GPA and CGPA are grading systems used in colleges and universities to evaluate a student’s academic performance in various subjects. These systems are prevalent in higher education and are used to determine student admissions. However, there may be confusion between the two systems as some institutions differentiate between them and place more importance on one over the other. To better understand these grading systems, let’s examine each one in more detail.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
GPA stands for Grade Point Average, which represents the average of the grades a student has earned in a semester or a term of studies in various courses. The GPA reflects the student’s achievement level and scholastic abilities, allowing teachers to assess their performance. Typically, there are five grades: A, B, C, D, and F, with A being the highest and F indicating a failing grade. The GPA is usually on a scale of up to 4.0 or 5.0, with each grade reflecting a range of marks obtained by a student in a course. To calculate a student’s GPA, their total grade points are divided by the attempted credit hours. Grade points are determined by multiplying the student’s grades by the credit hours of the course.
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
Cumulative Grade Point Average, or CGPA, is the average of the GPA a student has earned in college or university across all courses they have taken. To calculate the CGPA, the grade points obtained by a student in all semesters are added together and divided by the sum of their total credit hours. If there are two semesters in a year, a student receives a CGPA for the year, while the grades in the semester give them a Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA). So, if there are eight semesters in a degree course, simply add up the SGPA and divide by eight to determine the student’s CGPA.
Key Takeaways
- GPA and CGPA are grading systems used to evaluate a student’s scholastic abilities and performance in a semester or an entire course.
- While GPA is calculated for a single term or year, CGPA is calculated for the entire duration of a course.
- Some colleges place more importance on GPA than CGPA when admitting students, requiring consistent high GPAs for admission into specific courses.
