How CGPA Is Actually Calculated

Most students know CGPA is "the average of your grades," but the actual formula trips people up because it isn't a simple average — it's a credit-weighted average.

SGPA vs CGPA

SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) covers one semester. CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) covers every semester you've completed so far. CGPA isn't just the average of your SGPAs — semesters with more total credits count for more.

The formula

For each semester, multiply that semester's SGPA by its total credits to get "grade points" for that semester. Add up grade points across all semesters, then divide by the total credits across all semesters:

CGPA = (Σ SGPA × Credits) ÷ (Σ Credits)

Why this matters

If one semester had unusually few credits (say, due to a lighter course load), a great SGPA that semester will move your CGPA less than a similar SGPA in a heavier semester. This is why two students with the same list of SGPAs can end up with slightly different CGPAs, if their credit loads differed.

Try it yourself

Use the CGPA Calculator to plug in your semester SGPAs and credits and see your cumulative score instantly.