What is CGPA? Full Form, Meaning, Formula & Conversion Guide

What is CGPA?

So, what is CGPA? Well, CGPA is an abbreviation for Cumulative Grade Point Average. It acts as a standardised metric to see the average of a student’s grades or academic performance over their entire course of study, instead of a single semester.

To put meaning of CGPA simply, it shows your overall performance as a single number, which makes it easier for universities or employers to compare your results and track your progress over different semesters or years.

It is usually measured on a scale of 10, 5, or 4 points, depending on the institution or the education board. And as for Indian students, it is very common because most of the Indian universities and education boards use a 10-point grading system.

How CGPA is Calculated?

To understand what is CGPA score and how it is obtained. You will have to calculate CGPA by taking the average of the grade points you get in all subjects across all semesters and then dividing it by the total grade points assigned to each subject. To understand this better, below is a step-by-step process:

Step 1: Know Your Grade Points

Start by knowing the grade points. Each grade you earn in a subject will correspond to a grade point. Note that these grade points are usually part of the grading system, which is set by either your university or examination board. Here is an example for a 10-point scale:

• A = 10
• B = 8
• C = 6
• D = 4

In addition to this, there are some universities that also use plus or minus grades like A+ or B-, which have different point values. So, it is important that you check your official grading system.

Step 2: Consider Subject Credits

Next, each of your courses will be assigned credit points based on either the number of hours or how much it weighs in the curriculum. For example, a major subject like Mathematics or Physics might have 4 or 5 credits. Whereas a smaller elective subject like physical education might have 1 or 2 credits.

Step 3: Multiply Grade Points by Credits

Multiply the grade points you got by the credit points of each subject individually. For this, you can use this formula:

Weighted Score = Grade Point×Subject Credits

This will ensure that your high-credit subjects affect your overall CGPA more than the low-credit subjects. Once done, add all the weighted scores using:

Total Weighted Score = ∑(Grade Point×Credits)

Step 4: Divide by Total Credits

And lastly, divide the total weighted score by the sum of all credits to get your CGPA. For this, you can use this formula:

CGPA Calculation Example

To calculate your CGPA without a CGPA calculator, you can take a look at this example. Let’s say you have the following grades and credits:

Subject	Grade Point	Credits	Weighted Score
Mathematics	9	4	36
English	8	3	24
Physics	7	3	21

Using the steps above:

• Total Weighted Score = 36 + 24 + 21 = 81
• Total Credits = 4 + 3 + 3 = 10

Using the formula CGPA=81/10, your CGPA is 8.1. This single CGPA grading will now summarise your overall performance across all your subjects.

Also Read: Difference between CGPA and SGPA

What is the Difference Between CGPA and GPA?

If you are wondering what is CGPA, it is important to know how it differs from GPA. The main difference between CGPA and GPA (Grade Point Average) is that we use GPA to refer to only a single term, whereas CGPA shows the average across all the semesters. They also differ in terms of how they are calculated. Take a look:

• GPA Calculation: To calculate GPA, you will have to multiply the grade points you earned in each subject by its credit value. You will then need to sum them and then divide them by the total number of credits for that semester.
• CGPA Calculation: To get your CGPA, take the sum of all the grade points you have earned from every course across all the semesters. You will then have to divide it by the total number of attempted credits.

Feature	GPA (Grade Point Average)	CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average)
Scope	Short-term: measures a single semester or year.	Long-term: measures all semesters completed so far.
Calculation	Average of grades for subjects in one term.	Weighted average of all GPAs across the entire course.
Typical Scale	Often on a 4.0 or 5.0 scale (common in the US, UK, and Canada).	Often on a 10.0 scale (widely used in India).
Purpose	Evaluates immediate progress and recent performance.	Assesses long-term consistency and final degree classification.
Acceptance	Standard for study abroad applications in the US/Europe.	Primary standard for local admissions and job placements in India.

How to Convert GPA to CGPA?

To convert your GPA to CGPA, you will have to use a general formula for the conversion. Which is:

CGPA = (GPA × 10) ÷ 4

This will convert the 4.0 GPA scale to a 10.0 CGPA scale. For example, if a student has 3.0 GPA on the scale of 4.0. Then using this formula, CGPA = (3.0 × 10) ÷ 4 = 30 ÷ 4 = 7.5.

GPA to CGPA Conversion Table

GPA (4.0 Scale)	CGPA (10 Scale)
4	10
3.9	9.8
3.8	9.5
3.7	9.3
3.6	9
3.5	8.8
3.4	8.5
3.3	8.3
3.2	8
3.1	7.8
3	7.5
2.9	7.3
2.8	7
2.7	6.8
2.6	6.5
2.5	6.3
2.4	6
2.3	5.8
2.2	5.5
2.1	5.3
2	5
1.5	3.8
1	2.5

Also Read: CGPA to GPA

How to Convert CGPA to Percentage?

In order to convert CGPA to a percentage you will first have to determine the specific scale that your educational institution is using. Moreover, you can use the following common conversion formulas:

CBSE/10-Point Scale

This is one of the most common formulas that is used for CBSE and many Indian universities:

Formula: Percentage = CGPA x 9.5.

For Example: Let’s say your CGPA grading is 9.6, then your percentage is going to be 9.6 x 9.5 = 91.2%

4-Point Scale

A 4-point scale is generally common in countries like the US, Canada, and Pakistan. The calculation for this is a direct ratio:

Formula: Percentage = (CGPA / 4) x 100 or CGPA x 25

For Example: If you have a CGPA of 3.5 out of 4.0, then, using the formula, your percentage is going to be (3.5 / 4) x 100 = 87.5%.

How to Compare CGPA Across Different Grading Systems?

One thing you need to note is that not all universities use the same CGPA grading system. And this can make it harder and trickier for you to compare your cumulative grade point average with students from different schools or countries. So, for this, you need to understand the following things:

1. Understand the Scale

First, know that for grading, different institutions use different scales:

• Some use a 10-point scale, which is usually common in India.
• Some use a 4.0 scale, which is common in the US.
• Lastly, others use letter grades like A, B, and C, which correspond to grade points.

2. Conversion to a Common Scale

Next, in order to compare CGPA to a different grading system, like percentage to CGPA, you will need to convert it to a common scale. Below is an example:

• From 10-point to 4.0 scale: Divide your CGPA by 2.5.
• From 4.0 scale to percentage: Multiply your CGPA by 25. And for a rough approximation, you will need to check your specific university rules.
• Letter grades: Convert the letter grade to the corresponding grade point first. And after that, calculate the CGPA.

Note: The conversion formulas can vary from university to university, so make sure to check their official guidelines.

3. Check University Guidelines

Lastly, check the guidelines of your preferred university. There are a lot of universities that publish their grading conversion charts for international applications. An example of this is:

• A 9.0 CGPA on a 10-point scale might be equivalent to a 3.6–3.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• A “First Class” in some countries is equivalent to a GPA above 3.5.

When you reference these official charts, it can help ensure that your academic achievements are being represented accurately.

Conclusion

Summing up, now that you understand what is CGPA, you can understand why it plays such an important role in your academic and professional journey. Especially when you are studying abroad. It can become one of the main factors universities consider during the admission process. And this is where Gradding.com can guide you. Their study abroad consultants can help you understand grade conversions, university requirements, and eligibility criteria for different countries. With the right guidance and support, you can avoid confusion, make informed decisions, and move one step closer to your dream university with confidence.

FAQs:

1. What Is the Difference Between CGPA and GPA?

GPA stands for Grade Point Average and measures the academic performance of a student in a single term or semester. Whereas, CGPA stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average, which represents the overall average performance across all a student’s completed semesters.

2. Is CGPA Important for Placements?

Yes, CGPS is extremely important for placements because they act as an initial filter which can help companies in shortlisting the candidates. But it is important to note that while a high CGPA can help in opening doors for top companies, having good skills, projects, and networking skills are important for securing the job.

3. What is a Good CGPA in Graduation?

In your graduation, a good CGPA is generally considered to be 7.0 or higher on a 10-point scale. A 7.0 or above CGPA is excellent, highly desirable for top-tier campuses, placements, and crucial for competitive postgraduate admissions.

4. How Much CGPA is Required to Study Abroad?

A good CGPA is 3.0 to 3.5 and is generally required for competitive international master’s programs. However, there are top-tier universities which look for 3.5 to 3.8+. A minimum CGPA of 7.0 or higher is usually required for scholarships, while a CGPA of 2.75 – 3.0 (60-65%) can be accepted for lower-tier schools.

5. Does Backlog Affect CGPA?

Yes, a backlog can affect your CGPA because the initial “Fail” (F) grade or zero points are temporarily factored into your academic record. However, the impact is temporary; once you clear the backlog, the new passing grade replaces or averages with the old one, allowing your CGPA to increase.

6. Is CGPA Mentioned On the Final Degree Certificate?

Yes, the Final Degree Certificate or the associated Final Transcript/Consolidated Mark Sheet typically mentions the final Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) or the final percentage, often along with the class awarded.