How to Calculate SGPA: Formula & Conversion to Percentage

SGPA stands for Semester Grade Point Average. It shows how well you did in one particular semester of college or university. Instead of looking at marks for each subject, SGPA gives you one average score for the whole semester.

This score is calculated using two things:

• The number of credits each subject carries
• The grade points you earned in each subject

So, if one subject was tougher or had more classes, it counts more in your final SGPA.

For your easier understanding, every subject is a different-sized box, and your grade is the weight inside it. SGPA adds up all those weights and divides them by the size of the boxes.

To calculate your Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA), multiply the grade point of each subject by its credit points, add all the results together, and then divide that sum by the total number of credits in the semester.

SGPA formula:

SGPA = Total Grade Points Earned ÷ Total Credits

This is the standard way most Indian universities calculate SGPA. It's also the base for converting SGPA to CGPA or percentage later in your academic journey.

To understand academic performance, it is important to calculate SGPA in each semester. Let us first understand some of the key terms:

• Semester: The academic year is split up into one or more semesters, or sessions, where colleges and universities provide particular courses or sections of courses.
• Grade Point: Throughout a semester, you receive grade points for each course you take. This grade reflects your performance on the test. It also reflects your understanding of the subject.
• Credit Points: Each course has a set amount of credit points. You need to take different courses to get a certain amount of credit points to finish the program.

Suggested: CGPA to GPA conversion US

Steps to calculate your SGPA

Let’s break this down into simple steps:

Step 1: Note the credit points for each subject.
Example:

• Subject A: 2 credits

• Subject B: 3 credits

• Subject C: 3 credits

Step 2: Note the grade points you earned in each subject.
Example:

• Subject A: 9 points

• Subject B: 7.8 points

• Subject C: 8 points

Step 3: Multiply the grade point with the credit for each subject.

• 2 × 9 = 18

• 3 × 7.8 = 23.4

• 3 × 8 = 24

Step 4: Add these up.

Total grade points earned = 18 + 23.4 + 24 = 65.4

Step 5: Add the total number of credits.

Total credits = 2 + 3 + 3 = 8

Final Step:

SGPA = 65.4 ÷ 8 = 8.175

SGPA calculation formula

The simple formula to calculate your SGPA is the sum of all the products divided by the aggregate of credit points.

Say, 65.4/8 = 8.175

Your SGPA is one of the first things universities abroad look at when evaluating your academic performance. Most top universities in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, and Germany ask for your CGPA during the application process. And since CGPA is an average of all your SGPAs, knowing how to calculate it matters.

If you plan to apply for scholarships or convert your grades to GPA or percentage, universities often ask for a breakdown by semester. In some cases, they even ask you to report course-level grades, which means your SGPA helps keep your profile transparent and strong.

In short:

• SGPA helps calculate CGPA: Your CGPA is the average of all your SGPAs, which is often a core requirement for applications abroad.

• Useful for GPA or percentage conversion: When converting SGPA to GPA or percentage, accurate semester data ensures correct academic representation.

• Important for scholarship applications: Some scholarships ask for semester scores or a consistent academic history, making SGPA tracking essential.

• Highlights academic growth: Your SGPA shows how you've improved each semester, which adds strength to your Statement of purpose or college essays.

The main difference between CGPA and SGPA is that SGPA reflects your performance in a single semester, while CGPA represents the average of your SGPAs across multiple semesters.

Let’s see the key differences between SGPA and CGPA below:

To calculate your CGPA, you'll need to determine the weighted grade points for each course, sum these weighted points, and then divide by the total number of credit points.

This gives you your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), a single score that reflects your academic performance across all semesters.

CGPA Formula:

CGPA = (SGPA₁ × Credits₁ + SGPA₂ × Credits₂ + ...) ÷ Total Credits

This method ensures your final CGPA is a fair average, considering both your performance and how much each semester weighs.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

• Step 1: Multiply the SGPA of each semester by its credit load
  Example: SGPA 7.5 × 20 credits = 150

• Step 2: Repeat this for all semesters and add the results
  Example: Sem 1 (150) + Sem 2 (160) + Sem 3 (170) = 480

• Step 3: Add up the total credits across all semesters
  Example: 20 + 22 + 23 = 65

• Step 4: Divide total weighted grade points by total credits
  CGPA = 480 ÷ 65 = 7.38

Many colleges globally ask for a certain percentage cutoff to take admission to a particular course. However, if your results are in CGPA or SGPA, you must know how to convert them to percentages. This will help you avoid miscalculations and apply for a particular program without delay. 

Formula to convert SGPA into a percentage

The simple formula to convert SGPA to percentage is (SGPA*10) - 7.5

Example: If you have to calculate the SGPA of a single semester into a percentage, say the SGPA is 8: (8*10) - 7.5 = 82.5%

However, if you wish to convert two semester SGPAs to percentages, say the SGPAs are 8 and 7.5, first calculate the average: 8 + 7.5/ 2 = 7.25

Next, apply the SGPA to percentage conversion formula: (7.25*10) - 7.5 = 65%

Suggested: Universities Accepting Low GPA

Knowing how to convert between SGPA, CGPA, and percentages is an essential skill. It will come in handy multiple times when you’re applying to a foreign university. Most universities in the USA will need the CGPA, but some may also require you to convert them into percentages. Always make sure to check the GPA requirements before applying to a university. 

If you need more clarity on how to convert them, speak with a Yocket expert. With 15+ years of experience, the study-abroad experts at Yocket are here to help you. Whether it is about the conversion from SGPA to percentage or about which universities will be the best fit for you, Yocket has the right strategy to find out all. Explore Yocket Premium to know more.