Academic performance metrics like GPAs, marks, and percentages are widely used across educational systems worldwide. Many universities and colleges globally employ grading systems that utilise a scale spanning from 0 to 100, letter grades from A to F, or percentages ranging from 0 to 10. Students often face confusion regarding various aspects, such as converting CGPA to percentage, calculating SGPA, understanding the difference between GPA and CGPA, and determining how to calculate SGPA using these scales. Since evaluation systems (semester-based or annual) and grading schemes vary from one university to another, clarifying the specifics is crucial. This blog aims to provide relevant information on calculating SGPA and other related details to address these concerns.
What Is SGPA?
SGPA stands for Sessional Grade Points Average or Semester Grade Points Average. This metric or score helps understand a student’s cumulative credits earned in a particular semester. It also states the performance of a student in a semester of a course. Tracking your academic performance through metrics like SGPA helps you understand your progress and identifies areas where you may need to focus more effort.
Since the calculation methods for SGPA differ across countries, it is crucial to stay updated on the specific approach used in your educational system. Consistently monitoring your SGPA allows you to identify opportunities for improvement and work towards enhancing your academic progress.
Terms To Know When Understanding How To Calculate SGPA
To accurately calculate your SGPA, it’s essential to grasp the terms associated with the process. Below are explanations of these terms:
- Credit Points: These represent the workload of your studies, determined by the number of hours dedicated to a specific course subject. Most international educational institutions require students to fulfil a minimum credit hour requirement.
- Grade Point: Reflecting your academic performance, grade points are assigned to each subject based on your achievements.
- Semester: Your academic programme is typically divided into semesters, with two semesters in an academic year.
How Is SGPA Calculated?
Calculating SGPA might look a bit complex, but it’s simple if you get the hang of it. As mentioned earlier, SGPA is an average of your semester grade and credit points, these two factors play an important role in determining your SGPA. Follow the steps below to understand how to calculate SGPA from credit points:
- List Credits and Grades: Make a table with two columns – one for the credit points of each subject and another for the grade points you scored in those subjects. You’ll usually find this information on your transcript or mark sheet.
- Multiply Credit Points by Grade Points: For each subject, multiply the credit points by the corresponding grade points you received.
- Sum the Products: Add up all the values you got from multiplying credit points by grade points in each subject.
- Sum the Total Credits: Add up the credit points for all the subjects in that semester.
- Divide and Conquer: Finally, divide the sum you got in step 3 (total grade points multiplied) by the sum you got in step 4 (total credit points). This will give you your SGPA for that semester.
How To Calculate SGPA With Example:
Let’s say you took four subjects in a semester:
- Subject 1: Credits – 4, Grade Point – 8
- Subject 2: Credits – 3, Grade Point – 7
- Subject 3: Credits – 5, Grade Point – 9
- Subject 4: Credits – 6, Grade Point – 8
Here’s how to calculate your SGPA:
List Credits and Grades:
In the table given below, let’s assume you have received the following credits and grade points in 4 subjects:
| Subject | Credits | Grade Point |
| 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 2 | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 4 | 6 | 8 |
Multiply Credit Points By Grade Points:
Now, let’s multiply the grade points and credit points for all the 4 subjects as given in the table below:
| Subject | Credits | Grade Point | Product (Credits x Grade) |
| 1 | 4 | 8 | 32 |
| 2 | 3 | 7 | 21 |
| 3 | 5 | 9 | 45 |
| 4 | 6 | 8 | 48 |
Now that we’ve multiplied the grade points and credit points individually, here’s how you can calculate the SGPA:
- Sum the Products: 32 + 21 + 45 + 48 = 146
- Sum the Total Credits: 4 + 3 + 5 + 6 = 18
- Divide and Conquer: SGPA = 146 (Total Grade Points) / 18 (Total Credits) = 8.11
So, your SGPA for this semester would be 8.11.
That’s how to calculate SGPA of a semester while applying for any international university.
How To Calculate SGPA For All Semester?
You can’t directly calculate an overall SGPA for all semesters using the SGPA formula itself. SGPA is designed to represent academic performance within a single semester. However, you can calculate your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), which considers your performance across all semesters.
It’s a metric used in universities to summarise your academic performance across your entire degree programme. Unlike SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) which focuses on a single semester, CGPA considers all your courses and grades throughout your studies.
Here’s how to calculate CGPA from SGPA:
Find Individual SGPAs: First, calculate the SGPA for each semester you’ve completed using the method mentioned earlier (multiplying credit points by grades and dividing by total credit points).
Sum the SGPAs: Add up the SGPA you received in each semester.
Divide by Total Semesters: Take the sum obtained in step 2 and divide it by the total number of semesters you’ve completed.
Formula:
CGPA = Σ Semester SGPA / Number of Semesters
| Note: Make sure to include all semesters you’ve taken, even if you retook a course or had semesters with failing grades. Some institutions might have different methods for calculating CGPA, so it’s always a good idea to refer to your university’s academic handbook or consult with your advisor for the most accurate method. |
From this, hope you understand how to calculate CGPA by SGPA.
Difference Between CGPA and SGPA
Understanding the difference between Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) and Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) is crucial for students to comprehend their overall and semester-wise academic performance.
While CGPA provides a cumulative assessment of a student’s grades over multiple semesters, SGPA offers insights into performance within a specific semester. Table given below highlights the key differences between a CGPA and an SGPA:
| Feature | CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) | SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) |
| Focuses on | Overall academic performance across all semesters of a programme | Performance within a single semester |
| Calculation Period | Considers grades and credit points from all semesters completed | Considers grades and credit points from one semester only |
| Frequency of Calculation | Usually calculated at the end of each academic year or upon programme completion | Calculated after each semester |
| Provides | A broader picture of a student’s academic trajectory | A more detailed snapshot of a student’s performance in a specific term |
| Used for | Assessing overall academic achievement for scholarships, awards, higher education applications, and potentially by employers | Internal university tracking of progress within a semester and identifying areas for improvement |
How To Calculate SGPA To Percentage?
Now that we have seen how CGPA is calculated from SGPA, we will also learn how to calculate SGPA by a percentage. You can use the following formula:
- Begin by calculating your SGPA for each semester.
- Total all your SGPA scores across all semesters.
- Divide the sum of SGPA scores by the total number of semesters.
- To convert your SGPA to a percentage, multiply it by 10 and then subtract 7.5 from the result.
Typically, you must use the given formula if you are confused about how to calculate SGPA from the percentage
| [(SGPA * 10) – 7.5 = Percentage] |
This will give you the equivalent percentage score.
How To Calculate Aggregate Percentage Of 6 Semesters From SGPA?
You can’t directly calculate an aggregate percentage for all semesters using SGPA itself. SGPA is designed for a single semester. However, you can calculate your overall percentage by converting each semester’s SGPA to a percentage and then finding the average. Here’s how:
Convert SGPA to Percentage (for each semester):
Use the formula: (SGPA x 10) – 7.5. This might differ slightly based on your university’s grading system.
Sum the Percentages: Add up the converted percentages you obtained from all semesters.
Divide by Number of Semesters: Take the sum from step 2 and divide it by the total number of semesters (in this case, 6).
Formula (for Overall Percentage):
Overall Percentage = Σ (Semester Percentage) / Number of Semesters
Example:
Let’s say you have SGPAs for 6 semesters:
Semester 1: SGPA – 8.5
Semester 2: SGPA – 7.8
Semester 3: SGPA – 9.2
Semester 4: SGPA – 8.1
Semester 5: SGPA – 8.7
Semester 6: SGPA – 8.4
Calculate Percentage for Each Semester:
Semester 1: (8.5 x 10) – 7.5 = 77.5%
Semester 2: (7.8 x 10) – 7.5 = 70.5%
Semester 3: (9.2 x 10) – 7.5 = 84.5%
Semester 4: (8.1 x 10) – 7.5 = 73.5%
Semester 5: (8.7 x 10) – 7.5 = 79.5%
Semester 6: (8.4 x 10) – 7.5 = 76.5%
Calculate Overall Percentage:
Overall Percentage = (77.5 + 70.5 + 84.5 + 73.5 + 79.5 + 76.5) / 6
= 462 / 6 = 77% (approximately)
Therefore, your estimated overall percentage for the 6 semesters would be 77%.
| Note: Remember, the conversion formula might differ slightly depending on your university’s grading system. Check their official sources for the most accurate conversion method. |
How To Convert Indian Percentage To GPA For International Universities?
Converting an Indian percentage directly to an international GPA (Grade Point Average) for example, Indian percentage to US GPA, is quite tricky, as the grading systems differ slightly However, there’s a general method you can use to get an estimated US GPA:
Here’s the conversion process:
- Divide the Indian percentage by 100: This converts your percentage into a decimal form (out of 1).
- Multiply the decimal by 4: The US GPA system typically uses a 4.0 scale (highest grade).
Formula (Estimated US GPA):
Estimated US GPA = (Indian Percentage / 100) * 4
Example:
Let’s say you have an Indian percentage of 85%:
- 85% / 100 = 0.85
- 0.85 * 4 = 3.4
Therefore, your estimated US GPA based on the Indian percentage of 85% would be 3.4.
Important Notes:
- This is an estimate. The actual conversion might vary depending on the specific grading scales used by both institutions (Indian university and US university/ programme).
- Some universities in India might have a grading system with a higher maximum percentage (e.g., 100% instead of 90%). In those cases, adjust the divisor in Step 1 accordingly.
- US universities often have a more nuanced grading system with plus/minus grades (e.g., A-, B+, etc.). Your estimated GPA might fall between two of the US letter grades.
In conclusion, whether aiming for excellence or striving for improvement, the ability to calculate SGPA enables students to take control of their academic outcomes and make informed decisions about their educational path. With this guide, students can now confidently calculate SGPA and map their academic success.
FAQs
Q1. How to calculate SGPA?
SGPA is calculated by dividing the sum of the product of credit hours and grade points for each subject by the total credit hours for the semester.
Q2. How much is 7.5 SGPA?
7.5 SGPA is equivalent to 67.5% if we use the formula (SGPA x 10) – 7.5.
Q3. How much is 8.0 SGPA?
8.0 SGPA is equivalent to 75% if we use the formula (SGPA x 10) – 7.5.
Q4. Is SGPA and CGPA the same?
SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) calculates performance for a specific semester, while CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) considers overall performance across multiple semesters.
Q5. Is 7.8 a good SGPA?
Whether 7.8 SGPA is considered good can vary depending on the grading scale and the academic standards of the institution, but generally, it’s regarded as a strong performance.
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