What is a Grade Point Average?

Content Writer - Study Abroad | Updated On - Sep 19, 2024

GPA or grade point average is the numerical presentation of a student's academic performance. The majority of US universities follow a GPA scale of 4.0 and are awarded as 2.5, 3.2, 3.5, and so on (interval of 0.1). GPA is used to assess your candidature if you meet the minimum entry requirements to get into a particular university.

The universities in USA can be divided into 3 categories: Ivy League Universities, Public Universities, and Private Universities. However, the majority of the universities require you to have a minimum GPA of 3.0, the requirements can vary depending on your chosen university and are classified as follows

Universities	Minimum GPA Required	Maximum GPA Required
Ivy League Universities	3.8	4.0
Public Universities	3.5	3.8
Private Universities	3.0	3.5

How to Calculate GPA?

For each assignment, project, and exam in your course, you receive a grade or a percentage. Then the percentages are converted into GPA points are added together. After that, it is divided by the number of units or credits in each class to calculate the average score for the semester. Then you get the average GPA.

Too much confusion, right? Let's understand this with an example. Suppose you have 3 courses – Physics, Biology and English. Find out how to calculate your GPA from the table below.

Courses	Credit Hours	Grade	Points for Grades	*Weighted Grade Points (Credit HoursGrade Points)**
Physics	2	B	3.0	2*3 = 6
Biology	2	C	2.0	2*2 = 4
English	3	A	4.0	3*4 = 12
	Total Credit Hour = 7			Total Weighted Grade Point = 22

How to Convert CGPA to GPA

CGPA or Cumulative Grade Point average system is used in India and is based on a 10.0 scale. The formula to convert CGPA into GPA is:

GPA= Obtained CGPA divided by total CGPA and multiplied by 4.

Example: If you get a CGPA of 8.0, the converted GPA will be 3.2. (8 divided by 10 is 0.8 and multiplied by 4= 0.8*4= 3.2.

The GPA equivalents of each grade you can receive in a course, along with their equivalent percentage, are tabulated below

Grade Points	Grade	Equivalent
4	A	90-100%
3	B	80-89%
2	C	70-79%
1	D	60-69%
0	F	< 60%

Unweighted vs Weighted GPA

The difference between unweighted GPA and weighted GPA is as follows:

Unweighted GPA: It is the standard method for GPA calculation, and all courses are calculated on a 4.0 scale. In this system, all the courses are considered equal in terms of difficulty. Hence, A grade of 'A' in an easy class and an 'A' in an advanced class are considered the same.

Weighted GPA: The weighted GPA system places more emphasis on difficult courses, such as honors or Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Weighted GPA is measured on a 5.0 or 6.0 scale. For instance, an 'A' in an advanced class might be worth 5.0 instead of 4.0. It gives a proper reflection of your academic performance.

Cumulative GPA vs Overall GPA

The key difference between cumulative and overall GPA can be detailed as follows

Cumulative GPA: In this system, the GPA is calculated from grades awarded over a semester or year. It reflects academic performance for that timeframe, helping students track their progress.

Overall GPA: The overall GPA is calculated including all the academic terms. It gives a comprehensive view of a student’s academic performance across the entire academic career. Universities review the overall GPA when offering admission to international students.

Whether a GPA is good or not depends on the personal and academic objectives of a student, and also on the university and study abroad program you choose. Usually, a GPA of 3.0–3.5 is considered good enough at many high schools, colleges, and universities.