How and why GPA matters when you are looking for a degree abroad?

What is GPA?

Grade Point Average, commonly known as GPA, is a numbered scale which assesses how well you are performing academically. It is used by many high schools, universities, and colleges around the world.

GPA is calculated by applying a corresponding score point to each of the individual grades (or percentages) achieved over the course of a semester or study programme.

GPA is used as part of the grading system by universities in many popular study destinations, including the USA, Canada, and for some courses in Australia and New Zealand. Unlike the 10.0 scale commonly used in India, in these destinations, GPA is commonly measured on a 4.0 scale, with other scales, such as 9.0, used by some institutions and geographic regions.

Why is GPA important for studying abroad?

International students should seek to have an understanding of GPA, given its use by universities and potential employers in many destinations around the world.

Whether you are a student looking to translate traditional lettered or percentage grades into GPA, or want to convert your GPA into a percentage, it is important to understand how GPA is used in your chosen study destination, and how this compares with your home country.

How can we calculate the average GPA?

GPA scores are created by converting letter grades or percentages into grade points. This is done for every course, assignment, or exam you undertake over the course of each semester.

There are no explicit rules for translating a grade into a GPA score, and correlating grades can vary significantly between study destinations. However, for many US universities using a 4.0 scale, grades and percentages can often broadly be converted to grade points as follows:

To translate a percentage score into GPA, a quick method is to divide the percentage by 100, then multiply it by the highest number on the point scale.

Example:

Rahul has a score of 89%. He wants to translate this to a GPA on the 4.0 scale. He must use the following calculation:

89 ¸ 100 x 4.0 = 3.56 GPA

Weighted GPA

Some universities use weighted GPA, which takes into consideration the difficulty of a specific course, or assessment, as well as your final grade. As a result, students who perform well in an advanced assessment may receive a GPA higher than the highest point on a scale, typically up to 5.0 on a 4.0 scale.

There is no standardised method to calculate weighted GPA, as it varies between institutions and locations. But one common technique in the USA is to add 0.5 to your GPA in any mid-level classes, and add 1.0 in any advanced classes.

How can we convert GPA to percentage?

In order to convert your GPA to a percentage, you will need to know your overall GPA scale (the highest score achievable). You will then need to multiply your GPA score by 100, and divide the answer by the highest score achievable. The resulting answer is your percentage score.

Example One:

Anika has a GPA of 3.20/4.0. Anika must calculate her percentage using the following equation:

3.75 x 100 ¸ 4.0 = 80%

Example Two:

Ajay has a GPA of 8.75/10.0. Ajay must calculate his percentage as follows:

8.75 x 100 ¸ 10.0 = 87.5%

What is SGPA?

Semester Grade Point Average, or SGPA, is the weighted average of the grades you earn across all the courses or assessments you undertake in a semester. An SGPA is necessary for calculating your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), which is commonly asked for as part of university and job applications.

Calculating SGPA

SGPA is calculated by multiplying the grade points allocated for each class, or assessment, by their credit hours. Then, the totals are added together and divided by the total credit hours.

Example:

Arun undertook three classes and a research project this semester, and wants to calculate his SGPA.

First, Arun must obtain his GPA and total credit hours completed for each class. Then he must multiply each GPA by its corresponding number of credit hours, as detailed below:

To calculate his SGPA, Rahul must then divide his total by the total number of credit hours of his classes this semester:

45.7 ¸ 13 = 3.51 SGPA

What is CGPA?

CGPA (also known as cumulative GPA, or overall GPA) is the weighted average of the grades you have earned across all completed semesters of your study programme. CGPA is the type of GPA typically requested by universities during the application process, so understanding how to calculate it is important.

Calculating CGPA

Luckily, there is a quick method by which you can calculate your CGPA. First, for each completed semester, multiply your SGPA by the number of credit hours undertaken. Then, add the totals together and divide this figure by the total number of credit hours.

Example:

Samira is enrolled on a two-year study programme, and wants to calculate her CGPA.

First, Samira must obtain her SGPA and total credit hours completed for each semester. Then she must multiply each SGPA by its corresponding number of credit hours, as outlined in the below table:

To calculate her CGPA, Samira must then divide her total by the total number of credit hours of her degree overall:

201.9 ¸ 54 = 3.74 CGPA

What is a good GPA score?

There is no single example of a ‘good’ GPA score, since they can vary significantly between academic institutions and regional standards. A common university entry requirement is a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, with the most competitive institutions asking for a GPA of 3.5.

Broadly speaking, the higher your score (the closer it is to the top of the GPA scale), the better the score. If you are using weighted GPA, it may be possible to achieve higher still, for example a GPA of 5.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Which universities will ask for your GPA?

Many universities worldwide will ask for your GPA as part of the application process. This is especially common in the USA and Canada, across both private and public institutions.

In Australia and New Zealand, a GPA score is not commonly required as part of the application process for undergraduate programmes. However, it is often an important part of the selection process in postgraduate programmes, including law and medicine.

In the UK and much of Europe, GPA is not routinely used. If you have a GPA for your existing qualification(s), you may be asked to convert it into a percentage or letter grade.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in September 2016 by our content writer, Doodle Nandi. We have since revised it to include up-to-date information and ensure its comprehensiveness.