So, I see heaps of students mentioning they have a GPA higher than 4.0. I'm a little confused. I thought the GPA scale ended at 4.0? Is there a different scale being used? How does the entire weighted GPA system work?
The confusion here arises from the difference between unweighted and weighted GPA. On an unweighted scale, a GPA cannot exceed 4.0 because it's calculated based on a scale in which an A (90-100%) equals 4 points, a B (80-89%) equals 3 points, a C (70-79%) equals 2 points, and so forth. Hence, if you got all As, you'd have a perfect unweighted GPA of 4.0.
Now, the weighted GPA is where it gets more interesting and where you can actually exceed a 4.0. Schools use the weighted GPA scale to account for the difficulty of different classes. For instance, Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors classes are considered more challenging, so an A in these classes earns more points than an A in a regular course.
The weighted scale often goes up to 5.0. So, a student who does exceptionally well in high-level classes can end up with a GPA that exceeds 4.0 on a weighted scale.
Take this example: you take all AP classes and earn an A in each. Assuming your school weights by giving an extra point for AP, then each A would be a 5 (instead of a 4), so your weighted GPA would be a 5.0.
Realize, though, that many colleges recalibrate GPAs during the admissions process, translating them into their scales, so they can compare students fairly.
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