In the dynamic landscape of academia and employment, the need for standardised metrics to evaluate academic performance is paramount. This is where Grade Point Average (GPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) come into play. Though often used interchangeably, they possess subtle differences crucial for understanding their implications in educational and professional landscapes.
We explore the nuances that characterise CGPA and GPA as academic assessment standards. Furthermore, we shall discuss how they affect one's ability to access gainful employment or educational advancement. Let's get started.
What is GPA (Grade Point Average)?
GPA is an acronym for Grade Point Average, a standardised measure of academic performance. In practice, it is calculated by dividing the total grade points academically earned by the total number of credits attempted.
What is CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average)?
CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) is a standardised measure of a student's overall academic performance. In practice, it’s calculated by obtaining the mean GPA that a student is awarded every semester.
When applying for higher education programmes and scholarships, CGPA is leveraged to assess a student's academic achievements. In fact, CGPAs are sometimes utilised by companies or educational institutions to evaluate and compare job applicants.
What is the difference between CGPA and GPA?
The distinction between CGPA and GPA as metrics of academic evaluation lies in their scope and assessment duration. GPA is a short-term measurement of a student's performance for a specific semester.
On the other hand, CGPA is a more comprehensive assessment that considers a student's performance over an extended period. For example, throughout all the semesters of their entire bachelor’s degree. This makes it a more comprehensive indicator of academic potential and capability.
Furthermore, GPA is usually utilised to evaluate a student's performance for a specific set of courses, thereby providing an immediate progress assessment. Additionally, it is typically calculated on a 4.0 scale.
In contrast, CGPA is calculated on a 10-point scale and is more critical for determining eligibility for graduation or admission to higher education programs.
In summary, GPA focuses on short-term performance, whilst CGPA provides a more holistic overview of a student's academic progress. However, both can impact access to scholarship opportunities, research positions, or competitive programs.
For the most part, accomplishing a high CGPA or GPA may demonstrate consistent excellence. Hence, they reinforce students' credibility and competency in their chosen field.
Is CGPA the same as overall GPA?
No, CGPA is not the same as overall GPA. GPA refers to the average grade point a student earns in a single semester. On the other side of the spectrum, CGPA is the median of all the GPA scores earned in all the semesters.
Remember that CGPA provides a more nuanced measure of academic success that considers a student's performance over an elongated period. GPA is a short-term evaluation metric that provides an immediate progress assessment for a specific semester or term.
Generally, a student must maintain good GPA scores to accomplish a high CGPA. Maintaining a good CGPA and GPA reflects competence whilst enhancing a student's competitiveness in the academic and professional arenas.
How to calculate GPA?
To calculate your GPA, you need to follow these general steps:
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Assign numerical values to letter grades. Most schools utilise a 4.0 scale. In this scale, A is equivalent to 4.0, a B is equivalent to 3.0, a C is equivalent to 2.0, a D is equivalent to 1.0, and an F is equivalent to 0.
Do note that some schools may have different scales. So, checking with your institution is imperative to determine the correct numerical values for each letter grade.
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Subsequently, each course is assigned a credit value. This credit value represents the number of hours the course meets per week. For instance, a course that meets for two hours per week may be assigned two credits.
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Multiply the numerical value of each grade by the course's credit value. For instance, if a student earned an A in a three-credit course, the grade points would be 4.0 x 3 = 12.0.
- Add the grade points earned for all courses completed in a semester or term.
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Divide the total grade points earned by the full credits attempted to get the GPA for that semester or term.
Do note that some educational institutions may exploit a weighted GPA scale. This scale gives more points to grades in accelerated courses like Honours. In such a case, the numerical value of the grade is usually multiplied by a higher number to reflect the increased difficulty of the course.
How to calculate CGPA?
To calculate CGPA, one will need to follow these steps carefully:
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List all the courses they have attempted, the corresponding credit values, and final grades.
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Write down the grade points earned for each course (for example, 4.0 for an A, 3.0 for a B, and 2.0 for a C).
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Convert the letter grades obtained in each subject to grade points. For example, on a 10-point scale, A may be equivalent to 10, B to 8, and so on.
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Identify the credit value of each subject. This represents the weightage of the course. For example, a 3-credit course has more weightage than a 2-credit course.
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Multiply the grade points attained in each subject by the credit value of the subject, then sum these values.
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Divide this sum by the total credits for the semester to obtain the Semester GPA.
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Calculate the mean of all the Semester GPAs. Add the Semester GPAs and divide by the total number of semesters.
For instance, if a student has completed four semesters with Semester GPAs of 8.5, 9.0, 8.0, and 8.8. Consequently, the CGPA would be (8.5 + 9.0 + 8.0 + 8.8) / 4 = 8.58 (on a 10-point scale).
However, it's imperative to note that the specific grade point scale and credit system leveraged by the educational institution should be carefully considered when performing these calculations.
Is CGPA or GPA more important?
The importance of CGPA or GPA depends on the context. CGPA is a more comprehensive measure of academic success. As such, it’s considered indispensable when determining eligibility for graduation and admissions into higher education programs.
As a short-term metric of academic performance, GPA provides an immediate progress assessment for a specific semester or term. As such, it may be deployed to evaluate a student's performance for a specific set of courses.
Nonetheless, students must sustain relatively good GPA scores to get a high CGPA. Maintaining a strong CGPA or GPA becomes a valuable asset— opening doors to advanced educational opportunities and career advancement.
Overall, it’s not uncommon for employers or academic institutions offering advanced education to exploit both metrics as screening criteria.
How to convert CGPA to GPA?
Before converting CGPA to GPA, confirming your institution's grading scale is imperative. The two most common scales are the 4.0 scale and the 10-point scale.
If it is a 4.0 scale, the conversion is relatively straightforward, i.e., A is equivalent to 4.0, a B is 3.0, and so on. However, if it's a different scale, one must adjust their calculation accordingly.
To convert CGPA to GPA in a 10-point, one can leverage the following formula:
GPA = (CGPA ÷ Maximum Possible CGPA) x 4
For context, if a student has a CGPA of 8.5 on a 10-point scale, the GPA can be calculated as follows: GPA = (8.5 ÷ 10) x 4 = 3.4. Consequently, the GPA equivalent of a CGPA of 8.5 on a 10-point scale is 3.4 on a 4-point scale.
Nonetheless, universities or their affiliates often handle conversions from CGPA to GPA. As such, students rarely need to perform these conversions themselves.
Conclusion
CGPA and GPA play vital roles in university education. In world-class institutions like the University of Nottingham Malaysia, GPA and CGPA are employed as indicators of a student's academic performance across disparate courses and semesters.
Both CGPA and GPA influence decisions related to admissions, job opportunities, and financial aid. As such, they are integral components of the academic ecosystem.
Explore the scholarships available for our foundation, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses. Also, remember to download our prospectus for detailed information about our programs!
This article aims to give an overview of Malaysia's education system for public understanding. However, it does not cover all aspects of the University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM), so readers are encouraged to seek more information if necessary.
Posted on 28th February 2024