Hey there, I've seen phrases like '4.0 GPA scale' and '5.0 GPA scale'. These have left me quite confused. What's the difference between these scales and what do they mean, really? All help is welcome!
Hello!
A GPA, or Grade Point Average, is a metric used in the United States education system that reflects the average of a student's grades throughout their high school (or college) career. It's a numerical representation of your academic progress.
A 4.0 scale and a 5.0 scale are two commonly used scales to measure GPA.
On a 4.0 GPA scale, an A (90-100%) in a regular class is worth 4 points, a B (80-89%) is worth 3 points, a C (70-79%) is worth 2 points, and so on. This is the traditional unweighted GPA scale schools use. It doesn't take the difficulty level of courses into account, making an A from an advanced class and an A from a regular class worth the same.
On a 5.0 GPA scale, also known as a weighted GPA scale, honors, AP (Advanced Placement), and IB (International Baccalaureate) classes receive an extra grade point because these courses are more rigorous. So, an A in an AP/IB/Honors class could be worth 5 points instead of 4, a B could be worth 4 points instead of 3, and so on.
So a student who takes many advanced classes and does well in them could have a GPA over 4.0 if their school uses a weighted 5.0 scale. I would recommend you check your school's specific GPA calculation method since it can vary.
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