Difference Between Weighted vs Unweighted GPA?

Unweighted GPA uses is a basic 4.0 scale. It treats all classes the same. An A = 4.0, no matter if it’s an easy or hard class.

Weighted GPA gives extra points for tough classes like honors or AP. An A will be a harder class might count as 5.0 instead of 4.0.
 
Here's a concise table showing the difference between Weighted and Unweighted GPA:

AspectWeighted GPAUnweighted GPA
ScaleTypically out of 5.0Out of 4.0
Course DifficultyConsiders honors/AP classesDoesn’t factor in difficulty
PurposeReflects course rigorShows overall academic average
AdvantageHighlights challenging courseworkStandardized across all students
 
The main difference between weighted and unweighted GPA lies in how they account for course difficulty. Unweighted GPA treats all courses equally, assigning the same point values regardless of whether it's an AP, honors, or standard course. Weighted GPA, on the other hand, assigns higher point values to more challenging courses (like AP or honors classes), resulting in a potentially higher GPA than an unweighted one for the same set of grades
 
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