Understanding CGPA Systems
Learn about different grading systems and how CGPA is calculated
What is CGPA?
CGPA stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average. It is a system used by many universities to measure a student's academic performance over a semester or across multiple semesters.
Key Insight
Instead of showing marks in percentage, CGPA presents a summary of a student's performance in the form of grade points on a scale of 4, 5, or 10.
How CGPA is Calculated
To calculate CGPA:
CGPA = (Sum of Grade Points × Course Credits) / Total Credits
Example Calculation
If you took 3 courses:
- Math – Grade A (8.0), Credits 4
- Physics – Grade B+ (7.0), Credits 3
- English – Grade A+ (9.0), Credits 2
Total Weighted Points = (8×4) + (7×3) + (9×2) = 71
Total Credits = 4 + 3 + 2 = 9
CGPA = 71 ÷ 9 = 7.89
Grading Scales in Education
India has diverse grading systems across universities and colleges. The most common scales are:
| Scale |
Description |
Used By |
| 10-point |
Most common scale in Indian universities |
Delhi University, Mumbai University, VTU |
| 4-point |
Used by some private universities and international programs |
Ashoka University, BITS Pilani (some programs) |
| 5-point |
Used in some technical institutions |
IITs (some departments), NITs |
CGPA Grading System (10-Point Scale)
| Letter Grade |
Grade Point |
Marks Range |
| O (Outstanding) | 10 | 90–100% |
| A+ | 9 | 80–89% |
| A | 8 | 70–79% |
| B+ | 7 | 60–69% |
| B | 6 | 50–59% |
| C | 5 | 40–49% |
| P (Pass) | 4 | 35–39% |
| F (Fail) | 0 | Below 40% |
Converting Between Scales
When applying to international universities, you may need to convert your CGPA:
10-point to 4-point: GPA = (CGPA / 10) × 4
10-point to Percentage: Percentage = CGPA × 9.5
4-point to Percentage: Percentage = (GPA / 4) × 100
Conversion Examples
Example 1: 10-point to 4-point
A CGPA of 8.5 on a 10-point scale would be:
(8.5 / 10) × 4 = 3.4 on a 4-point scale
Example 2: 10-point to Percentage
A CGPA of 7.2 on a 10-point scale would be:
7.2 × 9.5 = 68.4%
College-Specific Grading Systems
Different Indian universities use variations of these scales:
- Delhi University: Uses 10-point scale with grade descriptors (O, A+, A, etc.)
- IITs: Primarily use 10-point scale, but some departments use 5-point scale
- Anna University: Uses 10-point scale with letter grades (S, A, B, etc.)
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU): Uses 9-point scale for evaluation
- Private Universities: Often use 4-point scale to align with international standards
Why College Selection Matters
When you select your college in the calculator:
Automatic Scale Adjustment
The calculator automatically sets the correct grading scale for your institution
Accurate Results
Grade descriptors are adjusted to match your institution's system
Better Conversions
Conversion to other scales becomes more accurate with college-specific data