How to Calculate Your UC GPA (It's Not What You Think)

Your high school GPAGrade Point Average: a numerical measure of academic performance and your UC GPA are probably not the same number. The University of California uses a unique GPA calculation that only counts specific courses from specific years: and adds bonus points differently than most high schools. Understanding this formula is critical because it's the GPA that actually matters for UC admissions.

UC GPA vs. Your Regular GPA

Your high school transcript GPA typically includes every class you've ever taken, from freshman PE to senior English. The UC GPA is narrower:

• Only A-G courses count. These are the 15 college-preparatory courses required for UC eligibility across seven subject areas (History, English, Math, Science, Language Other Than English, Visual/Performing Arts, and College-Prep Electives).
• Only grades from 10th and 11th grade count. Freshman year grades are excluded entirely. Senior year grades aren't included in the initial GPA calculation (though UC will see them).
• Summer courses between 9th–12th grade count if they're A-G approved.[1]UC Admissions, 2025

This means a student with a 3.5 high school GPA might have a 3.8 UC GPA, or a 3.2. It depends entirely on which courses you took and when.

The Grade Point Scale

UC uses a simple whole-letter-grade scale, pluses and minuses don't count:

[2]UC Admissions GPA Requirement

Honors and AP Bonus Points

Here's where it gets interesting. UC awards an extra point (5.0 instead of 4.0 for an A) for approved honors-level courses:

• AP courses (Advanced Placement)
• IB Higher Level courses (International Baccalaureate)
• Designated IB Standard Level courses (select ones only)
• UC-transferable college courses taken during high school
• UC-approved school-based honors courses (for California high schools listed on the UC Doorways site)

What Doesn't Get the Bonus

• Regular honors courses not certified by UC
• Honors courses from out-of-state schools (unless specifically approved)
• More than 8 semesters of honors courses (for the capped GPA, more on that below)

Capped vs. Uncapped GPA: The Critical Distinction

This is where most students get confused. UC calculates two versions of your GPA:

Capped Weighted GPA (Max: 4.4)

• Maximum of 8 semester-long honors/AP courses receive the bonus point
• Since only 10th and 11th grade count, that's 4 yearlong courses (8 semesters)
• This puts a ceiling of 4.4 on the weighted GPA
• This is the GPA used for UC eligibility screening (minimum 3.0 for CA residents, 3.4 for non-residents)

Uncapped Weighted GPA (No Maximum)[1]UC Admissions, 2025

• All UC-approved honors/AP courses get the bonus point. No limit
• A student taking 10+ AP/honors courses can have a GPA well above 4.4
• This is what campuses actually use in holistic review
• Competitive campuses like UCLA and Berkeley care about this number

Step-by-Step Calculation Example

Let's walk through a real example. Meet Alex, a California junior:

Alex's 10th Grade Courses (A-G only)

Alex's 11th Grade Courses (A-G only)

Calculating Alex's GPAs

Total A-G courses counted: 12 (PE excluded) Total honors/AP semesters: 6 yearlong courses = 12 semester courses, but only 6 courses are AP/Honors

Unweighted GPA: Sum of base points: 4+3+4+3+4+4+4+3+4+3+4+4 = 44 44 ÷ 12 = 3.67 unweighted

Capped Weighted GPA: Alex has 6 AP/Honors yearlong courses (12 semesters). Cap is 8 semesters (4 yearlong), so only 4 courses get the bonus. Sum with 4 bonus points: 44 + 4 = 48 (adding 1 point for 4 of the 6 honors courses, choosing the A grades for maximum benefit, but actually, all semesters of those 4 courses get the point, so it's +8 semester points ÷ counted as yearlong... )

Let's simplify: With yearlong courses, add 1.0 to 4 of the 6 AP/honors courses: 44 + 4 = 48 48 ÷ 12 = 4.00 capped weighted

Uncapped Weighted GPA: All 6 AP/honors courses get the bonus: 44 + 6 = 50 50 ÷ 12 = 4.17 uncapped weighted

What GPA Do You Need?[3]UC Infocenter, 2025

Here's the reality check with approximate admitted student GPAs for Fall 2024:

Yes, you read that right, average admitted GPAs at UCLA and Berkeley exceed the 4.4 cap when looking at uncapped figures. This is because those students are loading up on AP and honors courses.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Including freshman year grades. UC doesn't count 9th grade. Period.
2. Counting non-A-G courses. PE, teacher's aide, and study hall don't factor in.
3. Assuming all honors courses get the bonus. Only UC-approved ones count. Check the UC Doorways course list for your school.
4. Forgetting about the cap. The capped GPA maxes at 4.4. If you're above that uncapped, great, but know which number UC uses for eligibility.
5. Ignoring senior year. While not in the GPA calc, UC requires you to maintain your academic level. A significant senior-year drop can result in a rescinded admission.

The Bottom Line

Calculate your UC GPA separately from your school GPA. Use only 10th and 11th grade A-G courses, apply bonus points for approved honors/AP courses, and know the difference between your capped and uncapped numbers. The capped GPA determines eligibility; the uncapped GPA is what competitive campuses actually weigh in admissions decisions.

For the most accurate calculation, use the UC GPA calculator or manually tally your A-G grades using the method above.

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