CGPA, SGPA, Key Differences and Application

With evolving education policies, grading systems have shifted from traditional percentage-based evaluation to credit-based systems like SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) and CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average). SGPA measures a student’s performance in a single semester by calculating the weighted average of grade points earned across subjects based on assigned credits. CGPA, on the other hand, reflects overall academic performance across all semesters and is computed by averaging SGPA scores weighted by total credits. While SGPA provides short-term performance insights, CGPA represents long-term consistency and academic achievement. Universities use CGPA to assess eligibility for higher studies, scholarships, and academic standing, while employers rely on it for campus placements and initial screening. CGPA also reduces academic stress by focusing on overall performance rather than individual exams. Conversion from CGPA to percentage varies by institution, commonly using factors like 9.5 for a 10-point scale and 25 for a 4-point scale.

CGPA, SGPA, Key Differences and Application

With the changing time and changing education policy, the way to calculate the marks is also changed. Parents, students want to measure the overall performance of student. This is also used for taking admission in different university to understand the academic achievement of a student. These measures are used worldwide. These are SGPA, CGPA. In campus placements, employer also review CGPA to understand the performance of student.

What is SGPA

SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average). This measures the average grade points of one semester based on credits and points earned in a particular term.

Formula is (Subject Credit*Grade Points)

Total Semester Credit

Wherein

Total credits are the sum of credits assigned to each subjects/Units/hour

Subject Credit – weight of subject credit.

Grade Points – Numeric value of letter grade. Letter Grade- Students performance (e.g. O, A, B, C, D, E ). Each grade has numeric scale (E.g.- O – 10 ,  A – 9  B –8,  C – 7, D – 6, E -5

E.g. There are 5 subjects. One student got following points in each subject. Scale is 10.

SGPA  = (10*5)+(8*7)+(6*9)+(5*9)+(4*8)          

10+8+6+5+4

=237/33  = 7.18

What is CGPA – Cumulative Grade Point Average Overall academic performance of all semesters

It is calculated by multiplying SGPA of all semester with their respective credits and then divided by total credits. It is average of all SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average)

Formula is CGPA = (SGPA*Credits)

Total Credits

E.g.  B tech has 8 semesters in 4 years. SCPA received in each semester will not help to ascertain the overall performance. CGPA is used to check the overall performance.

Difference between SGPA and CGPA

Benefits-

• CGPA is used by universities to assess the performance, like consistency, discipline of students during entire durance of course.
• Employer/ Companies also consider this as a tool for initial screening in campus interviews.
• Helps in reducing the stress. This measures the overall performance which incudes assignment, attendance, and long-term period. This reduces the stress of achieving of perfect marks all the time.
• Highlights strength and weakness of students.
• Good CGPA helps in getting scholarships

Conversion to Percentage  

Conversion factor may change from university to university. Based on scales different conversion factors are used.

• Approximation conversion factor for 10-point scale is 9.5.  CGPA is converted by multiplying with 9.5 . CGPA *9.5
• Approximation conversion factor for 4-point scale is 25. CGPA is converted by multiplying with 25. CGPA *25

E.g is as below-

Final Summary

CGPA is considered all over the world. This is the bridge of grading different formats across universities of the world. Scale typically varies from country to country. It is based on different scales. For e.g. 4, 5,7 10 etc. It has become an important tool for assessing the performance of students.