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Students who are applying to pursue higher education abroad must have come across terms like SGPA and CGPA. Many universities often ask about the CGPA, as it gives a larger picture of one's academic performance. While students mostly have an SGPA with themselves, they are struck with the question of how to convert SGPA to CGPA. SGPA represents a student's academic performance in a particular semester, while CGPA tells about the overall performance during the entire course. Sometimes, students may not be able to perform in a single semester, which is reflected in their SGPA. Since CGPA considers the overall performance, an average performance in one or two semesters can be neglected, given that the performance is exceptional in the rest of the semesters.
Many top universities in the world ask for a CGPA during the application process. CGPA and SGPA are also used in the admission process, but also in scholarship applications, job applications, and even for short-term courses abroad. This article on SGPA to CGPA gives an insight into both the terms, how to convert SGPA to CGPA, what its importance is, and common mistakes to avoid during SGPA to CGPA conversion.
SGPA evaluates the academic performance of one semester. SGPA full form is the Semester Grade Point Average. SGPA measures the student's performance in academics for a short period of time. SGPA is measured on a 10-point scale. During the course, SGPA gives a clear picture of the student's weak areas and where they need to improve. SGPA is accepted by universities abroad for admission into undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as for scholarships and fellowships.
Calculation of SGPA is simple and needs no special maths. To calculate SGPA, a student needs their credit and grade points awarded in a particular semester. Now, follow the steps mentioned below to know how to calculate SGPA.
SGPA Formula = SGPA= Grade Points/ Total Credit
Let's understand how to calculate SGPA with an example:
Subject | Credit | Grade Points |
Physics | 4 | 36 |
Chemistry | 4 | 32 |
Mathematics | 2 | 15 |
Computer Science | 2 | 15 |
Total | 12 | 98 |
To calculate SGPA, use the following formula-
36+32+15+15/4+4+2+2= 98/12
SGPA = 8.16
Cumulative Grade Point Average or CGPA measures a student's overall academic performance. It assesses how well a student performed during the entire academic programme. CGPA is widely used for admissions in higher education in countries such as USA, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, among others. CGPA in simpler terms, is a cumulative score of all the semesters. It is usually measured on a scale of 10, with some exceptions like the USA where GPA is calculated on a 4-point scale.
CGPA= Total Number of Semesters/ Sum of SGPAs for All Semesters
To calculate CGPA, students need their grade points obtained in all subjects. Now, follow the steps mentioned below to calculate the CGPA.
Let’s understand this with an example. The table below shows the grade points obtained in different subjects.
Subjects | Grade Points |
Computer Science | 8 |
English | 7 |
Physics | 9 |
Chemistry | 8 |
Mathematics | 10 |
Total | 42 |
CGPA= Sum of Grade Points in All Subjects/ Total Number of Subjects
8+7+9+8+10=42
42/ 5 = 8.4
Hence, the CGPA is 8.4.
CGPA is the sum average of SGPA of all the semesters in one academic year. SGPA to CGPA conversion is crucial for students planning to apply for higher education in universities abroad. Below is the formula to convert SGPA to CGPA.
CGPA = Sum of all the SGPA / Total number of semesters
For example, the SGPA obtained by a student in all four semesters is as follows
Semesters | SGPA |
Semester 1 | 7 |
Semester 2 | 7.5 |
Semester 3 | 8 |
Semester 4 | 9 |
The CGPA calculation will be as
7+7.5+8+9 =31.5
31.5/ 4 = 7.875
CGPA = 7.8
There are major differences between SGPA and CGPA. The SGPA is used to determine the student's performance in a particular semester, while CGPA reflects the overall performance of a student during the entire semester. SGPA is an indicator of a student's academic performance for a brief period of time, whereas CGPA gives a comprehensive picture of the complete degree program.
SGPA is primarily concerned with scholarships, meaning SGPA is often considered during scholarship applications and other academic awards. CGPA, on the other hand, is considered specifically for higher education applications.
A student achieved the following SGPAs in one year, and the credit per semester is 20.
Semester | SGPA Obtained |
Sem 1 | 8 |
Sem 2 | 7.5 |
Sem 3 | 8.5 |
Sem 4 | 9 |
A student achieved the following SGPAs in one year:
Semester | SGPA Obtained |
Sem 1 | 7.0 (18 credits) |
Sem 2 | 7.5 (20 credits) |
Sem 3 | 8.0 (22 credits) |
Sem 4 | 8.5 (20 credits) |
There are a few mistakes that most students make while converting SGPA to CGPA. Below is the list of common mistakes during SGPA to CGPA conversion.
Not considering the SGPA of all semesters is the most common mistake, so students must calculate the SGPA of all semesters.
Using the wrong conversion scale is also very common among students, as this may vary for different universities or institutions.
During the SGPA to CGPA conversion, using the wrong conversion formula can also lead to the wrong CGPA.
Many times, students need to round off their credit points to calculate CGPA or SGPA.
SGPA and CGPA both are critical for a student's academic performance. Many universities ask students to submit a CGPA instead of an SGPA, hence students need to SGPA to CGPA calculator. A good SGPA in all semesters will ensure a strong CGPA. This will increase the chances of securing a seat in the desired university.
Now, we have already understood how to convert SGPA to CGPA. With this, knowing the percentage conversion of SGPA and CGPA is also important for candidates. Let us understand how you can change SGPA to a percentage as well as CGPA to a percentage.
Steps to Convert SGPA to Percentage
Steps to Convert CGPA to Percentage
Note: This is the common method; the exact method of conversion might vary depending on the university or school’s usage formula.
On a 10.0 Grading Scale
SGPA/CGPA Obtained | Percentage Equivalent |
10 | 100% |
9 | 90% |
8 | 80% |
7 | 70% |
6 | 60% |
On a 4.0 Grading Scale
SGPA/CGPA Obtained | Percentage Equivalent |
4 | 100% |
3 | 75% |
2 | 50% |
1 | 25% |
0 | 0% |
Also read:
No, CGPA and SGPA both serve different purposes. CGPA is the cumulative grade points of all the semesters while SGPA is the grade points average of a particular semester.
Many universities need a minimum of 7.5 to 8 CGPA to get admission in undergraduate or postgraduate courses. Considering this, 8.5 is a good CGPA.
Yes, there are many SGPA to CGPA calculators available online which students can use for conversion purposes.
The CGPA of 7.5 SGPA grade depends on the number of semesters we are talking about. If we need to convert the SGPA to the CGPA of one semester, then CGPA = SGPA. In the case of 4 semesters, CGPA is equal to the sum of SGPAs for all semesters and then divided by 4.
Similarly, the CGPA of 7.6 SGPA equals 7.6 CGPA if we consider one semester. However, if there are multiple semesters, then the formula adds all SGPA of semesters and then divides it by the number of semesters.
Generally, a 7.5 SGPA is considered quite good for candidates looking to study abroad in foreign universities and colleges. However, several top universities require international students to achieve a higher score in academics for admission.
The CGPA of 7.5 SGPA grade depends on the number of semesters we are talking about. If we need to convert the SGPA to the CGPA of one semester, then CGPA = SGPA. In the case of 4 semesters, CGPA is equal to the sum of SGPAs for all semesters and then divided by 4.
Similarly, the CGPA of 7.6 SGPA equals 7.6 CGPA if we consider one semester. However, if there are multiple semesters, then the formula adds all SGPA of semesters and then divides it by the number of semesters.
Generally, a 7.5 SGPA is considered quite good for candidates looking to study abroad in foreign universities and colleges. However, several top universities require international students to achieve a higher score in academics for admission.
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