Understanding your GPA
The grades you earn in high school will be part of what many colleges review when considering your application. Your grades will be reported on your transcript, which is one of the official documents that your high school may be required to provide to the colleges where you apply. Your transcript typically shows the grades you earn in each class and provides an average of your grades across all of your classes. This number is called your grade point average, or GPA, and provides a snapshot of your overall academic performance.
Weighted vs. unweighted GPAs
High schools set their own policies for the scale they use when calculating your GPA. In the United States, GPAs are typically calculated on a 4.0 scale, where a grade of “A” is equal to 4.0, “B” is 3.0, and “C” is 2.0. Your grade values for each class you’ve taken are added up and divided by the number of credits you’ve taken. This is what’s called an “unweighted” GPA, where each class you take plays an equal role in calculating your grade point average.
Some schools use a “weighted” GPA, where more challenging courses, like honors or AP-level classes, are worth more points. In this scale, earning an “A” in a challenging course may be worth 5 points, rather than 4, and therefore has a larger impact on your overall GPA.
Be sure to ask a teacher, advisor or counselor what grading policy your school follows so that you can calculate your own GPA. This will empower you to understand how your performance in each class will impact this number.
How to calculate your GPA
Once you know your school’s grading policy and what points are assigned to each grade, you can calculate your own GPA.
Here’s the equation you’ll use:
GPA = total grade points earned / total credit hours
Here’s an example, using an unweighted grading scale:
| Course | Credit hours | Grade | Grade points |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 3 | A- (3.7) | 11.1 |
| Algebra | 3 | B+ (3.3) | 9.9 |
| Spanish | 3 | A (4.0) | 12 |
| Chemistry | 4 | B (3.0) | 12 |
| Music | 1 | A (4.0) | 4 |
Total grade points earned: 49 (out of 56)
Total credit hours attempted: 14
GPA= 3.5
How will colleges understand your GPA?
College admissions officers will seek to understand your GPA in context -- that is, they’ll know whether your high school uses a weighted or unweighted GPA and evaluate your performance against what was possible at your high school. So if your school is using an unweighted GPA, don’t worry; your average will not be compared to applicants with weighted GPAs.
How will a college know what your school uses, you might be wondering? That’s part of the information your school counselor provides when submitting their portion of your application. When you request your school transcript, your counselor will upload that information and answer a few questions about your school’s policies.
How to keep your GPA in good standing
Working hard and doing your best will be important from your first year of high school. Remember, your GPA will be factored from the grades you receive in each of the classes you take, so even grades in electives will impact your average.
The best way to keep your GPA high is to begin with a strong start. Your classes will typically become more challenging as you move through high school, so starting with a foundation of good grades early on will help as you move on to more difficult material.
One of the most important parts of getting good grades is having a clear understanding of what’s expected of you in each course and how you’ll be evaluated. Be sure to review any documentation your teachers provide about what counts toward your final grade, and if you’re unsure, ask!
It’s likely that you’ll face a class along the way that has a negative impact on your grade point average, or you might face a personal situation that pulls your focus away from your coursework. Don’t panic. The best step you can take is to keep the lines of communication open between you and your teacher. Have a conversation at the first sign that your grade might not be where you’d hoped. Find out what resources are available to help you understand the material, or ask if there are ways you can work to bring your grade up.
Know, too, that you’ll have the opportunity on your college applications to provide any needed context about your academic performance, especially if challenging personal circumstances or other events beyond your control were a factor.
Finally, keep in mind that many colleges will look at your trends over time, often with more weight given to your junior and senior years. Growth and improvement can be a testament to your commitment to your studies, as can showing that you continued to challenge yourself with difficult coursework in your senior year.