The method of evaluation of the students’ grades in Indian colleges and universities is very different compared to universities in the US. In Indian institutes, results are prepared and represented in the form of percentages or CGPA. However, the results in most US universities are expressed by using the GPA method. Indian CGPA is similar to USA’s GPA, except for in CGPA, the result is expressed on a scale of 0 to 10, while in the GPA method, it is expressed using a scale of 4.0
If you plan to acquire higher education in the US, this blog is for you. Knowing your results in terms of USs GPA is essential for you to proceed in the direction of your dreams. This discussion focuses on the ways to convert your result in percentage to CGPA and CGPA grades into a percentage. We will also discuss how to convert Indian percentage and CGPA into a 4.0 scale GPA, which is the method of result representation used in most US and Canadian universities.
CGPA Grading System
CGPA stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average. It is the grade a student gets for a special course in terms of a decimal number. It determines how well a student performed in the exam for the course.
Marks are usually expressed in percentage form. Grades in the form of letters are assigned to a specific range of percentages. These letters can be A, B, C, D or F. A is the highest grade one can get, and F is the lowest grade, indicating that the student failed the exam.
There is a grade assigned to a specific range of GPA scores. The range is determined by the scale used and the country. This grading system is used in many different countries to express students’ results in various graduate, undergraduate, and high school exams. Given below is a grading system table for some major countries.
Percentage and CGPA System of India
India’s grading system uses a scale of 7 or 10, which, as discussed above, is different from the grading system used in the USA and some other countries. Apart from the CGPA grading system, many universities in India express results in the form of a percentage. Some leading institutes of India, like NIT and IIT, follow their own grading system.
The percentage is divided into four divisions according to the Indian percentage system.
- Distinction: 75% and above
- First Division: 60% to 75%
- Second Division: 50% to 60%
- Third Division: 40% to 50%
How To Convert The Percentage to CGPA?
- The method of converting CGPA to a percentage may vary from one institute to another.
- One method to convert CGPA to percentage is CGPA = (percentage/90)*10. Another method is to multiply your CGPA by 9.5. Therefore the formula for this method is percentage = CGPA * 9.5. Suppose your CGPA is 8. Your percentage will be 8 * 9.5 = 76%.
- To convert your percentage to a CGPA scale of 10, you can divide your percentage by 9.5. You will get your CGPA. Therefore, the formula is CGPA = Percentage/9.5. For example, if your percentage is 70, your CGPA is 70/9.5 = 7.3 (approx).
- You can also use online conversion calculators for both of these calculations if you are in a hurry.
University-wise Grading Systems
As discussed above, many top Indian universities have their own grading systems. The calculations, therefore, change as the grading systems change. You can find an online calculator on the websites of these universities, which you can use to calculate your GPA.
Let us look at how to convert the results of major Indian universities to percentages.
- Mumbai University (MU): Mumbai University in 2018 updated the CGPA to a percentage conversion system. Currently, Mumbai University employs a different point scale for various courses. A 7-point scale is used for expressing the results in streams such as Pure Science, Commerce, or Arts. It represents an estimated aggregate of total marks a student has obtained. For some other courses like Engineering, a 10-point scale system is used. The formula for converting CGPA to percentage in this system is percentage = 7.25 * CGPA + 11. Suppose if you obtained a CGPA of 8.5 in the exam, your percentage would be calculated by 7.25 * 8.5 + 11 = 72.6
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University (MAKAUT): This university uses a 7-point grading system, so there is a different method to convert their grades into CGPA. To calculate the percentage, you need to subtract the CGPA by 0.75 and multiply it by 10. Therefore, the formula is, Percentage = (CGPA – 0.75) * 10. The same formula can be employed to calculate the results of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) as they follow the same 7-point grading system.
- APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU): They use a 10-point grading scale. To calculate CGPA from this grading system, there is a unique formula. First, you need to apply a formula to determine your CGPA, which can then be converted into a percentage. Before knowing about the formula, you should be acquainted with two things— Ci and GPi. Ci is a credit given to a particular course, while GPi is the grade point of the course. The formula to calculate the CGPA is Sum of (Ci * GPi)/Sum of (Ci). Because this calculation is for every course a student registered in the program, failed courses also need to be included in calculating the CGPA in this system.
Formula for calculating the percentage, Percentage = 10 * CGPA – 3.75
- Anna University: According to the grading system of this university, if the maximum of the paper is 100 and the topper in that paper scores 90, these 90 marks are considered 100% result. If a student gets 65 marks on the exam, his CGPA will be 100/90 * 65 = 72.2. Therefore, it can be said that the CGPA is 7.2 on a scale of 10. The percentage can be calculated by multiplying CGPA by 9.5
- Gujarat Technological University (GTU): To calculate the percentage from CGPA, it needs to be subtracted by 0.5. Then, multiply the result by 10. The formula, therefore, is, Percentage = (CGPA – 0.5) * 10
How to Convert Indian CGPA to GPA?
As discussed above, the Indian CGPA is quite different from the GPA system used in the US. The major difference is that Indian educational institutions mostly use 7 or 10 scale systems, while US universities use a GPA scale of 4. If you want to apply for admission to a university in the US, you need to know your grades in the GPA system. Let us look at the methods that can be used to calculate it.
The formula for calculating ten scale CGPA to 4 scale GPA,
4 scale GPA = (10 scale CGPA / Batch toppers CGPA on the scale of 10) * 4
For example, If your CGPA is six and the batch topper’s CGPA is 9, the formula will be (6/9) * 4. So, the GPA on a scale of 4 will be,
4 scale GPA = (6/9) * 4 = 2.6 (approx)
You can also use an online CGPA to GPA calculator to calculate your four-scale GPA from a ten-scale CGPA
FAQs
1. Why do we need grading systems?
The main aim of using grading systems is to assess the academic performance of a student at school. Grading systems are used by schools and other educational institutions worldwide. They are considered the most viable techniques to evaluate a child’s grasping capacity and reciprocating abilities. A few years back, the grading system used in most educational institutions in India was based on percentage. However, since 2010 there has been a major change in this system. Presently, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a country level education board, relies on the CGPA mode of grading system using either a seven scale system or a one scale grading system.
2. What are CGPA and GPA?
1. CGPA: The full form of CGPA is Cumulative Grade Point Average. It is an important grading system used in India to indicate a student’s overall academic performance in a given year. First, the mean GPA of the semesters is calculated, which is then divided by the total number of credits. CGPA and GPA are denoted by a numerical value, unlike percentages and different grades assigned under the Indian grading system.
2. GPA: The full form of GPA is Grade Point Average. It is an important method used to calculate a student’s average score obtained over a particular period, like a semester or a term. It is calculated by dividing the average points of a student by the total number of credit hours attended by the student.
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of CGPA and percentage systems?
The CGPA grading system gives a comprehensive assessment of the students’ performance in multiple subjects. Students can work on their weaknesses and convert those into their strengths through hard work and dedication based on their grade points. They get acquainted with the areas of the syllabus they are weak in and get a chance to work on those and score higher grades in the next exam.
The best thing that the grading system does is that it helps maintain a healthy competition by focusing on grades relative to the performance of other students and not specifically on the marks or the rank obtained by the student. With no specific marks or rank, students get an opportunity to concentrate on their holistic academic development rather than trying to score the highest marks by mugging up their course subjects and doing all-nighters.
On the other hand, the percentage is a combined way of calculating the marks obtained in different subjects. Both CGPA and percentage systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. Certain universities have adopted the CGPA grading systems, while others still work on the system of percentages.
4. Is the grading system better than marks?
The grading system is better than marks as it lowers the students’ anxiety levels during examinations and keeps their minds healthy, which is necessary for a healthy competition. Many students get anxious and fall prey to psychological problems if they get fewer marks in the exams. They start doubting themselves and underestimating their potential. Stressing over every mark increases their susceptibility to developing depression and other mental health problems.
On the other hand, securing a good grade is less challenging. The precision with which the results are presented in the percentage of marks system is acceptable for subjects like Maths, but for subjects like English and History, the grading system is better. With the evolution of new advances in the education system, India’s method of expression of results is changing to the grading system. Such steps that work toward benefitting the students’ mental health should be welcome. The only thing is that every board in the country should consider adopting this system, ensuring a uniform education system all over the country.
5. What are three facts about the US grading system?
1. Every time a student submits an assignment, the teacher puts a letter on top of it to indicate how poor or well the student did on the assignment. A is the highest grade, while F is the lowest or failing grade.
2. The grades are often linked to a quality point. It is the quantitative representation of a grade that helps to calculate the GPA
3. There is no E grade. The grades range from A to F.
Conclusion
Having gone through the whole discussion, you will now be able to calculate your GPA based on your Indian percentage or CGPA grade. You are also acquainted with the basic differences between the CGPA and the GPA systems, which will be helpful for you if you want to continue your higher studies at universities abroad.
Also See:
