How to Calculate Your GPA and CGPA (Step by Step)

Your GPA decides scholarships, internships, exchange programmes and graduate admissions, but the way it's calculated is rarely explained clearly. Here's the whole process, from a single semester to your cumulative CGPA.

Step 1: Convert grades to grade points

Each letter grade has a point value. On the common 4.0 scale:

Grade	Points
A	4.0
A−	3.7
B+	3.3
B	3.0
B−	2.7
C+	2.3
C	2.0
D	1.0
F	0.0

Many Pakistani universities use a similar 4.0 scale with values such as A− = 3.67 and B+ = 3.33, and Indian universities often use a 10-point scale. Check your handbook for your university's exact values.

Step 2: Multiply by credit hours

A 4-credit course counts more than a 1-credit lab, so multiply each course's grade points by its credit hours to get quality points.

Course	Grade	Points	Credits	Quality points
Calculus	A	4.0	3	12.0
Physics	B+	3.3	4	13.2
English	B	3.0	3	9.0
Programming	A−	3.7	3	11.1
Total			13	45.3

Step 3: Divide

GPA = total quality points ÷ total credit hours

45.3 ÷ 13 = 3.48.

Calculating CGPA across semesters

Your CGPA is the same calculation over every course you've taken so far. If you already know your CGPA and the credits completed, you can update it like this:

New CGPA = (old CGPA × old credits + this semester's quality points) ÷ (old credits + this semester's credits)

Example: a CGPA of 3.20 over 60 credits, then a 3.50 semester of 15 credits:

(3.20 × 60 + 3.50 × 15) ÷ 75 = (192 + 52.5) ÷ 75 = 3.26.

Notice how a great semester only moves the CGPA a little. The more credits you've completed, the harder it is to change.

How to raise your GPA

• Prioritise high-credit courses. An A in a 4-credit course lifts your GPA more than an A in a 1-credit course.
• Act early. It's much easier to raise a CGPA in your second year than in your last.
• Use retake rules. Some universities replace a failed or low grade when you repeat the course.
• Know your target. The final grade calculator tells you what you need on each final exam.

Do it automatically

The GPA & CGPA calculator does all of this as you type, supports 4.0, 4.3, HEC-style and 10-point scales, and saves your courses in your browser so you can update them every semester. Need a percentage for a form? Use CGPA to percentage.