What is Cumulative GPA
Reviewed By : Rajashekhar Valipishetty
Last Updated at : Mar 28,2023
If you are searching all over the web regarding What is Cumulative GPA & How to Calculate Cumulative GPA you have come the right way. In this article of ours, we will explain all information regarding What is Cumulative GPA used for, the basic differences between CGPA and GPA, and Solved Examples on Calculating GPA in the later sections. Read more to find everything related to CGPA here.
What is Cumulative GPA?
A Cumulative GPA is nothing but the average of all your Semester GPAs in your college or high school. It is nothing but combining all the semester GPAs into one GPA. Cumulative GPA denotes the grades of all the semesters whereas GPA refers to the average of grades in a particular semester.
What is Cumulative GPA used for?
Cumulative GPA is used to measure success and consistency. Colleges and Universities use this as a metric to decide if you can succeed in the university or not. Cumulative GPA can be used to decide your graduation eligibility, class rank as well as honors eligibility.
Employers can use this to decide if you are a good fit for their organization. Although they use various other factors to decide your application a Cumulative GPA can be used to compare your candidature compared to other candidates. A Cumulative GPA can give an idea about your track record, unlike a GPA which takes into account the performance for a specific period.
How to Calculate Cumulative GPA?
Follow the simple procedure to find Cumulative GPA by hand here. They are along the lines
- First and foremost step to keep in mind before you Calculate Cumulative GPA is to get the GPA for each semester and the number of credit hours for each semester.
- Next step is to obtain the total credit points and you can get them by multiplying the semester’s GPA with credit hours.
- Now find out the total credit hours and cumulative total points.
- Last and final step you need to follow is to divide the total points by total credit hours which is nothing but the semester average for all the grades you got.
Example of Cumulative GPA Calculation
Let's say you want to calculate your cumulative GPA for four semesters. During semester A, you had a 4.0 GPA with 14 credit hours. During semester B, you earned a 3.0 GPA with 13 credit hours. During semester C, you earned a 3.5 GPA with 10 credit hours. During semester D, you earned a 3.2 GPA with 14 credit hours.
Solution:
Firstly, let us observe the given data
Semester A: 4.0 GPA, 14 credit hours
Semester B: 3.0 GPA, 13 credit hours
Semester C: 3.5 GPA, 10 credit hours
Semester D: 3.2 GPA, 14 credit hours
Now let us find the total credit points you obtain each semester by multiplying GPA and Credit hours in each of them i.e.
Semester A: 4.0 x 14 = 56 total points
Semester B: 3.0 x 13 = 39 total points
Semester C: 3.5 x 10 = 35 total points
Semester D: 3.2 x 14 = 44.8 total points
Now find the total credit hours = 14+13+10+14 = 51
Total Credit Points = 56+39+35+44.8
= 174.8
Let us divide the total points with total credit hours to obtain the Cumulative GPA i.e. 174.8/51 = 3.42
Therefore, cumulative GPA is 3.42
Difference between Cumulative GPA and GPA
There is no big difference between Cumulative GPA and Overall GPA. GPA is nothing but the Grade Point Average. Cumulative GPA is the Grade Point Average of all the grades you can get in your semesters all throughout the course. However, GPA is nothing but the average of grades you secure in a particular semester.
Grades denote the varying levels of performance in the subject. The majority of the Graduate and Post Graduate Institutes measure the student's performance in terms of grades. Grades are denoted by the letters A, B, C, D, or F. Various institutes rely on different grading systems and scales.
|
Letter Grade |
Percentage Grade |
Grade Point |
|
A/A+ |
93-100% |
4.0 |
|
A- |
90-92% |
3.7 |
|
B+ |
87-89% |
3.3 |
|
B |
83-86% |
3.0 |
|
B- |
80-82% |
2.7 |
|
C+ |
77-79% |
2.3 |
|
C |
73-76% |
2.0 |
|
C- |
70-72% |
1.7 |
|
D+ |
67-69% |
1.3 |
|
D |
65-66% |
1.0 |
|
F |
Below 65% |
0.0 |
FAQs on Cumulative GPA
1. What does Cumulative GPA mean?
A Cumulative GPA is nothing but the average grade points you get combining all the semesters in an academic year.
2. What is the highest Cumulative GPA?
The Highest Cumulative GPA you can achieve is 4.0
3. How to find your Cumulative GPA?
You can find your Cumulative GPA by dividing the Total Credit Points You Earned by Total Credit Hours.
Summary
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