A weighted GPA gives additional grade points to designated advanced courses. It is meant to record course rigor alongside performance, but there is no single US weighted scale. Two high schools can assign different weighted points to the same letter grade.
AP course grade and AP Exam score are different
The AP course grade comes from the school and may enter the high school GPA. The AP Exam receives a score from 1 to 5. Colleges can use that exam score for placement or credit, but it is not the same as a five-point course grade.
College Board also distinguishes AP from Honors: AP courses follow a college-level framework and culminate in an optional standardized AP Exam, while Honors courses are developed by schools and teachers. That distinction does not create a universal GPA bonus for either course type.
One common bonus model
GradeHorizon currently demonstrates a simple local model: add 0.5 to Honors courses and 1.0 to AP or IB courses, with weighted points capped at 5.0. Use it only when it matches the handbook.
| Letter grade | Regular | Honors (+0.5) | AP / IB (+1.0) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.00 | 4.50 | 5.00 |
| A- | 3.70 | 4.20 | 4.70 |
| B+ | 3.30 | 3.80 | 4.30 |
| B | 3.00 | 3.50 | 4.00 |
| C | 2.00 | 2.50 | 3.00 |
| F | 0.00 | Check policy | Check policy |
Why the F row says check policy
Some scales add no rigor bonus to a failing grade. Others define weighting with a complete points table instead of a flat bonus. Never assume the same addition applies to every letter grade.
Worked example with credits
Three courses on the example scale
| Course | Grade | Level | Credits | Weighted quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Biology | B+ | AP | 1.0 | 4.30 |
| Honors English | A- | Honors | 1.0 | 4.20 |
| US History | A | Regular | 1.0 | 4.00 |
| Total | 3.0 | 12.50 |
Five policy details to verify
- Eligible labels: The school may weight AP and IB but not Honors, or may approve only certain Honors courses.
- Bonus size: A school can add 0.5, 1.0, or use a separate points table.
- Grade restrictions: Bonuses may apply only to grades of C or higher.
- Caps: Weighted points or the number of weighted courses can be limited.
- Course source: Online, dual-enrollment, transfer, or middle-school courses can receive different treatment.
College Board's sample school profile specifically includes GPA calculation and weighting details because colleges need the high school's context to interpret a transcript.
Will a college use the weighted GPA shown?
Not necessarily. A college may review the high school's reported GPA, recalculate selected academic subjects, or consider course rigor separately. The calculation on this site estimates a school-style result. It does not claim to reproduce a particular college's admission review.
Should you choose AP or Honors for the GPA bonus?
The bonus is only one part of the decision. Compare prerequisites, workload, subject preparation, teacher guidance, graduation requirements, and your capacity across the entire schedule. A more advanced label does not guarantee a higher weighted grade or a better educational outcome.