It is important to understand your academic performance, particularly when intending to study abroad or pursue higher education. One of the most frequent methods universities measure this is through your GPA (Grade Point Average). But what is GPA, how is it calculated, and how do you convert your marks to GPA? In this blog, we will clarify all you want to know regarding GPA, from its description and computation techniques to national grading scales and conversion methods. If you're an international student trying to navigate applications, or simply want to understand GPA, this guide will provide clearances.
Table of Contents
GPA, or Grade Point Average, is a common measure of academic success in most countries, particularly the United States and Canada. GPA is determined by giving each grade a point value (e.g., A = 4.0, B = 3.0) and then averaging these points across a series of courses.
GPA is typically quantified on a scale of 4.0, 5.0, or 10.0, depending on the nation or institution. The higher GPA reflects improved academic performance. GPA is commonly employed by universities to assess student qualifications for admissions, scholarships, or academic awards.
You can calculate the grade point average in the following way:
The total number of grade points you gained in your academic result must be divided by the total number of assessing teaching units. Take a look at the table below to learn how grading is done with Alphabetic letters based on a 4-point scale. Take a look at the table below to learn how the Alphabetic grading is seen on the grade point table with percentages.
Now, try to understand how to calculate GPA with an example.
This is how you calculate the GPA. Let us move on to the next section and learn how to convert GPA into percentage.
Now that you know the basics, let us focus on the elephant in the room. The reason why you clicked on this blog is to understand how to convert GPA to percentage. So, firstly, you must know that the total percentage of a whole is 100%. So, if we take a 4.0 point grade scale, we will have to divide this 100 into 4 parts. This will give us 25. Furthermore, for every 25 points of this 100% score, 1 out of 4 grade points is awarded. Hence, you can use the following formula to convert GPA into a percentage: Percentage= (GPA / Maximum GPA) * 100 Next, the blog will talk about the examples using the above formula.
Percentage = (3.5/4.0) * 100 Percentage = 87.5%
Percentage = (3.7/5.0) * 100 Percentage = 74% These are the two examples of both, a 4.0 grade point scale and a 5.0 grade point scale. Now, let us talk about the GPA to percentage calculator for various countries.
To find the percentage from GPA, you could use a conventional formula commonly practiced by the majority of universities:
Percentage = (GPA/Maximum GPA) × 100 × Conversion Factor
For example, if the scale of GPA is 4.0 and the conversion factor is 25 (used in some Indian colleges), the above formula would look like this:
Percentage = (GPA / 4.0) × 100 × 0.25
For example, with a GPA of 3.6, would be:
(3.6 / 4.0) × 100 × 0.25 = 90 × 0.25 = 22.5%
Methods of conversion can also vary based on the institution or country. It is always advisable to refer to the instructions made by the official education board or university.
The GPA works like a performance metric for students about their academics. There are two types of GPAs and both play a key role in deciding an accurate score. Hence, the table below will explain what these types are and what are the key differences between the two:
| UNWEIGHTED GPA | WEIGHTED GPA |
| In an unweighted GPA, the difficulty level of the course or class the student is studying in is not taken into account. | Whereas, in a weighted GPA the institute, while marking the students in academics, considers the level of difficulty of the class. |
| Thus, the GPA models are on a 0.0 to 4.0 grade point scale. | However, here, the scale is from 0.0 to 0.5 or 6.0. |
| The unweighted model is more of a simple way of marking students in academics while maintaining uniformity among all levels of difficulty. | The weighted model modifies the marking rules on the basis of the difficulty of the subject or the course/program. |
These are how the weighted and the unweighted GPAs differ. The next section of this write-up will discuss the differences between CGPA and GPA.
What is the difference between GPA and CGPA? The GPA (grade point average) is what a scholar earns in 1 semester. Whereas, CGPA (cumulative grade point average) is like a median of all the GPA points earned in all the semesters till now. Check out the table below to learn more elaborated difference between GPA and CGPA:
| GPA | CGPA |
| It calculates the performance of a single semester. | It calculates the overall performance of scholars in an institute. |
| It can be of various scales like 4.0, 5.0, 7.0, etc. | It is either numerical or based on grade. |
| This is how you calculate GPA: Total Points Earned / Total Credits Attempted = GPA | This is how you calculate CGPA: Average GPA / Total Credits Attempted = CGPA |
| Institutes in foreign nations like the USA and the UK prefer this model. | Abroad universities don’t prefer this system. However, it is accepted in India. |
| A good GPA score lies between 3.4 to 3.7. | A good CGPA score is anything between 8 and 10. |
These are the main differences between GPA and CGPA. Now, take a look at the next section which will shed light on how you can, as a student, improve your GPA.
A good GPA score lies between 3.0 to 4.0 on a 4 grade-point scale. It depends on the eligibility criteria of the institute you are applying to. Top universities, generally ask for 3.5 as the passing criteria (as per the 4.0 scale). Many universities use a different scale like the 5.0, 7.0, or the 10.0 scales
An 8.5 GPA on a 10-point scale is generally considered excellent and can be converted to a percentage using a common formula:
Percentage = GPA × 9.5
So,
8.5 × 9.5 = 80.75%
Therefore, an 8.5 GPA is equivalent to 80.75%.
Please note that this conversion method (multiplying by 9.5) is commonly used in India, but conversion formulas can vary depending on the institution or country. Always check the specific guidelines provided by the university or education board.
GPA is the summary of the performance of a single semester. The CGPA is the summary of the performance in all the semesters together. Percentage means a part per hundred. So, you can calculate a single semester’s performance and asses all the semesters together.
A GPA score, or Grade Point Average, is a quantitative reflection of the general academic performance of a student. It compiles your grades across different subjects into a single digit, making it easier for universities and institutions to gauge your academic position. GPA is usually calculated on a 4.0, 5.0, or 10.0 scale, depending on the institution or country. For instance, on a 4.0 scale, a GPA of 4.0 represents perfect grades (A+ in all courses), while lesser scores represent lower academic achievement. GPA scores are commonly used in college admissions, scholarship considerations, and academic evaluations.
In college, GPA stands for Grade Point Average. It's a numerical representation of your overall academic performance, calculated by averaging the points assigned to your grades in each course. This average, typically on a 4.0 scale (where A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, etc.), provides a snapshot of your academic achievement throughout your studies.
To calculate a percentage, you divide the part by the whole and then multiply the result by 100. For example, if you want to find what percentage 20 is of 50, you would divide 20 by 50 (which equals 0.4) and then multiply by 100 to get 40%.
We are available in :
BangaloreAhmedabadJaipurHyderabadKeralaPuneChandigarhMumbaiGurgaonChennaiKolkataTrivandrumNoidaKochiCalicutKottayamKollamThrissurIndoreUdaipurdisclaimer:logos and other registered trademarks of universities used on this platform are held by their respective owners. Gradding does not claim ownership or association on them, and their use is purely for informational and illustrative purposes.
