.0 or even a 6.0 scale. For this explanation, we are going to consider a 5.0 scale where AP, IB, and honors classes could be given an additional weight of 1.0.

Here's a step-by-step method on how you can calculate your weighted GPA:

1. Write down all your grades: First things first, make a list of all your grades. You need to convert your letter grades into grade points for the calculation. Here, an A is 4 points, B is 3 points, C is 2 points, and so on.

2. Assign weights: Decide on the weight of each class. Typically, 'regular' classes have a weight of 4 (A=4, B=3, C=2, etc), while honors classes might be given an additional weight of 0.5, and Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or college classes an additional weight of 1.0. This means an 'A' in an AP class could be a 5.0 rather than a 4.0.

3. Multiply grade by weight: Now multiply the grade point for each class by the weight of the class to get the 'weighted grade'. For example, if you got an 'A' (4) in an AP class (weight of +1), your weighted grade would be 45=20.

4. Add it Up: After you've done the multiplication for each class, add all of these up.

5. Divide: Finally, divide the sum by the total number of classes to get your GPA.

Remember that it's crucial to verify with your high school counselor if this method falls in line with the school's policy, as some high schools might adopt a different method.