Difference Between GPA and CGPA

GPA and CGPA are two important acronyms that are commonly used to evaluate a student's academic performance. Despite their similarity, they both serve different purposes and are calculated differently. If you are planning to study abroad, it is essential that you learn in detail about the difference between GPA and CGPA.

Do you know what is Grade Point Average (GPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)? Are you aware of the grading system followed by several universities and countries?

If you wish to learn more about GPA and CGPA, including the overall grade, university grading systems, their differences, their meanings in the context of education, calculation methods and the conversion between one another. 

What is GPA?

Grade Point Average, or GPA, can be considered as one indicator of a student's academic success. To put it in simple terms, it is a numerical summary of a student's grades for a specific term or semester. It provides an objective measure of their performance. It is an important component in the assessment process and is used in a large number of educational institutions worldwide. A student's GPA can be used to compare their performance to that of other students as well as to track their progress over time. However, it is crucial to remember that GPA is merely one measure of academic success. Other factors that can impact a student's GPA are the workload and the difficulty of the courses.

What is CGPA?

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is a measure of a student's overall academic performance throughout their entire academic program. It can be calculated by taking the average of the grade points earned in all courses taken throughout the program.

Difference Between GPA and CGPA

The key difference between GPA and CGPA lies in the fact that GPA is a short-term measurement of a student's academic performance, that is, for a specific semester or term. Whereas, CGPA is a broader and more comprehensive assessment, as it considers a student's performance throughout their academic program including all the courses taken in their entire program duration.

GPA can be used to evaluate a student's performance for a specific set of courses. It can be considered as a tool to evaluate immediate progress. CGPA is a measurement of their overall performance, across multiple semesters or terms. It is considered very crucial for determining the eligibility for graduation and for admissions to further programs.

GPA changes over each semester, depending on the grades received as it is a short-term metric and considers a different set of courses for each term. CGPA is a more stable indicator of their overall performance as it includes all the courses taken in their entire program duration.

GPA Formula

As discussed earlier, GPA is calculated by taking the weighted average of grades of all the courses taken during a particular semester or term.

GPA = ∑(GradeValue×CreditHours) / ∑CreditHours

Example:

Let us say a student takes four courses in a single semester and earns the following grades.

Course 1: A, credits: 4

Course 2: B, credits: 4

Course 3: B, credits: 3

Course 4: C, credits: 3

To calculate the student's GPA for the given semester, we should first convert each letter grade to a numerical value according to the institution's scale.

A = 9

B = 8

C = 7

In the next step, add the numerical values of all four grades and divide by the number of credit hours.

GPA = (9*4+8*4+8*3+7*3) / (4+4+3+3) = 8.07

Therefore, the student's GPA for that semester would be 8.

Note: GPA scale may vary depending upon the institution.

CGPA Formula

CGPA can be calculated by taking the average of GPAs obtained throughout the entire course duration, which could be multiple semesters or terms. To calculate CGPA, take the sum of the GPAs obtained in all the semesters divided by the total number of semesters.

CGPA = 9+9+8+8/4 = 8.5

Or, it can be taken as the weighted average of grade points obtained over all the courses taken during the program.

Importance of GPA and CGPA

Both GPA and CGPA are important measures of the academic performance of students. They can be calculated by taking the average of grade points obtained in the courses taken during their semester or the duration of their entire program. GPA helps in assessing a student's performance for a particular term or semester. Whereas, CGPA helps in assessing a student's performance over the entire program duration. It can be used by students, parents, teachers and administrators to track and identify their areas of strength and weakness. It also helps make informed decisions about the academic support needed and enrichment with the help of data.

They are used by colleges and universities to make admission decisions. They are an indicator of a student's academic potential. They can also be used to identify potential students for scholarships and financial aid. Apart from colleges and universities, companies also use GPA and CGPA to determine the candidate's potential, academic skills and performance.

Having a high GPA and CGPA helps in increased chances of acceptance in higher education institutes abroad and in the home country. They also help in securing employment opportunities. Though extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation are helpful in getting acceptance, a good CGPA plays a crucial role.

How to Convert GPA into CGPA?

To convert GPA to CGPA, you can use the following formula.

CGPA = (GPA x Number of credits taken in semester) / Total number of credits taken throughout the academic program

For example, if a student has a GPA of 8.5 in their first semester and takes 15 credits, and they have a GPA of 8.7 in their second semester and take 16 credits, their CGPA would be calculated as follows:

CGPA = (8.5 * 15 + 8.7 * 16) / (15 + 16) = 8.6

Therefore, the student's CGPA would be 8.6.

Ensure to use the right GPA scale and the number of grades while converting. Different institutions use different scales such as 10.0 scale, 4.0 scale, 5.0 scale, etc. Make sure that you are using the correct number. This information is available with your transcript or from your academic advisor. If you are unsure about how to convert your GPA to CGPA or vice versa, contact your institution's academic office for assistance.

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