GPA denotes ‘grade point average’, a method used in educational institutions like high schools and universities, to assess a student's performance and educational accomplishments. GPA is computed by turning the grades or percentages you obtain for an assignment (A, B, C, etc.) into a matching point on the GPA scale.
Your GPA is a numerical representation of your performance in the courses, on average. Your GPA, which ranges from 1.0 to 4.0, measures how well you are doing academically. The value of this number is used to determine if you fulfil the requirements and criteria established by the institution or degree program.
After understanding GPA’s meaning, it is important to understand why it is crucial for a student and how it is calculated. Let us dive deep into the details.
Table of Contents
- What is an average GPA?
- Various grading systems and how to calculate GPA scores?
- Calculating GPA in Indian Institutions
- What is the difference between unweighted and weighted GPA?
- What is the difference between cumulative GPA and overall GPA?
- What is the highest GPA?
- Final words
- FAQs
What is an average GPA?
Your average GPA is a statistic that represents how you normally performed in your classes over the course of a semester, term and year. The typical GPA scores can fluctuate during the course of your education at the college/university and can vary depending on how much you improve your total grades (or, in certain situations, if the performance degrades).
Also read: How to calculate the percentage of marks?
Various grading systems and how to calculate GPA scores?
Numerous grading schemes are available, employing various scales, grading letters, grading numbers, grade percentages and so on. These are used globally to determine grades and have been discussed below:
- Letter grading (A to F): Used in the United States, Canada, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, etc.
- Number grading (1 to 10): Used in the Netherlands, Israel, Latvia, Colombia, etc.
- Number grading (1 to 5): Used in Slovakia, Russia, Paraguay, Germany, Austria, etc.
- Percentage grading: Used in Hungary, Kuwait, Poland, Belgium, and so forth.
- Classification Grading (first-class honours, upper and lower second-class honours, third-class honours, and so on): Used in the UK.
The table below shows various grading systems and how they may equate to GPA:
| GPA | Letter Grading | Number Grading (1-10) | Number Grading (1-5) | Percentage Grading | Classification Grading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | A | 10-8 | 1-1.5 | More than 70% | First-class honours |
| 3.5 | B | 7.5-7 | 2 | 69-60% | Upper second-class honours |
| 3.0 | B-C | 7-6.5 | 2.5-3 | 59-50% | Lower second-class honours |
| 2.5 | C-D | 6.5-6 | 3.5 | 49-45% | Third-class honours |
| 2.0 | E | 6 | 4 | 44-40% | Third-class honours |
| 1.5 | F | 5.5 | 5 | 39-35% | Degree with no honours |
| 1.0 | F | Less than 5 | 5 | Less than 35% | No degree is awarded |
Universities employ various popular approaches to evaluate and rank the students. However, to make these marks translatable, or readable by other nations, and colleges and universities, an average score system is frequently used.
For example, in Europe, colleges frequently employ the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) to transfer grades quickly. This approach increases transparency in the education system and allows students to have their academic grades recognised across European countries.
Calculation of GPA
For each assignment, project, and test, students earn a grade or percentage. These grades are then turned into GPA points, which are combined and divided by the number of units or credits in each class to get the semester's average score. This calculates the average GPA.
Some colleges/universities award GPAs greater than 4.0 on a weighted scale, taking into account the difficulty of coursework and assignments rather than merely the final grade.
Also Read: How to convert CGPA to Percentage? | Convert SGPA to Percentage
Calculating GPA in Indian Institutions
How is the GPA calculated at Anna University?
Anna University is one of the esteemed universities in the southern part of Chennai, India. It provides higher education in Engineering, Technology, Architecture and Applied Sciences.
In Anna University, the GPA is determined as the ratio of the sum of the products of the number of credits registered and the grade points earned in those courses to the total number of credits in the semester.
Formula for calculating GPA = ∑ (𝐶𝑖 ∗ 𝐺𝑃i) / ∑ 𝐶𝑖
where,
𝐶𝑖 = the number of credits assigned to the course
𝐺𝑃i = the grade obtained for each course
n = the number of all courses successfully cleared
Also read: GPA calculator for Anna University
How is the GPA calculated in VIT?
Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is one of India's prominent engineering universities, with top national and international rankings such as QS Rankings. The institute provides a variety of graduate, postgraduate and research programs in Engineering, Management, Sciences, Architecture, Agriculture, Law and Social Sciences, with excellent placement rates. More than 90% of its academic members have Ph.D. from reputed universities in India and overseas.
Now, there are 2 parameters that VIT takes into account while calculating GPA —
- grades obtained
- corresponding credits assigned
VIT has assigned each Letter Grade some numeric Grade points, such as S - 10, A - 9, B - 8, C - 7, D - 6, E - 5, F – 0.
GPA = (Grades*Credits)/Credits
For example, if a student has scored S (Credits - 5) in Physics, A (Credits - 2) in Discrete Maths, A (Credits - 4) in Programming Language, B (Credits - 4) in Database, and C (Credits - 5) in Oracle, the GPA will be calculated as:
(10*5)+(9*2)+(9*4)+(8*4)+(7*5)/(5+2+4+4+5) = 8.55
Also Read: VIT CGPA Calculator
What is the difference between unweighted and weighted GPA?
- A weighted GPA is the grade point average that takes into account the difficulty of the course alongside the student’s grades. As more and more students are taking advanced programmes, the weighted GPA aims to reflect a student’s work in these courses. A GPA of 4.0 is often the considered highest GPA and is equivalent to a grade A; a GPA of zero is equivalent to a grade F.
- While the unweighted GPA scale can only go up to a 4, the weighted GPA scale is between 0 and 5.0. So, students who take more difficult and advanced courses might find that they score a higher GPA than the perfect 4.
- Additionally, in the long-term, a higher weighted GPA also gives a hint to the universities and future employers that you are capable of undertaking challenging courses and tasks.
Calculation of Weighted GPA
Additionally, one of the simplest ways to compute a weighted GPA is to take your average unweighted GPA and divide it by the number of classes you took. Add 0.5 for each mid-level class and 1 for each advanced class. Followed by dividing the value by the number of classes you took.
It is important to know that there are various GPA calculators available to assist you in determining your weighted and unweighted GPAs.
Also read: CBSE CGPA to percentage
What is the difference between cumulative GPA and overall GPA?
- The cumulative GPA is the average grade of a student over a shorter time period, such as a term or semester.
- The overall GPA refers to a student's average grades throughout his academic career. This implies that an overall GPA reflects marks from all terms and semesters.
What is the highest GPA?
Whether you are using a weighted or unweighted scale will determine whether one has the highest GPA. The maximum possible GPA in the case of an unweighted GPA, which is calculated on a scale from 0 to 4, is 4.0. On the other hand, you are also able to score more than 4.0 on a weighted GPA, which uses a 0-5 scale.
What is a good GPA?
A good GPA depends on the degree of education. It may be simpler to maintain a strong GPA in high school than it is in college or university, therefore we should consider Grade Point Averages from this perspective.
- Good GPA for schools: If you are still in high school and aspire to apply to a college/university, the criteria will depend on whether or not your GPA is enough. Top academic institutions may demand students to have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Also, there are institutions with less stringent entrance standards, where you may apply with a lower GPA (2.5, or occasionally even 2.0).
- Good GPA for universities: The minimal GPA expected at university is typically 2.0, however this varies as per the institutions. The typical 'good' GPA in that situation might range from 2.75 to 3.5, depending on the university and its expectations of its students.
GPAs are frequently used if you further want to apply for Master’s or PhD programs, or as entrance standards for clubs, associations and extracurricular activities. If your academic performance falls short, you may miss out on several chances. Moreover, it can provide eligibility for financial aid programs, scholarships and other services.
Now, there are various methods by which you can improve your GPA:
- The best way is to make an effort to improve your academic performance. To ensure you are making the most out of your studies, you need to make a study plan/schedule.
- Next, you can ask for help from your teachers and guides to assist you in the process of gaining more marks.
- Try to emphasise on getting extra credits by taking part in additional assignments or extra-curricular activities
- If your institution offers weighted GPA programs, it might be worthwhile to enrol in a more challenging course for the upcoming semester or year. You may be aspirational and significantly improve your cumulative GPA with them.
Thus, after knowing everything about the GPA’s definition, the calculation criteria and various other parameters, you now know the importance of GPA. Your average GPA is essentially the sole indicator of your academic performance during your time in college/university. Your average GPA provides a broad overview of your total grades and scores, even though you will be clearly aware of whether you passed and performed well in your courses.
Though you must persevere to secure a great GPA, in any event, your average GPA does not always indicate how good of a student you are or if you are intelligent enough to attend college.
If you still have any doubts, book a free video counselling session now, with Edvoy!
FAQs
1. What is the importance of GPA?
GPA offers a thorough assessment of a student's academic achievement over the duration of their time in a college or university. Although completing each course is required, a student's GPA gives an overall picture of their grades in all disciplines, measuring their overall academic success.
For a variety of reasons, including applying for a scholarship, taking part in extracurricular activities or applying to doctoral programs, a candidate pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree will be required to provide their average GPA.
One may think of the GPA as a key that opens doors to interesting chances in college or university. High achievers with ambition are preferred by organisations, scholarship committees, clubs and institutions. As a result, getting good GPAs becomes essential for students.
2. While applying for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme, when will you be asked to provide your average GPA?
You will be asked to present your average GPA in the following scenarios:
- Applying for a scholarship
- Taking part in extracurricular activities
- Joining a club or an organisation
- Applying for a graduate or post-graduate programme (Master’s or Ph.D.)
