GPA, SGPA and CGPA explained
GPA is your grade point average, usually for a single semester or term (some institutions call it SGPA). CGPA is your cumulative result across every semester so far. Both use credit hours as weights, so a 4-credit course affects the result more than a 1-credit lab.
How to calculate your GPA by hand
- Convert each letter grade to grade points using your scale.
- Multiply each course's points by its credit hours.
- Add the results and divide by the total credit hours.
Example on the 4.00 scale: Calculus 3 credits A (4.00) = 12; Physics 3 credits B+ (3.25) = 9.75; English 2 credits A- (3.50) = 7. Total points 28.75 divided by 8 credits = 3.59.
Calculating CGPA
Take each semester's GPA, multiply by that semester's credits, add them and divide by the total credits. Use the CGPA mode above to do this in seconds, and add a new semester each term to keep track.
Grading scales differ
Bangladeshi universities commonly use a 4.00 scale, while SSC and HSC use a 5.00 GPA scale. India often uses a 10-point CGPA, and the US uses a 4.0 scale with plus and minus grades. Pick the scale that matches your institution, and never compare numbers from different scales directly: a 3.5 on a 4.00 scale is not the same as 3.5 out of 5.
Improving your CGPA
Retaking a low-grade course or raising your grades in high-credit courses moves the average most. Try changing a grade in the calculator to see the effect before you decide where to focus. Our guides on learning faster and the Pomodoro technique can help, and the Pomodoro timer is free here.
Applying for jobs after graduation? See how to write an ATS-friendly resume and a strong cover letter. Always confirm the exact calculation rules with your institution.