SGPA stands for Semester Grade Point Average. Educational institutes worldwide use unique scoring systems to evaluate students' academic performance.
While countries like India primarily employ a percentage system, institutions in the US utilize the Grade Point Average (GPA) and Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) to gauge learners' achievements.
Although GPA is widely understood, SGPA often remains a mystery to many. Let’s understand what is SGPA and how to calculate it.
The full form of SGPA is Semester Grade Point Average which is a measure of your academic performance during a semester. This score is awarded to students based on how well they have performed in their coursework at the end of each semester.
SGPA is calculated as the weighted average of the grade points earned by a student in a semester across all subjects. It is important to understand what is an SGPA to streamline your studies and set realistic targets for your further studies.
One of the many methods that exist to calculate students’ performance in colleges is SGPA. It is essentially the grade point average calculated at the end of each semester. It is important to note that SGPA is a 10-point scale system. Securing a good SGPA can lead to a high CGPA, which is crucial for obtaining a good university.
Components of SGPA
Understanding what is an SGPA and how it is calculated boils down to three main components. Each plays a specific role in determining a student's academic achievement for a particular semester.
Semester:
This refers to a specific term or division of the academic year, typically lasting four to six months. Each semester has a set of courses a student enrolls in, and the credits associated with each course contribute to the total credit load for that semester.
Grade Point:
Each course is assigned a letter grade (A, B, C, etc.) that reflects a student's performance in that course. Universities have a grading system that assigns a numerical value (grade point) to each letter grade. For instance, a university grading system might assign a grade point of 4 for an 'A' and a 2 for a 'B.'
Credit Points:
Each course carries a specific credit value that reflects the workload and study time involved. Higher-level courses or courses requiring more in-depth study may carry more credit points than introductory courses. Credit hours are typically published in the university course catalog or on the university website.
How is SGPA calculated?
To calculate SGPA, you'll need to multiply the grade points earned in each course by the corresponding credit points. Then, add up these products and divide the sum by the total credit points taken in that semester. Here's the SGPA formula:
SGPA = Σ (Grade Point of each course × Credit Point of each course) / Σ Total Credit Points
Now that you have a basic understanding of what is SGPA and how it affects your final score, let us focus on how to calculate SGPA. You will have to first add grade points achieved in all subjects in a particular academic term and calculate their average to arrive at your SGPA.
You can also refer to the following methodology to figure out what your SGPA is:
1. Find out your credit point for each of your subjects.
2. Multiply the credit points of each subject with the grade you have attained in the respective subject.
3. Add all the products you get from the previous step.
4. Next, you need to divide the sum you get after adding the products of each subject by the sum of all the credits to derive your SGPA.
Consider the following example to understand this method-
Say the credits for each of your subjects are:
Subject 1- 2
Subject 2- 3
Subject 3- 3
Now let us assume you have scored the following grades in each of these subjects:
Subject 1- 8
Subject 2- 7.8
Subject 3- 9
Next, you have to multiply each of the grades with their respective subject credits:
Subject 1- 2 x 8 = 16
Subject 2- 3 x 7.8 = 23.4
Subject 3- 3 x 9 = 27
Following this, you need to get the summation of all the products:
16 + 23.4 + 27 = 64.4. This is your total score.
Then add all the credits of individual subjects:
(Subject 1 + Subject 2 + Subject 3) which is 2 + 3 + 3 = 8
Finally, divide the total score you get by the total credits of the subjects:
64.4 / 8 = 8.3
Therefore, your SGPA is 8.3.
Let us look at the below table to know the calculation better:
Subject
Credit
Grade
Grade Points
Sub 1
4
A
32
Sub 2
4
A
32
Sub 3
2
O
20
Sub 4
2
B+
14
Total
12
98
SGPA= Grade Points/ Total Credit
98/12= 8.16
The below table will help you understand how the grade points are calculated:
Marks Range (Out of 100)
Grade
Grade Points
90-100
O
10
80-89
A+
9
70-79
A
8
60-69
B+
7
50-59
B
6
40-49
C+
5
35-39
P
4
0-34
F
0
Note: The calculation method and grading system change from one university to another
Most colleges in India and abroad announce a percentage that applicants have to score to get admitted into specific programs. In case you have your final results in the form of an SGPA or GPA, it is essential that you know how to make the conversions accurately to avoid miscalculations and consequently lose valuable opportunities.
Having a clear knowledge of your score percentage will aid in finding suitable college courses and help in understanding your scope better. You will need to know the percentages you have attained each semester to get an idea about your progress and help you plan your move forward.
Once you have figured out your SGPA, it is relatively simple to derive your score percentage from it. There is a standardized formula you can use for the process.
All you need to do is multiply your SGPA by 10 and then subtract 7.5 from your product which will bring you to your percentage. Considering the example we have demonstrated above; you can calculate the percentage from SGPA with the formula below:
(SGPA x 10) – 7.5 = Percentage
(8.3 x 10) – 7.5 = 75.5%
Since different education boards employ different systems to examine, grade, and assess their students in an academic year, their interpretation in a standardized format becomes hugely imperative for admissions.
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is the grading system used by educational institutes to measure the overall academic performance during the entire course tenure.
CGPA is the average scored by the student at the end of the program. Your CGPA is what shows on your transcript and will allow you to secure admissions to sought-after institutes.
Many colleges and universities heavily emphasize your CGPA, so it is wise to aim high and dedicate all your efforts to achieving that goal.
Here is a broad conversion of percentages into CGPA and further classifications:
By now, we hope we have established what SGPA and CGPA are and how to calculate SGPA.
Now, let us understand how to calculate CGPA from SGPA.
All you need to do is find the sum of all the SGPAs you have scored throughout the academic year and then divide it by the total number of semesters. So basically,
CGPA = (SGPA of all the semesters in a particular year / total number of semesters)
For example, if you score 7 and 8 SGPAs in two semesters, you will have to divide the total by 2:
(7 + 9)/2
16/2
So, your CGPA is 8.
Difference between CGPA and SGPA
The Cumulative Grade Point Average considers a student's performance over their entire academic program, taking into account all semesters they've completed. SGPA, on the other hand, is specific to a single semester. Below are the differences between these two grading systems:
Feature
CGPA
SGPA
Scope
Overall academic program
A single semester
Timeframe
Considers all semesters completed
Considers courses taken in a specific semester
Calculation
CGPA is calculated by averaging the SGPA of each semester.
SGPA is calculated based on the grades and credits earned in a specific semester.
Importance
CGPA is crucial for applications to higher education programs, scholarships, and placements.
SGPA provides a more immediate snapshot of academic performance within a semester and can be used to identify areas needing improvement early on.
Common Terms Used and Their Meanings When Calculating SGPA
It is vital that you are aware of the terms used in the calculations to better understand your SGPA.
Here is a list of all the commonly used terms and their meanings:
Credit Points
These are basically the measurements of your study load. Universities use it to assess your progress and completion of the course matters. Individual subjects are assigned credits based on the institutional hours they comprise.
Colleges and universities require you to finish a particular number of credits to be considered for the final examination.
Grade Point
Grades represent how well you have performed in the class and how your test scores are. You are typically awarded grade points for each subject you study as a part of your course, which goes on to deriving your Grade Point Average at the end of each term.
Semester
The academic year during which a particular course is taught is divided into segments called semesters. Most commonly, an academic year is categorized into two semesters.
These three terms are the most used in the academic world and are used in almost every country. So let us learn what is the major difference between SGPA, CGPA, and GPA:
CGPA-
It is the cumulative grade average obtained by dividing the total credit point received by the student in overall semester exams by the sum of credits in the overall semester.
SGPA-
The Semester Grade Point Average, most commonly referred to as SGPA is, obtained by dividing the overall credit points received by the candidate in one semester by the sum of total credits in that semester.
GPA-
The grade point average is calculated by the average grades obtained by the candidate in one semester. It involves all the subjects the student has undertaken. GPA is basically a student’s academic achievement that showcases their scholastic performance.
Grade Chart for SGPA
The semester grade point average has an easy calculation technique. Here’s how you can calculate your SGPA-
Note down your SGPA points.
Multiply your credits for every individual subject with the points you have earned in that particular subject. Take the median, as each grade covers one range.
Calculate all the scores and add them together.
Divide the scores earned by the credit point’s sum and you will have your SGPA.
Here’s a grade chart for you to understand-
Suppose a student has studied 7 subjects with different credits-
Course
Credits assigned to subject
Earned credit points
Grade earned
Grades assigned
Total credits earned
Commerce
4
4
b+
8
32
Politics
4
4
A+
10
40
Library
4
4
C+
6
24
History
4
4
A-
9
36
Foreign Language
2
2
A-
9
18
English
3
3
C-
5
15
Economics
2
2
B-
7
14
Conclusion
To conclude, when you apply for higher education, the admission committee at your prospective colleges and universities will consider your grades to be key in determining your merit.
Although there are other areas that you need to take care of like a letter of recommendation, Statement of Purpose, and achievements in extracurricular activities, it is strongly advised that you keep your grades high, if you wish to attend a prestigious institute.
The Semester Grade Point Average, most commonly referred to as SGPA, is obtained by dividing the overall credit points received by the candidate in one semester by the sum of total credits in that semester.
How is SGPA Calculated?
Know the credit points you have earned for each subject and how much credit is assigned to every subject. Now multiply the credit of each subject with the earned credits in that particular subject. Add all the points, and divide the sum by the total of all the credits to know your SGPA.
How does SGPA work?
The SGPA measures a candidate’s performance for one semester. It is also the ratio of credit points earned in one semester in all the subjects one has decided to take. The SGPA can be expressed up to two decimal places.
Are SGPA and CGPA the same?
No, SGPA and CGPA are not the same. CGPA reflects on your performance for the entire academic program, while SGPA discusses your performance in one semester.
Bulbul is a self-driven professional and an expert writer & editor. She has been a part of the ed-tech industry for the past 2 years now and is motivated to provide study abroad aspirants with factually correct and relevant information. Her knack for impactful writing makes her blogs worth a read!
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