What unweighted GPA scale means?

I'm trying to figure out how my GPA stacks up for college applications. I know there's a difference between weighted and unweighted GPAs, but what exactly does the unweighted GPA scale represent?

In most American high schools, an unweighted GPA scale ranges from 0.0 to 4.0. This scale directly corresponds to your grades in high school coursework.

Here's a simple breakdown:

- A grade of an A (90-100%) typically corresponds to a 4.0 on this scale

- A B (80-89%) corresponds to a 3.0

- A C (70-79%) is a 2.0

- D (60-69%) is a 1.0

- F (below 60%) is a 0.0

The unweighted GPA scale, therefore, doesn't take into account the difficulty level of your courses. Whether you receive an A in an honors class, AP course, or regular class, it would still correspond to a 4.0 on the unweighted scale.

This is different from the weighted GPA, which assigns a higher value to grades earned in honors, AP, or IB courses to account for their increased difficulty. For example, an A in an AP class might be considered a 5.0 rather than a 4.0 on a weighted GPA scale.

When applying to college, it's important to note some colleges look at unweighted GPAs to level the playing field and see your grades in their rawest form. Other colleges prefer the weighted GPA, which can provide more context about the rigor of your coursework. All colleges understand the context behind both types of GPAs.