CGPA vs SGPA vs GPA: What is the Difference and How to Calculate It
Understand the key differences between CGPA, SGPA, and GPA. Learn their formulas, importance, and how each is calculated in academic grading
A clear, practical guide explaining the differences between CGPA, SGPA and GPA, how they are calculated, why they matter and how to convert or interpret them.
What do CGPA, SGPA and GPA mean?
GPA (Grade Point Average) — A calculation that reflects a student's average performance over a set of courses, typically within a term or for a subset of courses. It is usually weighted by credits and presented on a scale (for example 4.0 or 10.0).
SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) — The GPA computed for one semester (or one academic term). SGPA summarizes performance for courses taken in that semester and is credit-weighted.
CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) — The overall average across multiple semesters (or the entire program). CGPA aggregates SGPAs or all semester credit points and credit hours to represent cumulative academic performance.
Key differences (at-a-glance)
| No. | Term | Full Form | Scope | Scale/Range | When Calculated | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GPA | Grade Point Average | Single set of courses/term or selection | Depends (e.g., 0–4 or 0–10) | After a course set is completed | Quick performance snapshot |
| 2 | SGPA | Semester Grade Point Average | One semester/term | Depends (institutional) | End of each semester | Semester-level evaluation |
| 3 | CGPA | Cumulative Grade Point Average | All semesters / overall program | Depends (commonly 0–10 or 0–4) | Updated after each semester | Overall performance for transcript, degree |
Note: Scales vary by institution — check the university grading policy for the exact scale and rounding rules.
Why these metrics matter
- Academic progression: Universities use SGPA/CGPA to determine progression, probation or honors.
- Scholarships & funding: Many awards use minimum CGPA thresholds.
- Employability: Recruiters often review CGPA/GPA as an initial filter.
- Self-assessment: Students can track improvement term-over-term with SGPA and long-term with CGPA.
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How they are calculated (formulas & examples)
Use credit-weighted grade points to calculate GPAs. Below are the standard formula templates and a numeric example for clarity.
SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average)
SGPA = (Σ (Grade Point for course × Credit Hours for course)) / (Σ Credit Hours in semester)
Example:
Course A: Grade 8, Credits 3 → 8×3 = 24
Course B: Grade 7, Credits 4 → 7×4 = 28
Course C: Grade 9, Credits 3 → 9×3 = 27
Total Grade Points = 24 + 28 + 27 = 79
Total Credits = 3 + 4 + 3 = 10
SGPA = 79 / 10 = 7.9
GPA (Generic Grade Point Average)
GPA = (Σ (Grade Point × Credit Hours)) / (Σ Credit Hours)
(Used exactly like SGPA but can be applied to any selected set of courses)
CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average)
Method 1 (credit-based):
CGPA = (Σ (All semester grade points)) / (Σ All semester credits)
Method 2 (average of SGPAs, if institution allows equal-weight):
CGPA = (Σ SGPA for all semesters) / (Number of semesters)
Example (credit-based):
Semester1: total grade points = 79, credits = 10
Semester2: total grade points = 85, credits = 10
Cumulative grade points = 79 + 85 = 164
Cumulative credits = 10 + 10 = 20
CGPA = 164 / 20 = 8.2
Important: Many universities prefer the credit-based method; averaging SGPAs without weighting by credits can give incorrect results when semester credit totals differ.
Converting CGPA to Percentage (common approach)
Conversion formulas vary. One common approximation (for 10-point scales) is:
Approx % = CGPA × 9.5 (common in some boards/universities)
Example: CGPA 8.2 × 9.5 = 77.9%
Note: Always confirm the conversion formula with your institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final notes
Always consult your university's official grading policy for exact grade-to-point mappings, rounding rules, and conversion formulas. When in doubt, use credit-weighted calculations for accuracy and consistency.