A GPA scale that gives extra points for harder classes.
On a weighted scale, AP and IB classes typically add +1.0 point, and Honors add +0.5. So an A in AP Calculus is worth 5.0 instead of 4.0. This rewards students who take more challenging courses. Not all schools weight GPA the same way — some cap at 5.0, others go higher.
Why it matters
Colleges want to see that you challenged yourself. A weighted GPA of 4.2 with hard classes often looks better than a 4.0 with only easy ones. Most colleges recalculate your GPA their own way anyway, so the exact number matters less than the course rigor it represents.
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