Weighted Average Score

Grades can feel daunting and a little perplexing as to how they are calculated. If you can calculate what your grade is as you pass unit tests and hand in homework, then you can decide how hard you need to hit the books to ace the final exam. Usually a weighted average score is used to give the student a fair score after all of the grades are gathered and measured against the importance that each carries. A final exam can have more weight than a unit test, making the student’s overall grade better or worse depending on that one test.

Different Scores

They can evaluate trends in many areas, from finance to population research, but usually weighted averages or means are used in a classroom. They have their benefits. By taking a series of numbers, and then applying specific values to those number's that reflect their significance within the group of numbers, you then come up with a well-established value, or weighted average.

How to Calculate

A weighted score is calculated by knowing all of the variables and their value. To arrive at a weighted score, you need to assign a value to each of the variables that you wish to average. You then multiply the value by the corresponding numerals. Total all of the results and divide that by the sum of all of the original values to yield the weighted average. This should take into account the comparative status of each part of your sample. Typically in class, a teacher will set weights for each type of grade, with midterm and final tests carrying the most weight at around 70 percent and unit tests or pop quizzes and homework rounding out the total weight to 100 percent. The teacher will calculate the average of each type of grade and multiply it by the weight of each unit to determine the average.

Benefits of Weighted Scores

A weighted average score should be able to include any unforeseen fluctuations that can occur. It can reflect a more consistent and long term valuation of a given subject. The weighted average score takes into account fluctuations in the student’s habits, learning curve and more. For instance a final exam may carry more weight than a first exam to account for students' understanding of the material as they have studied over the course of a semester. Pop quizzes may carry more weight than weekly tests to account for a student’s grasp of the lessons. A straight score system doesn’t allow for these variations and unknowns as the student progresses in a class.

GPA (grade point average) is a measure of academic performance across all of your classes. Some schools use an unweighted GPA, where grades in all classes count for the same number of points. However, some schools use a weighted GPA system where advanced classes, such as honors or advanced placement (AP) classes are given bonuses. To calculate the GPA, you need to know your grades and the weighting system of your school.

Common examples of weighting include awarding an extra 0.5 points to grades earned in honors classes and an extra full point for grades earned in AP classes, an extra full point for honors and two points for AP classes, or an extra half point or full point for both honors and AP classes.

Convert to Numerical Values

Obtain a copy of your transcript for a list of all your classes, grades and credits earned in each c lass. Convert each of your grades to a numerical value based on your school's weighting system. For example, if your school adds one point to grades earned in both honors and AP classes, an honors or AP A would be worth five, an honors or AP B worth four, and so on. Regular classes remain worth 4 points for an A, 3 for a B, and so on.

Calculate the total points earned per class by multiplying the number of credit hours per class. For instance, most regular classes count as three credits toward the total number of credits needed toward graduation. Typically, activity classes like gym that meet less frequently are just one credit. Your transcript should show the number of credit hours of each class taken. If you had an A in an honors class that was worth two credits, multiply five by two to get 10. If you had a B in a regular class worth 0.5 credits, multiply three by 0.5 to get 1.5.

Final Calculation of Weighted Grades

Add up the points earned for all of your classes. Total the number of credits taken for all classes. Divide the number of points earned by the number of credits taken to calculate your weighted GPA. For example, if you earned 85 points by taking 20 credits worth of classes, you would divide 85 by 20 to find your weighted GPA to be 4.25. Weighted grades can allow students to earn above 4.0. A 4.0 in regular, non-weighted classes is an A average, and a 3.0 is a B average. In many weighted grading systems, a 97 percent is an A+, a 93 to 96 is an A, and a 90 to 92 is an A-.

What Is the Difference Between QPA and GPA?

Educational acronyms can be very confusing simply in trying to figure out what the letters represent. Knowing the meanings of each letter is especially important when it comes to determining grades. QPA and GPA are two very important acronyms that appear on transcripts. Schools use the grade point average, or GPA, of students to represent the grades the student’s earned in various classes. They also use a quality point average, or QPA, system, which multiplies the student’s GPA by a specific multiplier. Colleges determine the multiplier by the number of credit hours that a class is worth.

GPA Definition

Schools determine a student’s GPA by his final grade in a class. Students earning an A in a class receive a GPA value for the class of a four. Schools award a three for a B in a class, two for a C, one for a D and a zero for a failing grade. Schools keep these values in their system as a record of students achievement in various classes throughout their educational career. Each completed class has a GPA value awarded, based on the student’s grades; however, to find a total GPA, schools must use a weighted system, such as the QPA system.

QPA Definition

Schools use the QPA system to weigh student grades against the classes that the student takes. The school multiplies the GPA value by a factor that is based on the number of credit hours that a class is worth, as well as any additional multipliers, such as an extra .1 for honors classes. For instance, a student who earned a B in a four hour regular class, earns a QPA of (3.0 x 4) 12 and a GPA in the class worth 3.0.

QPA and Honors

One advantage of the QPA system is that a student who takes honors classes can see her honors work reflected in her grades. The additional multiplier goes into the QPA equation, providing a grade advantage to honors students that reflects the additional work they put into the class. As an example, a student who earned a B in a four hour honors class earns a QPA of (3.0 x 4.0 x 1.1) 13.2. The QPA system also allows schools to determine a student’s overall GPA quickly, by adding all of the QPA values for every class the student took and dividing it by the total number of hours that the student completed.

QPA and Retakes

In situations where students fail to perform as well in a class as they would like, or as their degree requires, they have the option to retake the class. In these cases, a student earns a new grade to replace his old grade. When taking retakes, a student’s total hours completed does not increase because the grade is a replacement for an already existing grade. The QPA system allows students to decide whether to take retakes by giving them a clear perception of the impact of the class grade on their overall grade. For instance, if a student earned a 2.0 in a three hour class (2.0 x 3 = 6) and increased the grade to a 4.0 (4.0 x 3 = 12), the student could see the overall six point increase to their total QPA.