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How to Calculate GPA on a 4.00 Unweighted Scale From a Weighted GPA

The simple grade-point average has become increasingly complex over time. Some high schools add more weight to certain grades -- usually from more advanced classes, honors courses or International Baccalaureate classes -- to reflect the more challenging nature of the course work. Other high schools assign letter grades, but do not calculate a numerical GPA.

When colleges evaluate admissions applications, they traditionally consider an unweighted GPA. The process to convert either weighted GPA or letter grades to an unweighted GPA is a relatively straightforward process.

Calculator or spreadsheet software
Recent transcript

Instructions

- 1
  Identify the letter grades you have received in each course, and total them by group. For example, count all classes where you have received an "A" and total them. If your school uses the plus or minus system of grading, include those as separate categories.
- 2
  Convert your letter grade to a numerical grade. Use the following scale: "A+" or "A" equals 4.0; "A-" equals 3.7; "B+" equals 3.3; "B" equals 3.0; "B-" equals 2.7; "C+" equals 2.3; "C" equals 2.0; "C-" equals 1.7; "D" equals 1.0 and "F" equals 0.
- 3
  Take the number of courses for each letter grade group that you calculated in step 1 and multiply it by the numerical grade in step 2. For instance, if you have six classes on your transcript where you received a "B," take these six classes multiplied by the 3.0 numerical equivalent, which equals 18 total grade points.
- 4
  Sum the total grade points for each letter category you calculated in step 3.
- 5
  Divide the sum of grade points from step 4 by the total number of classes you have taken. The result is your unweighted GPA.

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