GPA stands for grade point average. It is a number that summarizes a student's grades across courses. Many schools use a 4.0 scale, where an A is often worth 4 points, but exact rules can differ by school.
How GPA is used
Schools, scholarship programs, colleges, and some employers may use GPA as one signal of academic performance. It can appear on an academic transcript along with course names, credits, and grades.
Weighted and unweighted GPA
An unweighted GPA treats classes on the same scale. A weighted GPA may give extra points for advanced classes, honors classes, Advanced Placement courses, or similar options.
GPA is useful, but it does not show the whole student. Course difficulty, growth, projects, recommendations, and personal context can matter too.