How a 5-Credit Heavy Course Impacts Your GPA
See how earning a C in a 5-credit course significantly drags down your overall weighted GPA.
How to use this tool
- Enter each course's credit hours; leave unused courses at 0 credits.
- Enter each course's grade points on the 4.0 scale (A=4.0, B=3.0, A-=3.7, etc.).
- Read your weighted GPA, total credit hours, and total quality points.
High-credit courses carry more weight — see how a poor grade in a 5-credit class affects your overall GPA.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between weighted and unweighted GPA?
- An unweighted GPA averages grade points equally; a weighted GPA multiplies each grade by its credit hours first, so a 4-credit course counts more than a 1-credit one. This tool computes the credit-weighted GPA.
- How do I enter plus and minus grades?
- Use the grade points your school assigns — commonly A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B-=2.7, and so on. Enter that number directly in the grade points field.
- What if my school uses a 5.0 honors scale?
- Just enter grade points above 4.0 (for example 5.0 for an A in an honors or AP course). The credit-weighted math is identical, so the result reflects your school's scale.