An unweighted grade point average treats every course the same: an A is four grade points whether it was Advanced Placement or not, and the average cannot exceed 4.0. It is the figure that compares between schools, which is exactly why admissions offices frequently recalculate it from the transcript rather than reading whatever a school reports.
How to find unweighted GPA from a weighted transcript
Take the letter grade in each course, look up its grade points on the plain 4.0 scale, ignore any honours or AP addition, weight by credit hours and average. The result is lower than the weighted figure and comparable with any other school's unweighted number, which is the whole point of doing it. Keep both: schools report one and applications often ask for the other.
Why the unweighted number is the comparable one
Weighting is a local policy. One district adds a full point to twenty courses, another adds half a point to eight, a third weights nothing. An unweighted average removes that variable entirely and leaves only the grades. It still does not remove the difference between grading scales at university level, where a B+ is priced anywhere from 3.3 to 3.5, but at high-school level it is the closest thing to a common measure.
How to check unweighted GPA: where both figures are printed
The school's transcript or student record system usually prints both, sometimes labeling the weighted figure as academic or honours GPA. If only one appears, ask the counsellor's office which it is before quoting it on an application, because a weighted number presented as unweighted reads as an error at best.
Questions people ask about unweighted GPA
What is weighted and unweighted GPA, and how do they differ?
An unweighted average scores every course on the same 4.0 scale. A weighted average adds points for course difficulty, so it can exceed 4.0 and cannot be compared between schools.
How do I find my unweighted GPA?
Recalculate from the transcript using the plain 4.0 scale, ignoring any honours or AP addition, weighted by credit hours. Many schools also print it beside the weighted figure.
Which one do colleges use?
Many recalculate an unweighted average themselves, precisely because weighting policies differ between schools. Some also read the weighted figure alongside the course list to see what was attempted.