Preparing for a study abroad journey can seem like a messy process at first. Among the steps, calculating your marks from school and college, and the consequential grade point does seem like a difficult task. In this mix of GPAs - GPA, SGPA, and CGPA - it is easy to get lost. Knowing which term defines what and how to convert one into another is very important for all aspirants.
Most top universities and colleges abroad use the GPA method for assessing students’ scores. You may have the question, then, what is a GPA? Simply put, GPA stands for Grade Point Average, a numerical calculation of a student's academic performance in school or college. It is typically calculated on a scale of 0 to 4.0, with 4.0 being the highest possible GPA.
Now add a letter in front of it and the meaning changes altogether! (well, not entirely) Be it SGPA or CGPA - they serve a similar purpose but are calculated differently.
Remember that if you are an aspirant planning to study abroad at top universities, GPAs, their conversion, and everything else around this should never be a bottleneck. Yocket Premium has helped 10K+ aspirants with admits to top global universities and 5K+ students successfully switch their streams. And you can be next! 🏆
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If you are now thinking - how does SGPA differ from CGPA? And how can you improve these numbers? Read on, and let us answer your questions in this read.
Table of Contents |
What is SGPA?
SGPA, short for Semester Grade Point Average, is the grade point average that is calculated at the end of every academic semester at college. Things you need to find your SGPA for a semester are as follows:
- Credits for each course taken
- Grade/Grade points for those courses, and
- Total number of credits in the semester (sum of all course credits)
In many universities, grade points correspond to the following grade letters:
|
Grade letter |
Corresponding grade point |
|---|---|
|
A+ (or A) |
10 |
|
A (or AB) |
9.0 |
|
B+ (or B) |
8.0 |
|
B (or BC) |
7.0 |
|
C+ (or C) |
6.0 |
|
C (or CD) |
5.0 |
|
D+ (or D) |
4.0 |
|
D (or E) |
3.0 |
|
F |
0.0 |
The SGPA is calculated by dividing the total grade points earned by the total number of credit hours taken during the semester.
Let’s assume that your study abroad buddy, Rahul, scored the following grades in his 4th semester - an A in a 3-credit course, a B+ in a 4-credit course, and a C in a 2-credit course. With the help of the above table, you can arrive at his SGPA in the following manner.'
- 3 (credits) x 9.0 (grade point for an A) = 27.0 grade points
- 4 (credits) x 8.0 (grade point for a B+) = 32.0 grade points
- 2 (credits) x 5.0 (grade point for a C) = 10.0 grade points
Total grade points earned in the 4th-sem = 27.0 + 32.0 + 10.0 = 69.0
And the total credits for the 4th-sem = 3 + 4 + 2 = 9
So, the SGPA comes out to -
SGPA = total grade points earned / total credit hours = 69.0 / 9 = 7.67
Therefore, Rahul's SGPA for the 4th semester would be 7.67 out of 10.0.
Take it a step ahead, and you get your CGPA.
What is CGPA?
CGPA stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average, the GPA calculated for all semesters a student takes. It represents the average grade point a student earns in all courses taken throughout their entire academic program.
For each course, the grade earned by the student is converted to grade points according to this scale. Then the total grade points earned in all courses taken throughout the academic program are added. The CGPA is then calculated by dividing the total grade points earned by the total number of credit hours completed throughout the program.
Now let’s look at how you convert your SGPA to CGPA.
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How to Convert SGPA to CGPA?
To convert SGPA to CGPA, you need to take into account all the SGPA scores earned by you in each semester and the credit hours completed in those semesters. Now, follow these steps ⬇️
- Step 1: List down the SGPA scores earned by you in each semester.
- Step 2: Calculate the total credit hours completed throughout the program.
- Step 3: Multiply the SGPA score earned in each semester by the credit hours completed in that semester. This will give you the total grade points earned in that semester.
- Step 4: Add up the total grade points earned in all the semesters to get the total grade points earned throughout the program.
- Step 5: Divide the total grade points earned by the total credit hours completed throughout the program. This will give you the CGPA.
Again, let’s take a look at Rahul’s grades in his first three semesters:
Semester 1
- 3-credit course, A
- 4-credit course, B+
- 2-credit course, C
Semester 2
- 3-credit course, A
- 4-credit course, B
- 2-credit course, D+
Semester 3
- 3-credit course, A+
- 4-credit course, B+
- 2-credit course, C+
The total grade points earned by Rahul come out to be:
- Semester 1: (3 x 10.0) + (4 x 8.0) + (2 x 5.0) = SGPA for Sem 1 = 72.0
- Semester 2: (3 x 10.0) + (4 x 7.0) + (2 x 4.0) = SGPA for Sem 2 = 66.0
- Semester 3: (3 x 10.0) + (4 x 8.0) + (2 x 6.0) = SGPA for Sem 3 = 74.0
Total grade points earned at the end of 3rd semester = SGPA 1 + SGPA 2 + SGPA 3 = 72.0 + 66.0 + 74.0 = 216.0
Assuming the total number of credit hours completed throughout the program was 27, then the CGPA would be calculated as -
CGPA = total grade points earned / total credit hours = 216.0 / 27 = 8.0
Therefore, Rahul's CGPA would be 8.0 out of 10.0.
Read more on CGPA To GPA Conversion: How To Convert 10 Point CGPA To 4 Point GPA?
SGPA to CGPA Conversion Formula
So how would you summarise the process of SGPA to CGPA conversion in one formula?
The simple formula to convert SGPA to CGPA is CGPA = Total Grade Points Earned in all semesters/ Total Credit Hours Completed in all semesters.
To calculate the Total Grade Points Earned in all semesters, you need to multiply the SGPA of each semester by the credit hours completed in that semester, and then add up the products of all semesters. To calculate the Total Credit Hours Completed in all semesters, you need to add up the credit hours completed in each semester.
Suggested: 10.0 CGPA to 4.0 GPA Conversion
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Factors Affecting SGPA and CGPA
Low SGPA and CGPA scores become roadblocks when applying for universities abroad. So, it is necessary to understand all the factors affecting these scores. Here are some of the most important ones for you to look at -
Course Difficulty
The difficulty level of a course can affect a student's performance and ultimately their SGPA and CGPA. Students may find it harder to achieve high grades in more challenging courses.
Study Habits
Effective study habits play an important role in achieving high grades. Students who study regularly, practice problem-solving, and complete assignments on time are more likely to earn higher grades.
Attendance
Regular attendance in classes can significantly impact a student's performance. Students who attend all lectures and labs are more likely to understand the course material and perform better on exams.
Class Participation
Active class participation can help students learn and retain information better. Students who participate actively in class discussions, ask questions, and seek clarification from the instructor are more likely to excel.
Individual Capability
Students differ in their academic abilities, and some students may find it easier or more challenging to achieve high grades. It is essential to recognize and work with individual strengths and weaknesses to improve performance.
It is important to recognize these factors and work on areas that need improvement to achieve higher SGPA and CGPA scores. And even if you do have a low SGPA/CGPA, do not sweat!
You can still fetch a top admit with a low GPA. How?
Done with your finals? Learn how to convert a 10 CGPA into 4 GPA in easy steps.
How to Improve SGPA and CGPA?
Here are some tips on how to improve your SGPA and CGPA:
Attend Classes Regularly
Regular attendance in classes can significantly impact your performance. Attending all lectures and labs can help you understand the course material better and perform better on exams.
Build Effective Study Habits
Develop effective study habits such as making a study schedule, studying regularly, practising problem-solving, and completing assignments on time.
Stay Organised
Stay organized by keeping track of assignments, exams, and deadlines. This will help you stay on top of your coursework and reduce stress.
Focus on Understanding, Not Memorising
Focus on understanding the course material instead of memorizing it. Understanding the concepts will help you apply them to different scenarios and improve your problem-solving skills.
Manage Your Time Wisely
Manage your time effectively by prioritizing your tasks and avoiding procrastination. This will help you complete your assignments on time and reduce stress.
But before you convert your SGPA to CGPA, be careful of some common mistakes.
Common Mistakes in SGPA to CGPA Conversion
Using Incorrect Conversion Formula
Using the wrong conversion formula can lead to incorrect CGPA calculations. Ensure that you use the correct formula as per your institution's guidelines.
Ignoring Credit Hours
The number of credit hours assigned to a course can vary, and ignoring this factor while converting SGPA to CGPA can lead to errors. Make sure you consider the credit hours assigned to each course.
Not Considering All Semesters
While calculating CGPA, ensure that you consider all semesters and not just the current one. Each semester's SGPA should be considered to arrive at the cumulative CGPA.
Not Accounting for Repeated Courses
Repeated courses may affect your SGPA and CGPA calculations. Make sure to include grades from all attempts while calculating your SGPA and CGPA.
Using the Wrong Scale
Different institutions may use different grading scales, so it is important to use the correct scale while converting SGPA to CGPA.
Rounding off Incorrectly
Incorrect rounding off of SGPA or CGPA values can lead to incorrect calculations. Make sure you follow your institution's guidelines while rounding off values.
Not Considering Withdrawals
Withdrawing from a course can affect your SGPA and CGPA. Make sure to consider the impact of withdrawals while calculating your CGPA.
It is essential to be cautious and diligent while converting SGPA to avoid any kind of misleading information.
From the Desk of Yocket
SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) and CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) are important academic measures used by universities to evaluate a student's performance. SGPA is the average of a student's grades earned in a semester, while CGPA is the cumulative average of all SGPA earned by a student over multiple semesters.
The conversion of SGPA to CGPA requires careful consideration of various factors such as the grading scale used, credit hours assigned to each course, and the number of semesters considered. The process of converting SGPA to CGPA can vary between universities and must be done accurately to avoid errors, and we are here to make sure every step of the process is perfect. The knowledge about such conversion processes is crucial, where Yocket Premium saves the day.
Connect with us, and let us simplify your complete, holistic process of the study abroad journey. Guess what? We’ll convert the GPA for you as well!
