In this post, we will discuss how to calculate GPA in university, As a university student, your grade point average (GPA) is an essential metric used to measure your academic performance.
It is a numerical representation of your overall academic achievement, and it is calculated based on the grades you receive in your courses.
If you want to know how to calculate your GPA in university, then you need to take the information below seriously.
GPA stands for Grade Point Average, and it is a method of calculating a student’s academic performance in a university.
How To Calculate GPA In University
Know your letter grades
You need to know your letter grade because grades are assigned as letter grades (e.g., A, B, C, D, F) to reflect the quality of your work in a course. So you need to know the letter grade you earned in each of your courses.
Assign a point value to each letter grade
Now each letter grade corresponds to a point value. For instance, an A may be worth 4 points, a B may be worth 3 points, and so on. Check your university to know the point values assigned to each letter grade.
Multiply the point value
Multiply the point value of each letter grade by the number of credit hours for the course. A lot of university courses are assigned some credit hours based on the number of time spent in the classroom. For instance, one course that meets for three hours a week should be worth three credit hours.
You need to multiply the point value of each letter grade by the number of credit hours for the course.
Then, add up the total number of points earned
You need to add up the total number of points earned for all of your courses.
Divide the number of points
You need to divide the total number of points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted. Now get your GPA.
For instance, you should earn the following grades in your first semester:
English Composition: B (3 points), 3 credit hours
Calculus: A (4 points), 4 credit hours
Introduction to Psychology: C (2 points), 3 credit hours
Sociology: A (4 points), 3 credit hours
To calculate your GPA for the semester, you would first determine the point value for each letter grade (e.g., B = 3 points, A = 4 points, C = 2 points), now you need to multiply that point value by the number of credit hours for each course, before adding up the total number of points earned:
English Composition: 3 points x 3 credit hours = 9 points
Calculus: 4 points x 4 credit hours = 16 points
Introduction to Psychology: 2 points x 3 credit hours = 6 points
Sociology: 4 points x 3 credit hours = 12 points
Total points earned: 9 + 16 + 6 + 12 = 43
To know your GPA, you would divide the total number of points earned (43) by the total number of credit hours attempted (13):
GPA = 43 / 13 = 3.31
Now, your GPA for the semester would be 3.31.
The following table shows the letter grades and their corresponding grade points in the United States grading system:
| Letter Grade | Grade Point |
|---|---|
| A+ | 4.0 |
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
For example, if you received an A in a course that is worth three credit hours, you would assign a grade point of 4.0 x 3 = 12 for that course.
How to Use a GPA Calculator
Calculating your GPA manually can be a bit tedious, especially if you have a lot of courses with different credit hours and letter grades. Fortunately, there are many GPA calculators available online that can help you quickly and accurately calculate your GPA.
To use a GPA calculator, follow these simple steps:
Gather Your Grades
Before you begin using the GPA calculator, you will need to gather all of your grades from the courses you have taken. Make sure you have the letter grade and the credit hours for each course.
Find a GPA Calculator
There are many GPA calculators available online. You can use search engines to find one that suits your needs. Some popular GPA calculators include:
- GPACalculator.net
- CollegeGPACalc.com
- RapidTables GPA Calculator
Input Your Grades
Once you have found a GPA calculator, input your grades for each course. Some GPA calculators may require you to select the grading system used by your university or college. Make sure you select the correct grading system, as this can affect your GPA calculation.
Calculate Your GPA
After you have inputted all of your grades, click the calculate button to determine your GPA. The GPA calculator will automatically calculate your GPA and display the result.
How to Calculate CGPA
To calculate CGPA, you need to follow the instructions below:
Know the grade points earned for each course
You have to know the grade points earned for each course. Grade points are assigned for each letter grade based on a standard scale. For instance, on a typical 4.0 scale, an A is worth 4 points, a B is worth 3 points, a C is worth 2 points, a D is worth 1 point, and an F is worth 0 points.
You have to know the credit hours for each course
You need to check the credit hours for each course. Credit hours represent the amount of time spent in a course and are assigned by the university. For instance, a course that meets for three hours per week for one semester may be worth 3 credit hours.
Multiply the grade points earned by the credit hours for each course
Multiply the grade points earned by the credit hours for each course. For instance, if you earned an A in a 3-credit hour course, you would multiply 4 (the grade point value for an A) by 3 (the credit hours for the course) to get 12.
Add up the total grade points earned
You need to add up the total grade points earned for all courses taken.
Add the total credit hours
Add up the total credit hours for all courses taken. Now divide the total grade points earned by the total credit hours
Lastly, you should divide the total grade points earned by the total credit hours. The resulting value is your CGPA. For instance, if you earned 60-grade points and took 15 credit hours, your CGPA would be 4.0, which is the highest possible value on a 4.0 scale.
Difference between GPA and CGPA
GPA and CGPA are measures of academic achievement, but they differ in the method they are calculated and used.
GPA stands for Grade Point Average, it is a measure of a student’s overall academic performance in an academic year. GPA is calculated by adding grade points earned in one course and dividing by the total number of credit hours taken in that semester.
CGPA stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average, it is created to measure a student’s throughout one academic performance over the entire duration of their degree program. CGPA is usually calculated by adding the grade points earned in all courses taken and dividing by the total number of credit hours completed.
The difference between GPA and CGPA is that GPA shows a student’s performance in a semester or year, on the other hand, CGPA shows the performance of students during the entire duration of their degree program.
GPA
GPA is measured based on a 4.0 scale, A is worth 4 points, a B is worth 3 points, a C is worth 2 points, and a D is worth 1 point. A lot of universities use a different scale, such as a 5.0 scale or a 10.0 scale
GPA helps to determine a student’s eligibility for scholarships, academic programs, or student organizations. For instance, scholarship program organizations may require a minimum GPA of 3.0, while some may require a minimum GPA of 2.5.
GPA can be calculated for one semester, a full academic year, or a summer term. It can be calculated for a set of courses, like courses in a major or courses required for graduation.
GPA adds a student’s transcript, which is a record of their academic performance.
CGPA
CGPA is measured based on a 4.0 scale, with the same point values as GPA.
CGPA shows all courses taken by a student, with courses from previous semesters.
CGPA is created to determine a student’s academic standing, like whether they are on academic probation or have graduated with honors. For instance, some institutions may demand a minimum CGPA of 2.0 to remain in good academic standing, while others want a minimum CGPA of 3.0 for graduation with honors.
CGPA can be calculated for a degree program at any level, such as an undergraduate program, a graduate program, or a doctoral program.
Both GPA and CGPA are important measures of academic achievement that can be used for different things. GPA reflects a student’s performance in a particular semester or year, and also CGPA provides a more comprehensive view of their entire academic performance.
