Within the Common Application, the reporting of a grade point average (GPA) involves specifying the scale used by the applicant’s high school. This indicates the maximum GPA attainable. For instance, a school might employ a 4.0 scale, where an A equals 4.0, or a weighted scale that could go above 4.0 to reflect the difficulty of advanced courses such as Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes. The applicant is required to indicate which scale their school uses, ensuring colleges can accurately interpret the GPA within its specific context.
Accurate GPA reporting is crucial as it provides colleges with a standardized metric for comparing applicants from different high schools. It allows admissions committees to assess academic performance relative to the rigor of the school’s curriculum. Previously, a lack of standardized reporting led to difficulties in fairly evaluating students. The Common Application’s system aims to provide a more transparent view of a student’s academic achievements.