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What is GPA? A Complete Guide for Students and Parents

Q: How do I calculate my GPA?

Here is how to calculate GPA from percentages and grades:1. Formula to convert percentage to GPA: (percentage/100) * 4.2. Formulae to convert grades to GPA: Weighted Grade Points/Total Credit Hours.

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By:CANAM Group
Updated On:May 01,2025 01:56 PM IST

GPA is a standard grading system foreign universities use to evaluate all international students.
The average GPA requirement for a foreign university varies from 3.0 to 4.0.
Learn how to convert your percentages or grades into GPA in this blog.

Do you ever get overwhelmed by the number of grading systems in India and wonder why they can’t simply tell marks? Well, you are not alone. Each one of us did that once in our lives. But this is what we call life. Instead of cribbing over it, let's understand one of these grading systems today. It is GPA (grade point average), one of the most widely used systems in India and globally.

A GPA tells the grades of students over a period of time. Many foreign universities use this system to assess all international students, especially in the USA. Read this blog to understand what GPA is and how to convert your marks to GPA to get accepted into your dream university.

What is GPA, and why is it Important?

Let’s start with GPA’s full form. GPA stands for Grade Point Average. It is a numerical representation of a student’s academic performance during a particular period of time. It is one of the most common methods used in the Indian education system, apart from the percentage-based system and letter grades. GPA ranges from 1.0 to 4.0. For better understanding, you can see the GPA compared to the percentages and letter grades in the following table:

Letter Grade	Percentage	GPA
A	90-100	4.0
B	80-89	3.0
C	70-79	2.0
D	60-69	1.0
E	Below 60	0.0

Types of GPA

There are two types of GPA: weighted GPA and unweighted GPA. Weighted GPA considers the difficulty of the course. It means that you will get more points for achieving a score of 4.0 in a difficult course than in an easy one. In contrast, an unweighted GPA does not consider the course difficulty, so the score of 4.0 will have the same importance, whether it was the easiest course or the most difficult.

Here are some key differences between weighted and unweighted GPAs:

Criteria	Weighted GPA	Unweighted GPA
Scale used	0 – 5.0	0 – 4.0
Course Difficulty	Considers course difficulty	Does not consider course difficulty
Grade Calculation	Higher grades in advanced courses are worth more than the same grades in easy courses	Same grades are treated equally
Objective	To reward students for securing high grades in challenging courses	Same grades are treated equally

Difference Between Cumulative GPA and Semester GPA

Now let’s understand what are the differences between cumulative GPA and semester GPA. A cumulative GPA (CGPA) shows a student’s academic performance for an entire course. On the other hand, a semester GPA (SGPA), as the name suggests, tells the GPA obtained by a student in a particular semester.

Parameter	Cumulative GPA	Semester GPA
Purpose	Shows long-term performance	Shows short-term performance
Calculation Basis	It is calculated based on all completed semesters	It shows the performance of the last semester completed
Change	It changes over a period of time	It changes more frequently than CGPA, since it's semester-based
Example	A cumulative GPA of 3.5 shows the overall academic performance of a student during the course.	A semester GPA of 3.2 shows the academic performance of the last semester completed.

How to Calculate GPA?

Here comes one of the most important things students should know: how to calculate GPA. This is helpful when your marks are in letter grades or percentages and you want to convert them to GPA. The methods to convert GPA from percentages and letter grades are entirely different.

The formula to convert a percentage to GPA on a 4.0 scale is (percentage/100) * 4

For example, if you scored 80% in a particular subject. The calculation will be (80/100) * 4 = 3.2

So your GPA is 3.2.

Converting Grade Points into GPA

After percentages, let’s see how to calculate GPA when you have letter grades:

The method to calculate GPA is straightforward as follows:

GPA = Weighted Grade Points/Total Credit Hours

To understand this, let’s take an example where a student is studying in an Indian university and has the following letter grades in 4 subjects, along with credit hours:

Subject	Letter Grades	Letter Grades	Credit Hours
English	A	4	3
Math	B	3	4
Science	C	2	2
Hindi	D	1	3

Let’s first calculate weighted grade points by multiplying grade points by credit hours

English: 4*3 = 12
Math: 3*4 = 12
Science: 2*2 = 4
Hindi: 1*3 = 3

Weighted Grade Points: 12+12+4+3 = 31

Total Credit Hours: 3+4+2+3 = 12

GPA: 31/12 = 2.58

So the student’s GPA is 2.58.

GPA Calculator

Even though calculating GPA manually is not hard, if you need help, you can use online GPA calculators. A GPA calculator takes your total grades and credit hours and calculates your GPA (generally on a 4-point scale). Here are some benefits of using this tool:

1. Accurate Results: You can make mistakes while calculating, but there is no such risk when using a GPA calculator, which ensures accuracy every time.

2. Easy Comparison: Foreign universities keep a certain GPA to give admission to international students. By using GPA calculators, you will know whether you match it.

Different Types of GPA Scales

The 4-point scale is just one of the GPA scales used to assess students' academic records. Apart from it, there are two more: 5.0 and 10.0. Under the 5.0 GPA scale, the maximum grade a student can receive is 5, and under the 10 GPA scale, the maximum possible grade is 10.0.

Parameter	4.0 Scale	5.0 Scale	10.0 Scale
Grade Equivalents	A = 4.0 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0 F = 0.0	A+ = 5.0 A = 4.5 A- = 4.0 B+ = 3.5 B = 3.0 B = 3.0 C+ = 2.0 C = 1.5 D = 1.0 F = 0.0	A = 10.0 B = 8.0 C = 6.0 D = 4.0 F = 0.0
Purpose	Shows unweighted academic performance	Shows weighted academic performance	Numerical representation of academic performance
Countries Using This Scale	United States, Canada	United States, Singapore	Australia, India

What GPA is Required to Study Abroad?

Many foreign universities across multiple study destinations require international students to submit GPA scores. Universities use various grade scales, including 4.0, 5.0, and 10.0, to assess the academic performance of international students. The GPA requirement not only varies according to the university, but also according to the program students choose. A strong CGPA not only lands you in top global universities but also helps you bag scholarships and job opportunities.

It's important for students to know about the GPA requirements of universities across the globe so they can achieve that score and secure admission for their dream program.

The following table shows the GPA requirements for popular study abroad destinations:

Country	Minimum GPA Required
United States	3.0 – 3.5
United Kingdom	3.0 – 3.7
Canada	3.0 – 3.5
Australia	5.0 – 6.0
Singapore	3.5 – 4.0
Germany	1.5 – 2.5

What is a Good GPA?

Now that you know the GPA requirements for different countries, it's time to know what a good GPA is. The good gap varies depending on the purpose for which it is required. A good GPA for a foreign university admission is entirely different from scholarships. A GPA between 3.0 and 3.5 is acceptable for university admissions, but for top universities, you may need a GPA of 3.7 or higher.

For scholarships, the GPA requirement varies according to the type of scholarship. General scholarships require a lower GPA, while merit-based scholarships may require a higher GPA. The following table shows what a good GPA is for university admissions as well as scholarships:

Purpose

Specifications

Good GPA Score

University Admissions

Undergraduate programs

Postgraduate programs

3.3 – 3.7

3.5 – 4.0

Scholarships

General Scholarships

Merit-Based Scholarships

3.5 – 4.0

3.7 – 4.0

Conclusion

GPA is one of the most important (often mandatory) requirements for entering foreign universities. A good GPA allows you to study your dream program in top universities globally. Further, it helps you to avail scholarships. If your marks in class 12th were in terms of percentages or grades, you must convert them into GPA to study abroad. To learn more about GPA and other academic requirements of foreign universities, you can contact Canam’s study abroad consultants.

FAQ

What is a GPA score?

A GPA (grade point average) score represents the academic performance of students over a period of time. It usually scores students on a scale of 1.0 to 4.0.

How do I calculate my GPA?

Here is how to calculate GPA from percentages and grades:

1. Formula to convert percentage to GPA: (percentage/100) * 4.

2. Formulae to convert grades to GPA: Weighted Grade Points/Total Credit Hours.

What is GPA in India?

In the Indian education system, GPA stands for grade point average, which is a numerical representation of a student’s academic performance over a period of time.

Is GPA really important?

Yes, GPA is essential when planning to study abroad, since it’s the parameter most foreign universities use to assess international students.

What GPA is required for Harvard?

Harvard doesn’t have strict GPA requirements. However, students with a GPA of 3.9 – 4.0 are usually admitted to the university.

How to convert GPA into percentage?

The formula to convert GPA to a percentage is (GPA/4)*100. For example, if your GPA is 3.5, your percentage will be 87.5%.

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What is GPA? A Complete Guide for Students and Parents

Table of Contents

What is GPA, and why is it Important?

Types of GPA

Difference Between Cumulative GPA and Semester GPA

How to Calculate GPA?

Converting Grade Points into GPA

GPA Calculator

Different Types of GPA Scales

What GPA is Required to Study Abroad?

What is a Good GPA?

Conclusion

FAQ

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