A Guide to calculating CGPA to percentage to study abroad

Assessing one’s academic performance is essential for determining the future course of action. One of the primary reasons to measure this performance is to identify and acknowledge a student's skills, which further helps in scrutinizing career options or subjects that fit their potential.

Different colleges and universities in India use different methods to measure a student’s academic performance, but percentage-based and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) grading systems are the two most popular methods used.

While Indian institutes accept both grading methods, universities and colleges abroad focus mainly on percentages to evaluate the performance of international students worldwide. And if you plan to apply for education abroad, this writing will surely provide important insights on CGPA and how to convert CGPA to a percentage.

What is CGPA?

CGPA or Cumulative Grade Point Average is a measure used by Indian institutions to determine the academic performance of students for a particular course. It is an average of the grades obtained by students in all the subjects. This method is mainly used in Indian universities.

A CGPA is made up of the following components: 

1. Grade Points: Every subject is graded (A, B, C, D) based on the performance of students.

2. Credit Hours: Every subject has a particular credit score, which defines its weightage in the course. The higher the credit hours, the more important the subject is.

The most common formula to calculate CGPA is: Grade Points x Credit Hours / Total Credit Hours

Let’s calculate CGPA using a hypothetical example as follows: 

Subject	Grade	Grade Points	Credit Hours
Hindi	A	4.0	2
English	B	3.0	3
Math	C	2.0	4
Science	A	4.0	2

To calculate CGPA, we will first find the total grade points for each subject

• Hindi: 4.0*2 = 8
  
  
• English: 3.0*3 =9 
  
  
• Math: 2.0*4 = 8
  
  
• Science: 4.0*2 =8 

Sum of these values: 8+9+8+8 = 33

Sum of credit hours: 2+3+4+2 = 11

So the student’s CGPA is 3.

How to Calculate CGPA from Grade Points?

Now, you know how to calculate CGPA from grade points. Here is another method which is also used by many Indian institutions to calculate CGPA. This method is even simpler than the previous one. In this, you just have to calculate the total grade points of all subjects and divide them by the total number of subjects. This method is used in Indian schools. See example below:

Subject	Grade Point
Subject A	7
Subject B	9
Subject C	8
Subject D	7
Subject E	9
Total	40

The first step is to add the grade points earned in every subject, which in the example above is 7+9+8+7+9=40.

The next step is to divide the cumulative value by the number of subjects which is: 40/5 = 8.

So, the student’s CGPA is 8.

What is Percentage?

Another term often talked about when the topic of CGPA comes up is percentage. A percentage is nothing but a number expressed as a fraction of 100. It shows the marks a student has obtained compared to the total marks for the subject. It helps to determine students' performance on a scale of 0 to 100%. If you are planning to study abroad, you should know how to convert CGPA to a percentage, as it is a requirement by most foreign universities.

Difference Between CGPA and Percentage?

A CGPA tells a student’s performance using grade points and ranges from 4 to 10. On the other hand, the percentage tells the marks of a student out of the total marks of 100. Even though both are indicators of a student’s academic performance, they vary in calculation and interpretation. Here are some key differences between the two:

Feature	CGPA	Percentage
Definition	It is the average of grade points in all subjects	It expresses the marks in terms of 100
Scale used	4 to 10 point scale	100 point scale
Common in	Indian universities	Indian schools and foreign universities

Conversion Table for CGPA to Percentage

CGPA	Equivalent Percentage (%)	CGPA	Equivalent Percentage (%)
10	95	7	66.5
9.9	94.05	6.9	65.55
9.8	93.1	6.8	64.6
9.7	92.15	6.7	63.65
9.6	91.2	6.6	62.7
9.5	90.25	6.5	61.75
9.4	89.3	6.4	60.8
9.3	88.35	6.3	59.85
9.2	87.4	6.2	58.9
9.1	86.45	6.1	57.95
9	85.5	6	57
8.9	84.55	5.9	56.05
8.8	83.6	5.8	55.1
8.7	82.65	5.7	54.15
8.6	81.7	5.6	53.2
8.5	80.75	5.5	52.25
8.4	79.8	5.4	51.3
8.3	78.85	5.3	50.35
8.2	77.9	5.2	49.4
8.1	76.95	5.1	48.45
8	76	5	47.5
7.9	75.05	4.9	46.55
7.8	74.1	4.8	45.6
7.7	73.15	4.7	44.65
7.6	72.2	4.6	43.7
7.5	71.25	4.5	42.75
7.4	70.3	4.4	41.8
7.3	69.35	4.3	40.85
7.2	68.4	4.2	39.9
7.1	67.45	4.1	38.95
-	-	4	38

CGPA to Percentage Calculator

A CGPA to percentage calculator is a tool that helps you convert CGPA into a percentage easily. There are many websites on the internet which provide this tool. Here are the benefits of using a CGPA to percentage calculator:

1. The tool facilitates easy comparison of scores of students from different countries, which eases the work of admission authorities of foreign universities.

2. Many foreign universities have a fixed percentage to provide scholarships. Having this tool will allow students to secure the eligible scholarships.

Grade	Grade Point	Percentage (Grade Point*9.5)
A1	10	91-100
A2	9	81-90
B1	8	71-80
B2	7	61-70
C1	6	51-60
C2	5	41-50
D	4	33-40
E1	-	21-32
E2	-	00-20

What is GPA (Grade Point Average)?

Often students confuse GPA as a synonym for CGPA, which is wrong. While CGPA evaluates the performance of students in the entire course duration, GPA measures a student’s performance in one semester or a single unit. Also, GPA is a 4-point grading system accepted by US universities, but CGPA is a 10-point system recognized in other parts of the world.

Grade Point

A	4
B	3
C	2
D	1
E	0

CGPA to Percentage for Different Grading Scales

Multiplying the CGPA by 9.5, also known as the 10-point scale, is one of the methods to convert CGPA to a percentage. This requirement varies according to the university. Let’s see how to convert CGPA into percentage for different grading scales:

Conversion on 4-Point Grading Scale

CGPA	Percentage
4.0	100%
3.7	85%
3.3	75%
3.0	75%
2.7	55%
2.3	45%
2.0	35%
1.7	25%
1.3	15%
1.0	5%
0.7	0%

Conversion on 5-Point Grading Scale

CGPA	Percentage
5.0	100%
4.5	90%
4.0	80%
3.5	70%
3.0	60%
2.5	50%
2.0	40%
1.5	30%
1.0	20%
0.5	10%

Conversion on 6-Point Grading Scale

CGPA	Percentage
6.0	100%
5.5	92.5%
5.0	85%
4.5	77.5%
4.0	70%
3.5	62.5%
3.0	55%
2.5	47.5%
2.0	40%
1.5	32.5%
1.0	25%
0.5	17.5%

Conversion on 7-Point Grading Scale

CGPA	Percentage
7.0	100%
6.5	92.5%
6.0	85%
5.5	77.5%
5.0	70%
4.5	62.5%
4.0	55%
3.5	47.5%
3.0	40%
2.5	32.5%
2.0	25%
1.5	17.5%
1.0	10%
0.5	5%

Difference between CGPA and SGPA?

There is a term which many students often mix with CGPA. It’s SGPA. A CGPA indicates the academic performance of an overall year. On the other hand, an SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) tells the academic performance of a particular semester.

How to Convert SGPA to Percentage?

Many times, students planning to study abroad don’t receive their final mark sheet from their college. However, since they have to submit academic transcripts to the foreign university, they can simply convert the SGPA of previous semesters to a percentage and meet the academic requirement. So you should know how to convert SGPA to a percentage.

What is considered a good CGPA score for studying abroad?

A good CGPA score depends on the type of country and the institute a student chooses to apply to. However, a score of 3.0, which is equivalent to grade B, is considered a good score in the majority of countries.

Can a student with a low CGPA apply for study abroad?

Although a high CGPA score is considered an essential factor for admission to any academic institute abroad, it is not the only aspect. Students with low CGPA can still manage to get admission in some selected institutes if they highlight other achievements in their profile, such as extra-curricular activities, job experience, well-written SOP, etc.

Canadian universities that Accept International Students with Low GPA

Here are some popular academic institutes of Canada that accept low GPA scores:

Canada	GPA
Memorial University of Newfoundland	60
University of Victoria	75
Fairleigh Dickinson University	65
University of Manitoba	50
Carleton University	67
Dalhousie University	70
University of Saskatchewan	60

Conclusion

That was all about CGPA, percentage, and SGPA, and how to convert CGPA and SGPA into a percentage. Academic qualification is one of the mandatory admission requirements of every foreign university, which cannot be ignored. Many universities ask you to provide the percentage of your marks in college. Now you can easily convert your CGPA into a percentage and meet the academic requirements of your chosen university. If you have any doubts about this or need assistance meeting any admission requirements, you can contact professional study abroad consultants at Canam.