The two most widely used grading schemes worldwide for assessing academic performance in schools, colleges, and universities are CGPA and SGPA. Although a student's academic success is measured using both terms, their definitions and calculation methods differ.

This guide will clarify the meaning, calculation process, and main distinctions between CGPA and SGPA.

What is SGPA?

The weighted average of a student's subject grades for a semester determines the semester grade point average (SGPA). SGPA shows how well a student performed on average throughout that term.

How is the SGPA determined?

The formula to calculate SGPA is:

SGPA=	∑(CreditPoints×GradePoints)​
	∑(CreditPoints)​

Were, 

• Points are given to students for each grade they receive in their subjects.
• Credits are the total number of hours spent on coursework + homework.

Before calculating the total, grade points are multiplied by credits. For every subject, the credit total is computed independently. The SGPA for a particular semester is then calculated after taking into consideration both of these factors.

Example Calculation-

Subject	Grade Points	Credits	Total (Grade Points × Credits)
Math	9	4	36
Science	8	3	24
English	7	2	14

Total Credits = 4 + 3 + 2 = 9

Total Points = 36 + 24 + 14 = 74

SGPA=74/9=8.22

SGPA = \frac {74}{9} = 8.22

SGPA=97/4​=8.22

What is CGPA?

The cumulative grade point average, or CGPA, is the average of the SGPAs obtained for a semester. It symbolizes a student's overall academic achievement during the program.

How is the CGPA determined?

• Step 1: Determine grade points by using the UGC-approved grades.
• Step 2: Add up all of the grade points.
• Step 3: Add up all of the subjects.
• Step 4: Determine the CGPA

The formula to calculate CGPA is-

CGPA =	∑(SGPA× Semester Credits)
	∑(Total Semester Credits)

Example Calculation:

Semester	SGPA	Total Credits
Semester 1	8.22	25
Semester 2	7.85	24
Semester 3	8.10	26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Credits = 25 + 24 + 26 = 75

CGPA= (8.22×25) +(7.85×24) +(8.10×26)/ 75

CGPA=205.5+188.4+210.6/75=604.5/75=8.06

Differences between CGPA and SGPA-

To assess an applicant's academic achievement, universities and other educational organizations utilize the CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) and SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) marking schemes. However, they gauge efficiency, breadth, time frame, and methodology.

Key distinctions between SGPA and CGPA-

Full form-

• Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA).
• CGPA: Definition of Cumulative Grade Point Average.

Definition-

• The SGPA represents the average grade points earned in a single semester.
• The CGPA is the mean of all SGPA throughout the course.

Scope-

• The SGPA assesses performance throughout a given semester.
• Throughout the course, CGPA assesses long-term performance.

Duration-

• After every semester, the SGPA is determined.
• After the entire course or program, the CGPA is determined.

Significance-

• SGPA aids in comprehending performance for a specific semester.
• When applying for scholarships, jobs, and higher education, CGPA is more critical.

Method of calculation-

• The sum of the grade points obtained throughout a semester is divided by the total number of credit points to determine the SGPA.
• The average of all SGPA earned across semesters is used to compute CGPA.

Aspect	SGPA	CGPA
Time Frame	Single Semester	Entire Course Duration
Calculation	Average of one semester's grades	Average of all semesters' grades
Frequency	Calculated after each semester	Calculated at the end of the course
Purpose	Short-term academic performance	Overall academic performance
Importance	Helps monitor semester progress	Used for final academic evaluation and admissions

What common errors should you avoid while choosing the SGPA and CGPA calculator?

Using the appropriate SGPA and CGPA calculator is crucial to guarantee an accurate assessment of academic performance. Many students utilize online calculators to avoid doing calculations by hand; nevertheless, using the incorrect calculator or misusing it can produce unreliable results. When selecting an SGPA and CGPA calculator, you should steer clear of the following typical mistakes-

• Ignoring the calculating formula- Grading schemes vary throughout universities. Verify that the calculator adheres to the grading scheme used by your school.
• Ignoring credit points- Certain calculators only take grade points into account and disregard credit points. Make sure the calculator you choose lets you enter both credit and grade points for every course.
• Wrong grading system selection universities have custom grading systems like:

• A+ = 10, A = 9

• A = 4, B = 3 (for 4.0 GPA system)

Choose a calculator that offers the option to select your grading system.

• Calculators that use percentages, such as SGPA and CGPA, are determined using grade points rather than percentages.  Steer clear of calculators that need percentage marks rather than grade points.
• Not checking the credit system- Some classes provide all subjects the same number of credits, while others give them varying amounts according to the significance of the subjects.  Verify that the calculator permits the assignment of various credit points for every course.
• Ignoring semester weighting- Certain courses provide varying weights to distinct semesters.  Select a CGPA calculator with semester-by-semester credit points.
• Ignoring instructions prevents data entry errors; always read the calculator's instructions and examples.
• Absence of manual authentication- Using online resources only without manually confirming the outcome may result in mistakes. Verify your findings by comparing them to the standard formula.

How to Effectively Use SGPA and CGPA?

Despite their significant differences, SGPA and CGPA serve the same function at the year's or semester's end. Realizing that these two indicators are still calculated independently, they are employed for a few similar objectives.

• Students can monitor their entire school performance using their SGPA and CGPA. In the event of excellent academic achievement, students might incorporate efficient time management techniques or increase their cognitive capacity by employing specific hints and methods.
• Based on their final CGPA or SGPA, determine their areas of weakness and coping mechanisms. They can use techniques like improving their focus while studying for a few courses.
• Based on present performance and grades, determine which courses have a better chance of performing well in the future. Improve your ability to communicate with peers and seniors to address this issue and raise your CGPA or SGPA.
• Discover the best strategy for acing tests and achieving excellent scores without accumulating exam backlogs, which could lower your CGPA and SGPA.
• Maintain consistency in your work to achieve high CGPAs or SGPAs. Put in much effort, and do not take it easy on your tests.

Conclusion

Although SGPA and CGPA are significant indicators for assessing academic achievement, they have different uses. While CGPA thoroughly evaluates the educational journey, SGPA only considers short-term performance.

Universities frequently request your CGPA as a standard indicator of your academic performance when you apply for higher education overseas. Comprehending the distinction between these two will enable you to showcase your educational record appropriately.

FAQs on CGPA and SGPA

Q.1 What is the complete form of SGPA and CGPA?

Ans- Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) are two different acronyms.

Q.2 What is the main difference between SGPA and CGPA?

Ans- SGPA represents the average grade points earned in a single semester, while CGPA represents the overall grade points earned across all semesters.

Q.3 Which is more critical – SGPA or CGPA?

Ans- CGPA is more critical as it reflects the student's overall academic performance throughout the entire course.

Q.4 How is SGPA calculated?

Ans- SGPA is calculated by dividing the total grade points earned in a semester by the total credit points of that semester.

Q.5 How is CGPA calculated?

Ans- CGPA is calculated by averaging the SGPAs of all semesters, weighted by the total credit points of each semester.

Q.6 Can SGPA be converted into CGPA?

Ans- CGPA is the average of all SGPAs earned during the course.

Q.7 Is CGPA calculated every semester?

Ans- No, CGPA is typically calculated only at the end of the entire course.

Q.8 Do all universities follow the same grading system?

Ans- The grading systems vary across universities and countries, so CGPA and SGPA calculation methods may differ.

Q.9 Which grading system is used for international admissions?

Ans- Most universities prefer CGPA to evaluate students' academic performance during international admissions.

Q.10 Can SGPA and CGPA be converted into percentages?

Ans- Most universities follow a standard conversion formula to calculate percentages from CGPA or SGPA.