What is SGPA? How to Convert SGPA to Percentage & CGPA?

The Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) is a key measure used in academic grading systems to evaluate student performance in each semester. It is essential to understand how SGPA and CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) function. Knowing how to calculate SGPA and convert it to CGPA ensures you stay on top of your academic progress. 

However, if you're new to these concepts, it's crucial to differentiate between SGPA and CGPA, as they play an essential role in academic and professional evaluations. Tools like GPA calculators can help you manage your academic results. Find out more about how to convert SGPA to percentages for better clarity on your achievements.

What is SGPA? How to Calculate SGPA?

Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) is a valuable measure of academic performance within a semester. It offers a snapshot of your progress by factoring in credit points earned across subjects.

Each subject has its own credit weight based on course workload, and SGPA provides a weighted average of the grades earned in all subjects for that term.

While grading systems vary, the main terms involved in SGPA calculation remain similar. 

Here’s what each term means.

• Credit Points:

  Assigned according to instructional hours or course workload; occasionally influenced by course difficulty.

• Grade Points:

  The numeric value associated with letter grades (A, B, C, etc.).

• Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA):

  The overall academic measure across all semesters.

SGPA plays a key role beyond a single term’s performance — it directly impacts your CGPA, a crucial factor for university admissions, internships, and job applications. Consistently strong SGPA scores help you build a robust academic profile.

Here’s a breakdown of how you should calculate your SGPA.

• List Your Courses:

  Note all the subjects you enrolled in during the semester, along with their corresponding credit hours and the grades received.​

• Assign Grade Points:

  Convert each grade to its numerical equivalent based on your institution's grading system.​

• Compute Weighted Scores:

  Multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours to obtain the weighted score for that subject.​

• Sum Weighted Scores and Credits:

  Add up all the weighted scores and the total credit hours for the semester.​

• Calculate SGPA:

  Divide the total weighted scores by the total credit hours.

Formula for SGPA calculation:

SGPA = ∑ (Grade Points×Credit Hours)
             —-------------------------------------------
            ∑ (Credit Hours)

Step-by-Step Calculation

To calculate your SGPA, it's important to follow a structured approach that takes into account both your grade points and credit hours for each subject. 

Below is a detailed step-by-step guide to help you calculate your SGPA. Have a look!

1. Step 1:  Multiply Credit Points by Grade Points -

• Mathematics: 4 × 10 = 40​
• Science: 3 × 8 = 24
• English: 2 × 6 = 12
• History: 3 × 10 = 30

2. Step 2: Sum the Total Grade Points -

• 40 + 24 + 12 + 30 = 106

3. Step 3: Sum the Total Credit Points -

• 4 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 12

4. Step 4: Calculate SGPA - 

• SGPA = 106 ÷ 12 ≈ 8.83

Therefore, your SGPA for the semester is approximately 8.83.

Calculating your SGPA regularly helps you stay informed about your academic performance, enabling you to make strategic decisions for future semesters.​

What Does CGPA Stand For?

The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) reflects your overall academic performance across multiple semesters, while SGPA shows your performance for a single semester. CGPA provides a comprehensive assessment by averaging all SGPAs, which is important for higher education and job applications as it highlights consistent academic achievement.

If you’re looking to apply for scholarships or graduate courses and programs, knowing how to convert these scores and differentiate between them can help you present your academic achievements more clearly.

Here’s a comparison between SGPA and CGPA.

By understanding the role of both SGPA and CGPA, you can better evaluate your academic standing and make informed decisions for your academic and professional future.

How to Convert SGPA to Percentage?

Understanding how to convert your Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) to a percentage is crucial for academic assessments and applications. While SGPA reflects your performance in a semester, many institutions and employers often require a percentage score. 

Here’s a commonly accepted formula for converting SGPA to percentage: Percentage = (SGPA × 10) - 7.5​

This formula is widely used in Indian universities. However, it's essential to verify with your specific institution, as conversion methods may vary.​

Step-by-Step Conversion Process:

• Determine Your SGPA:

  Obtain your SGPA from your academic records.​

• Apply the Formula:

  Multiply your SGPA by 10, then subtract 7.5 from the result.

• Result:

  The final value is your academic performance expressed as a percentage.​

Here’s an example calculation.

Remember, while this method is commonly used, always consult your university's specific guidelines for accurate conversions.​

How to Convert SGPA to CGPA?

Many universities, both in India and abroad, emphasize CGPA scores in their admission processes, often prioritizing them over individual semester grades like SGPA. Converting your SGPA to CGPA is crucial for understanding your cumulative academic performance and preparing for university applications or job eligibility.

Let’s explore why converting SGPA to CGPA matters and the steps involved in calculating it.

Importance of Calculating CGPA to SGPA

While SGPA reflects your performance in a single semester, CGPA provides a comprehensive view of your academic achievements across all semesters. This perspective is crucial for applications to higher education institutions and for meeting job eligibility criteria.

Here’s the formula for calculating CGPA from SGPA.

CGPA =   ∑(SGPA i​ ×Credit Hours i​)

             —------------------------------------------

               ∑ Credit Hours i

This formula averages out the SGPAs from each semester and divides them by the total credits earned during all semesters. It provides a unified grade point average over your academic journey, summarizing the performance across semesters.

Steps Involved in the Calculation

You can manually calculate your CGPA by following the steps listed below.

• Step 1:

  List your SGPA for each semester - Start by noting down the SGPA for all the semesters you’ve completed.

• Step 2:

  Multiply each SGPA by the total credits for that semester - Each semester carries a different weight based on the credits assigned.

• Step 3:

  Sum all the weighted SGPAs - Add the weighted SGPAs from all semesters.

• Step 4:

  Sum the total credits - Add the total credits for all semesters.

• Step 5:

  Divide the total weighted SGPAs by the total credits - The quotient gives you your CGPA.

Here’s an example calculation to simplify things further.

Let’s assume you have completed four semesters with the following SGPAs and credits.

Based on the numbers tabulated above, here’s how you can calculate the CGPA.

1. Multiply each SGPA by the corresponding credits:

• Semester 1: 8.5 × 20 = 170
• Semester 2: 9.0 × 22 = 198
• Semester 3: 8.0 × 18 = 144

2. Total Credit Hours:

• 20 + 22 + 18 = 60

3. CGPA:

• 512 ÷ 60 ≈ 8.53

Therefore, your CGPA is approximately 8.53.

What Role Does SGPA Play in Studying Abroad?

SGPA plays a significant role if you are looking to study abroad, especially in the admission processes of international universities. Most universities will evaluate your academic performance based on cumulative grades, making it crucial to understand what is SGPA and how to convert SGPA to CGPA. 

For instance, top universities in countries like the US and UK often convert SGPA into a format that aligns with their local grading systems, such as GPA on a 4.0 scale or percentage-based assessments.

Universities abroad require you to submit academic records that demonstrate consistent performance across semesters. Knowing how SGPA impacts your chances of admission is crucial because it helps you plan for university applications, scholarships, and other academic opportunities.

How do Universities Abroad Consider SGPA?

Many universities consider SGPA in different ways during their admission process. Here’s how some universities approach SGPA.

• Converting SGPA to Percentage:

  Universities like those in Canada may ask you to convert your SGPA to a percentage to assess academic performance better. The typical formula is (SGPA * 10) - 7.5.

• Converting SGPA to GPA:

  In countries like the US, SGPA needs to be converted into GPA on a 4.0 scale. Universities will often ask you to use an official GPA conversion service.

• Using SGPA to CGPA Calculator:

  Some universities may require a CGPA instead of an SGPA. You can use an SGPA to CGPA calculator to convert your scores.

• Grading Systems by Country:

  The US typically uses a 4.0 GPA scale, while the UK uses classifications such as First Class and Second Class. Many European countries use the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), which grades on an A to F scale.

Understanding these variations is essential when you are aiming to study abroad. It ensures that you can accurately present your academic performance and meet the admission criteria of international universities.

You can check this example of the grading structure of the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) - a prominent public research university in the United States. UC Berkeley employs a letter grading system with corresponding grade points, as outlined below.

Conclusion

In today's competitive world, knowing how to present your academic achievements clearly is more important than ever. Whether you are planning to apply for scholarships, internships, or study abroad, having a solid grasp of what is SGPA and how it influences your overall CGPA can give you a significant edge.

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