How to Calculate GPA

GPA is commonly referred to as Grade Point Average which is a numerical representation of the academic performance of a student in a single semester and it is used by educational institutions to evaluate the student’s eligibility for admissions, scholarships, honours programs, and job opportunities.

A good GPA shows a student’s academic achievements, consistency and dedication towards their studies. GPA is denoted by a number on a scale of 4 but some institutions use a scale up to 5 or even more for honours and advanced courses. There are five grades in general, namely A, B, C, D, and F where A is the highest grade whereas F is the lowest which stands for fail. These grades have grade points which lies between on a scale of 0 to 4.

GPA stands for “Grade Point Average” and is a standard way of measuring the academic performance of students across different courses and terms in a single semester. It is important because it is used by colleges and universities across the world to shortlist students for college admissions, scholarships and career opportunities like jobs in different companies.

GPA is highly important for the student’s academic journey and prospects. So students have to maintain consistent GPAs throughout the course curriculum for an impressive CGPA at its conclusion. A strong GPA shows a consistent and determined effort of an individual in academics learning and work ethic. It also shows an individual’s ability to handle a rigorous and vast course curriculum.

To calculate Grade Point Average (GPA), we need the following three components:

1. Grade with their assigned grade points:

2. Credit hour for a specific class or course.

3. Total quality points are calculated by multiplying the credit hours by the grade points.

Then we use the formula added below to find the GPA.

GPA Formula

To calculate GPA first we need to find total quality points,

Total Quality Points = Credit Hours × Grade Points

Now, after finding total quality point GPA is easily calculated as:

GPA = Total Quality Points / Total credit Hours

Various types of GPA are:

• Unweighted GPA
• Weighted GPA

Unweighted GPA

A GPA in which difficulty of the course is not taken in consideration while final calculation is known as unweighted GPA. It generally ranges from 0.0 to 4.0. The unweighted GPA is straight forward and easy to calculate. It is commonly used in high school and collages to measure students performance.

Weighted GPA

A GPA in which difficulty of the course is taken in consideration while final calculation and giving extra points for more challenging classes is known as weighted GPA. It can extend beyond 4.0 on scale and even go sometimes up to 5.0 or more, it varies from college to college. Weighted GPA recognises and reward students for taking more rigorous and challenging courses by giving extra grade points in that particular course.

Q1. Following is the data of a school student. Calculate the Grade Point Average (GPA).

Solution:

Total Quality Points = 12.0 + 9.0 + 13.2 + 6.0 + 7.4 = 47.6

Total Credit Hours = 3.0 + 3.0 + 4.0 + 3.0 + 2.0 = 15.0

GPA = Total Quality Points / Total credit Hours

GPA = 47.6/15.0

GPA = 3.17

Therefore, the GPA of the student is 3.17

Q2. Following is the data of a college student. Calculate the Grade Point Average (GPA).

Solution:

Total Quality Points = 11.1+ 12.0 + 12.0 + 6.6+ 9.0 = 50.7

Total Credit Hours = 3.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 + 2.0 + 3.0 = 14.0

GPA = Total Quality Points / Total credit Hours

GPA = 50.7/14.0

GPA = 3.62

Therefore, the GPA of the student is 3.62

Q3. Following is the data of a college student. Calculate the Grade Point Average (GPA).

Solution:

Total Quality Points = 12.0 + 11.1 + 12.0 + 12.0 + 9.9 = 57.0

Total Credit Hours = 4.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 + 3.0 = 16.0

GPA = Total Quality Points / Total credit Hours

GPA = 57.0/16.0

GPA = 3.56

Therefore, the GPA of the student is 3.56

What is GPA?

Full form of GPA is Grade Point Average. It measures the student’s academic performance in a single semester.

What is Formula for calculating GPA?

GPA = Total Quality Points / Total credit Hours

Total Quality Points = Credit Hours × Grade Points

Can I improve my GPA?

Yes, you can improve your GPA by earning higher grade point in future courses.

What is a good GPA?

A GPA is considered as good which ranges in between 3.0 to 4.0.

How often should I calculate my GPA?

You should calculate your GPA at the end of each semester, so that you can keep track of your academic progress.

What is a credit hour?

A credit hour is a unit to measure the educational credit which is nothing but number of classroom hours per week throughout a term.