Unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA uses a flat 4.0 scale where an A is always 4.0 — no matter how hard the class is. It's the simplest measure and treats every course equally.
Weighted GPA
A weighted GPA rewards harder classes. The most common system adds +0.5 for honors classes and +1.0 for AP or IB classes. That means an A in an AP class can count as a 5.0, which is why weighted GPAs can go above 4.0.
Weighted GPAs let admissions officers see whether you challenged yourself with a rigorous course load — not just whether you earned high grades.
Which one do colleges use?
It varies. Many colleges recalculate your GPA using their own formula, and some ignore weighting entirely to compare applicants on a level playing field. The safest approach is to aim for strong grades in challenging classes — that looks good on any scale.