GPA weighting guide
Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA: How Course Weighting Changes GPA
Weighted GPA changes the course point value before credit weighting. The current Tool keeps the base GPA separate and applies only the bonuses you explicitly enter.
The quick answer
In the current Mycelgrid GPA Calculator, unweighted GPA uses only the base grade-point map. Weighted planning GPA adds the optional bonus entered for each course before multiplying by that course’s credits.
Unweighted course points = credits x base grade points
Weighted course points = credits x (base grade points + entered bonus)
Weighted planning GPA = sum of weighted course points / total credits
The bonus is an input to this planning model. It is not a claim that every honors, AP, IB, dual-enrollment, or advanced course receives a particular bonus at every institution.
What changes between unweighted and weighted GPA
The base GPA keeps the current Tool’s default letter-grade values unchanged. A course with an A contributes 4.0 base grade points per credit whether or not a weight bonus is entered.
The weighted result is separate. If you enter a +1.0 bonus for that A, the Tool uses 5.0 weighted points per credit for that course while the base term GPA still uses 4.0.
Worked example with one weighted course
Consider two 3-credit courses:
| Course | Credits | Grade | Bonus | Base points per credit | Weighted points per credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course 1 | 3 | A | +1.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Course 2 | 3 | B | 0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
The unweighted quality points are 12 + 9 = 21, so the base GPA is 21 / 6 = 3.50.
The weighted quality points are 15 + 9 = 24, so the weighted planning GPA is 24 / 6 = 4.00.
The bonus is still credit-weighted
The Tool adds the bonus to the course’s base grade points before multiplying by credits. A +1.0 bonus on a 4-credit course therefore contributes more weighted quality points than the same +1.0 bonus on a 1-credit course.
This is why the weight bonus should be treated as part of the course model, not as a flat amount added to the final GPA.
Can weighted GPA exceed 4.0?
Yes in this Tool when positive bonuses are entered. The current calculator does not impose a universal weighted-GPA ceiling. For example, an A with a +1.0 bonus contributes 5.0 weighted points per credit.
That does not mean a 5.0 scale is official for your school. Institutions can use different weighting systems, caps, eligible course lists, and reporting rules.
What you need to verify outside the Tool
Before treating a weighted result as an official academic value, verify which courses receive weighting, the exact bonus or scale used, whether weighting is capped, how repeated courses are handled, and which credits count.
The current Tool accepts an explicit nonnegative per-course bonus for planning. It does not infer school policy from a course name or grade.
Compare base and weighted GPA
Use the Mycelgrid GPA Calculator to enter course credits, letter grades, and optional per-course bonuses, then review the base and weighted planning results together.