Colleges and universities worldwide have their systems for rating students’ academic achievements. In India, students are given percentages that place them in distinct divisions. In contrast, the United States uses a 4 GPA (Grade Point Average), and Europe uses a 10-CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) to evaluate applicants. Therefore, students who wish to study abroad sometimes need a percentage to GPA conversion to get an idea of the GPA. This blog will take you through converting percentages into GPAs in detail.
Understanding GPA & Percentage
GPA (Grade Point Average) and the Indian percentage system are two different ways of representing a student’s academic performance. These have different calculation methods, and hence, it’s important to know these correctly in the first place. Let’s have a look at them in detail:
GPA System
In the GPA system, each letter grade is assigned a numerical value, typically on a scale of 0 to 4.0.
Common grade point values:
| A | 4.0 |
| B | 3.0 |
| C | 2.0 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
There are a few common GPA scales used in different academic systems:
1) 4.0 Scale:
- This is the most widely used GPA scale, particularly in the United States.
- Grades are assigned values from 0 to 4.0, with 4.0 representing the highest grade (usually an A).
- Common grade points: A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, D=1.0, F=0.0.
- A GPA of 4.0 indicates a perfect straight-A average.
2) 5.0 Scale:
- It is used in countries like Canada, Russia, and certain institutions.
- Grades range from 0 to 5.0, with 5.0 being the highest grade.
- Typical grade points: A=5.0, B=4.0, C=3.0, D=2.0, F=1.0.
- Allows for more granularity in the highest grade range compared to the 4.0 scale.
3) 10.0 Scale:
- Common in some European and South Asian countries.
- Grades range from 0 to 10.0, with 10.0 being the highest grade.
- Example: 10=A+, 9=A, 8=B, 7=C, 6=D, below 6=fail.
- Provides more differentiation across grade levels.
The 4.0 scale remains the most prevalent, but different institutions and countries may use different scales based on their grading policies. Conversion between scales is sometimes required for students moving across academic systems.
To calculate GPA, the grade points for each course are multiplied by the number of credit hours for that course, and then the sum of these products is divided by the total number of credit hours attempted.
Example: If a student takes 4 courses (3 credits each) and gets A, B, B, C, their GPA would be:
(4.0 x 3 + 3.0 x 3 + 3.0 x 3 + 2.0 x 3) / (3 + 3 + 3 + 3) = 3.0 GPA
Indian Percentage System:
In the Indian system, marks or grades are typically represented as percentages.
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total marks obtained by the maximum possible marks and multiplying by 100.
Example: If a student scores 85 out of 150 marks in a subject, their percentage would be (85/150) x 100 = 56%.
The overall percentage is usually calculated by taking the average of the percentages across all subjects.
Example: If a student gets 80%, 85%, 90%, and 75% in four subjects, their overall percentage would be (80 + 85 + 90 + 75) / 4 = 82.5%.
While the GPA system is more common in the United States and some other countries, the Indian percentage system is widely used in India and some other parts of the world. Given below are the percentages and the remarks for each:
| Percentage Obtained | Division |
| 75% and above | Distinction |
| 60-75 % | First Division |
| 50-60 % | Second Division |
| 40-50 % | Third Division |
Why Is Percentage To GPA Conversion Needed?
Using a percentage-to-GPA converter, students, applicants, and academic institutions can ensure that academic achievements are properly translated and understood, regardless of the grading system used, facilitating a smoother transition between different educational systems or job markets. Here are 3 points why a percentage to GPA conversion is needed:
- Many universities and colleges in countries using the GPA system require applicants’ academic records to be in the form of a GPA, necessitating conversion from percentage grades.
- When applying to graduate programmes like master’s or doctoral degrees, students from percentage-based systems must convert their grades to GPAs as per the admission requirements.
- Scholarships and grants, particularly those offered by institutions using the GPA system, often have GPA criteria, making a conversion from percentages crucial for eligibility and evaluation.
Percentage To GPA Conversion: Step-By-Step Method
Percentage to GPA conversion is the process of translating a student’s academic performance from a percentage grading system to a Grade Point Average (GPA) system. The conversion process typically involves mapping the percentage ranges to the corresponding GPA values based on a predefined scale. Here’s an example of how to convert percentage to GPA:
Let’s assume the following percentage-to-GPA conversion scale:
| Percentage Range | GPA |
| 90-100% | 4.0 (A) |
| 80-89% | 3.5 (B+) |
| 70-79% | 3.0 (B) |
| 60-69% | 2.5 (C+) |
| 50-59% | 2.0 (D) |
| 40-49% | 1.5 (D) |
| Below 40% | 0.0 (F) |
Now, let’s consider a student who has the following percentage grades:
| Subject 1 | 92% |
| Subject 2 | 85% |
| Subject 3 | 73% |
| Subject 4 | 68% |
To convert these percentages to GPAs, we would use the above scale:
1. Subject 1 (92%): This falls in the 90-100% range, so the GPA would be 4.0 (A).
2. Subject 2 (85%): This falls in the 80-89% range, so the GPA would be 3.5 (B+).
3. Subject 3 (73%): This falls in the 70-79% range, so the GPA would be 3.0 (B).
4. Subject 4 (68%): This falls in the 60-69% range, so the GPA would be 2.5 (C+).
To calculate the overall GPA, you would take the sum of the grade points (4.0 + 3.5 + 3.0 + 2.5 = 13.0) and divide it by the total number of courses (4 in this case), resulting in an overall GPA of 3.25.
It’s important to note that the percentage-to-GPA conversion scales may vary between institutions and countries, so it’s essential to use the appropriate scale for the specific academic system or organisation you’re applying to.
Fortunately, thanks to the wonders of the internet, a student no longer has to worry about how to convert percentages to GPA. There are numerous websites that offer ‘GPA to Percentage’ calculators and help you avoid mistakes.
Important Things To Keep In Mind About GPA
Now that you know how to calculate a GPA, you must also know the important things that are helpful in calculating it. Let’s get to know them:
1. Advantages Of Using A GPA
To fully appreciate the advantages of using a GPA, you must first comprehend the scope of its popularity or acceptance. The Grade Point Average, or GPA, is a measure of how well you performed academically over a given term or semester. The GPA is the major scoring system in institutions in North America (the United States and Canada), Europe, and Australia, despite its global acceptance. It’s also worth noting that the GPA is used as a gauge of comparison and a universal standard in other countries with different grading systems.
2. Weighted vs Unweighted GPA Scale
Most colleges throughout the world use the 4-GPA, which is also known as the Unweighted GPA. However, other high schools employ a 5-GPA, which is less popular because it takes into account the difficulty of the course content.
3. Using The Right Calculator
Miscalculations can have a detrimental impact on your admissions process, thus it’s critical that you obtain the exact conversion of your results. As a result, it is recommended that you conduct research on reputable websites that provide conversion services and compare your findings to your understanding of the procedure.
How To Convert GPA Into Percentage?
Each year, universities announce their minimum GPA requirements for admissions. Because most of our country’s institutes use the percentage (per cent) scoring system, it’s critical for students aspiring to pursue higher education abroad to understand how to convert GPA into percentages in India to know where they stand. The number is derived using a relatively easy calculation.
The GPA scale comprises four points, each of which requires a value. For a percentage score of 100, you must accommodate 4 points within the 100, dividing 100 by 4, giving you 25 points to 1 GPA. Finally, to calculate your GPA, divide the percentage you obtained by 100 and multiply it by 4.
So, your Grade Point Average = (percentage scored /100) * 4
What Is A Good GPA?
A GPA of 3.0 to 3.5 is usually considered promising for admission to most international universities. A GPA of less than three may get you into your preferred college, but it may make it difficult to acquire financial aid for your courses there.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between CGPA and GPA?
GPA represents the average grade point achieved by a student in a specific semester, while CGPA represents the cumulative average of all the GPA scores obtained in multiple semesters. Therefore, it is the CGPA that tends to be higher as it encompasses a broader range of grades.
2. What is the maximum CGPA?
The highest cumulative grade point average (CGPA) generally falls between 9.5 and 10 Grade Points.
3. What is the difference between the percentage grades and numerical grades?
The GPA grading system uses numerical grades to evaluate a student’s performance. A numeric grade is typically assigned a value between 0 and 4, with 4 being the highest possible score. To calculate percentage grades, the total number of marks is multiplied by 100 and then divided by the total number of marks determined.
4. How much is a 3.5 GPA in percentage?
On a 4.0 scale, a GPA of 3.5 depicts 89-90%, whereas on a 10.0 grading scale, this GPA calculates to 35%.
5. How do you convert GPA to 10.0 scale?
To convert your percentage to GPA on a 10.0 scale, you can simply divide your percentage by 9.5, i.e. GPA on 10.0 scale= Percentage/9.5.
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