AP GPA Calculator
Every course set to AP / IB adds 1.0 to its grade point here. The weighted GPA is shown first, with the unweighted figure underneath it.
How the AP bonus works
An AP or IB course adds a full 1.0 to the grade point that the letter grade would earn in a regular course. The rows start on AP / IB, so a new row already carries the bonus; switch a row to Regular for non-AP classes such as PE or a required art credit.
| Letter | Regular | AP / IB | Letter | Regular | AP / IB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A / A+ | 4.0 | 5.0 | C+ | 2.3 | 3.3 |
| A− | 3.7 | 4.7 | C | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 4.3 | C− | 1.7 | 2.7 |
| B | 3.0 | 4.0 | D+ | 1.3 | 2.3 |
| B− | 2.7 | 3.7 | D | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| D− / F | 0.7 / 0.0 | 1.7 / 1.0 |
Each course is capped at 5.0, so an A+ in an AP class is worth 5.0 here, not 5.3. Districts that publish a 5.0 ceiling usually cap for the same reason: an uncapped scale lets a single A+ outweigh a whole extra course.
Worked example
| Course | Grade | AP points | Credits | Weighted quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Biology | A | 5.0 | 4 | 20.0 |
| AP US History | B+ | 4.3 | 3 | 12.9 |
| AP Calculus AB | A− | 4.7 | 4 | 18.8 |
| AP English Language | B | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
| Physical Education | A | 4.0 | 2 | 8.0 |
| Total | — | 16 | 71.7 |
71.7 ÷ 16 = 4.48 on the weighted scale. The same transcript without the AP bonus comes to 57.7 ÷ 16 = 3.61 on the 4.0 scale, which is the number both of them appear as in the result note. The 0.87 gap is entirely the weighting policy, not a different set of grades.
What colleges do with a 4.48
Selective US colleges almost never take the weighted number at face value. They see the transcript, recalculate on their own unweighted or capped scale, and often read the AP courses as evidence of rigour rather than as extra points. Three things follow from that:
- Caps are common. Some public university systems limit how many honors points they will count, so a 4.48 can be recalculated nearer 4.1.
- Unweighted still matters. A 4.48 built on B's is weaker in a recalculation than a 4.20 built on straight A's.
- AP exam scores are a separate signal. The course grade and the exam score are different numbers, and a 5 on the exam does not raise a C in the class.
IB and other advanced courses
IB Higher Level courses are usually treated like AP (＋1.0) and Standard Level like honors (＋0.5), but this is a district decision, not an IB rule. Dual-enrolment college courses sometimes earn the same bonus and sometimes none. Ask your counselor which category each course falls into before you trust the total.
Common questions
Does the College Board calculate a GPA?
No. The College Board issues exam scores; GPA is a school-side calculation. Any weighted GPA you see comes from your district's policy.
Do all AP courses get the extra point?
In most districts, yes — but some require you to sit the exam, some only weight courses in the core subjects, and a few weight nothing at all. The transcript is the authority, and if it shows 4.0 for your AP A, your school is not weighting.
Is a 4.5 weighted GPA good?
It means roughly a B+ average in a mostly-AP schedule. Whether that is competitive depends on the pool you are being compared with and on your unweighted number, which is the one most admissions offices recalculate first. The 5.0 scale page covers the conversion problem in detail.
Why did my weighted GPA stop going up?
Because the calculation caps each course at 5.0. If you already have A's in AP classes, additional AP courses add 5.0-quality points and 3–4 credits, which moves the average very little. Only a lower grade elsewhere, or more credits at the cap, changes the total.