Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

12 min read

Do you know that 67% of study-abroad alumni secure jobs within six months of graduation? For students like you aiming to study overseas, academic performance plays a key role in creating such opportunities. That’s why understanding how to calculate SGPA is crucial—not just for admissions but also for scholarship applications.

Your Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) provides a clear picture of your academic performance for a given semester. Whether you’re applying to universities in the US or the UK, an accurate SGPA is often a requirement.

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This guide will explain how to calculate SGPA and help you understand the formulas. Dive in!

Key Highlights

CategoryDetails
SGPA FormulaTotal Grade Points / Total Credit Points
Differences: SGPA vs. CGPASGPA: Reflects single semester performance.
CGPA: Overall performance across semesters.
Steps of How to Calculate SGPAGather grades and credits
Organise data in a table
Calculate grade points
Sum and divide
How to Calculate SGPA to Percentage?Percentage = (SGPA / Max Grade Point) * 100

What is SGPA?

SGPA stands for Semester Grade Point Average, a system used to evaluate your performance in each semester of your academic journey. 

Depending on the grading system, universities assign grade points to each course, typically on a scale ranging from 0 to 10 or 0 to 4. Your SGPA is calculated by weighting these grade points according to the credit hours assigned to each course. This ensures that courses with more credit hours, which usually require more effort, contribute more to your overall SGPA.

Why Do We Need to Calculate SGPA?

Calculating SGPA is crucial for students planning to study abroad, as it serves as a primary tool for evaluating academic performance. Whether you’re applying for top universities or aiming for scholarships, understanding your SGPA and calculating SGPA using an SGPA calculator can significantly impact your academic future. 

Here’s why it’s essential to know how to calculate SGPA of a semester.

1. Academic Evaluation

SGPA helps universities assess your semester-wise performance. Many universities, such as Harvard University and the University of Toronto, require consistent academic performance across all semesters. A high SGPA across multiple semesters enhances your chances of getting admitted to these top-tier institutions.​

2. Eligibility for Studying Abroad

 SGPA is crucial in international university admissions. Universities like Stanford and Cambridge evaluate your academic transcripts, focusing on your SGPA for eligibility.

3. Scholarship Applications

Many prestigious scholarships like the Rhodes Scholarship (Oxford University) and DAAD Scholarships (Germany are awarded based on academic merit, and your SGPA often plays a significant role in determining eligibility. 

4. Internship and Job Opportunities

Companies like Google and Microsoft consider SGPA when selecting interns and employees, as it reflects your ability to balance academics and professional commitments. 

5. CGPA Calculation

SGPA contributes directly to your overall CGPA and is used by universities like UCL and UC Berkeley for graduate program evaluations.

6. Personal Academic Planning

Regularly tracking SGPA allows you to set academic goals and improve your performance, boosting your prospects for studying abroad and landing internships. 

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How to Calculate SGPA of a Semester?

Calculating the SGPA for a semester is essential for students who want to monitor their academic progress. This metric helps you understand your performance and influences your academic trajectory, especially if you are planning to study abroad. 

Here’s a structured approach to calculating your SGPA for a semester.

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

  1. Gather Your Grades and Credit Points

Begin by collecting all the grades you received and their corresponding credit points for each course in that semester. This information is typically available on your university’s student portal or academic transcript.

  1. Organise Data in a Table

Create a table to organise the data, making it easier to visualise and calculate. 

Here’s a sample format.

CourseCredit PointsGrade Points (0-10)
Course A49
Course B38
Course C36
Course D210
  1. Calculate the Grade Points for Each Course

For each course, multiply the credit points by the grade points you received. For instance, if you earned a 9 in a 4 credit-point course, the calculation would be

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA
  1. Sum the Total Grade Points

Once you have calculated the grade points for each course, sum them up. For example

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA
  1. Total Credit Points

Add the credit points for all the courses taken during the semester.

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA
  1. Final SGPA Calculation

To find the SGPA, divide the total grade points by the total credit points.

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

This process provides a straightforward method for calculating SGPA, allowing students to effectively assess their academic performance at the end of each semester. 

However, if you want to know how to calculate total SGPA of all semesters, follow these steps.

Step 1: Gather SGPA Data: Collect the SGPA for each semester you want to include in your calculation.

Step 2: Add SGPA Values: Sum up the SGPA from all semesters.

Step 3: Count Semesters: Count the total number of semesters included in your calculation.

Step 4: Divide: Use the formula:
Total SGPA = (Sum of all SGPA) / (Total number of semesters).

How to Calculate CGPA from SGPA?

Now that you know how to calculate SGPA, it’s essential to understand how to convert your SGPA to CGPA. This conversion can help you get a clearer picture of your academic performance over multiple semesters. However, it is essential first to understand the difference between the two. 

Here’s a clear comparison.

AspectSGPACGPA
DefinitionThe average for one semesterThe average across all semesters
CalculationBased on grades for a semesterAverage of all SGPA values
PurposeMeasures semester performanceReflects overall academic performance
UsageImportant for course passingUsed for graduation and applications
ScaleTypically 0-10Typically, 0-10 or a percentage

To calculate your CGPA, you need to find the average of your SGPAs across all semesters in a given academic year. Here’s the formula:

CGPA = (Sum of all semester SGPAs in an academic year) ÷ Number of semesters

Here is an example.

Let’s say your SGPA in the 1st semester is 8, and in the 2nd semester is 7. To calculate your CGPA for the first year, use the formula

CGPA = (First Semester SGPA + Second Semester SGPA) ÷ Number of semesters

CGPA = (8 + 7) ÷ 2 = 7.5

So, your CGPA for the first year would be 7.5.

How to Calculate SGPA from Marks?

If you’re wondering how to calculate your SGPA from your marks, don’t worry—it’s easier than it sounds! All you have to do is take the grades you’ve earned in each subject and the credit points for those subjects, then do a quick calculation. It’s a simple way to see how well you’re doing overall.        

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this effectively.

Step 1: Gather Your Marks and Credit Points

Start by collecting your marks for each subject along with the respective credit points. This information can typically be found in your semester results or academic records. For example, assume the following grades and credit points.

SubjectMarks ObtainedCredit Points
Subject A854
Subject B783
Subject C923
Subject D702

Step 2: Convert Marks to Grade Points

The next step is to convert your marks into grade points based on your institution’s grading scale. Many universities use a scale of 0 to 10. 

Below is a standard conversion scale.

Marks RangeGrade Points
90-10010
80-899
70-798
60-697
50-596
40-495
0-390

Using this scale, you can convert the marks from the previous table to grade points.

Subject/ Marks ObtainedCredit PointsGrade Points
Subject A: 8549
Subject B: 7838
Subject C: 92310
Subject D: 7028

Step 3: Multiply Credit Points by Grade Points

For each subject, multiply the credit points by the corresponding grade points.

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

Step 4: Sum All the Results

Add all the results from the previous step to get the Total Grade Points.

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

Step 5: Calculate Total Credit Points

Next, add up all the credit points from each subject.

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

Step 6: Calculate SGPA

Finally, divide the total grade points by the total credit points to find the SGPA.

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

How to calculate SGPA to Percentage?

Calculating your SGPA as a percentage is crucial if you want to understand your academic performance in a more familiar format. Converting your SGPA to a percentage gives you a clearer picture of your overall achievement, especially when applying to universities or scholarships requiring percentage scores.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to do this.

Conversion Formula

The formula for converting SGPA to percentage generally follows this pattern.

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

For most cases, the minimum grade point is 0, and the maximum is 10. Thus, the formula is simplified to
Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

This means if you have an SGPA of 8.5, your percentage would be

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

Example Calculation

Let’s say you have an SGPA of 7.2. To convert this into a percentage:

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

Common Errors to Avoid While Calculating SGPA

Calculating SGPA can be straightforward, but it’s easy to make mistakes. Here are some common errors that you should avoid to ensure accurate calculations.

  1. Incorrect Credit Point Assignment

Always verify that credit points assigned to each subject are accurate. Using the wrong credit value can significantly skew the final SGPA. For example, if a course is worth 4 credit points but is mistakenly entered as 3, it can lead to an incorrect average.

  1. Miscalculating Grade Points

Ensure that grade points align with your institution’s grading scale. For instance, if your university uses a scale of 0-10, input grades accordingly. Double-check that the grades reflect your actual performance in each course.

  1. Neglecting to Sum Correctly

When adding the total scores from each subject, it’s vital to perform the arithmetic accurately. A simple miscalculation can lead to a misleading total score, affecting the SGPA.

  1. Forgetting to Consider All Subjects

Sometimes, students may overlook including all subjects in their calculations, especially if they have taken additional electives or labs. Ensure that all courses for the semester are accounted for in the SGPA calculation.

  1. Not Using the Correct Formula

The formula for SGPA is:

Simple Guide on How to Calculate SGPA

Misunderstanding or misapplying this formula can lead to incorrect results. It’s essential to divide the total score by the sum of all credit points accurately.

  1. Not Reviewing Calculations

After completing the calculation, always review your work. Cross-checking against your grades and credit points can help identify any discrepancies before finalising your SGPA.

  1. Ignoring Institutional Guidelines

Different institutions may have specific guidelines for calculating SGPA. Always refer to your university’s grading policy to ensure compliance with their requirements.

  1. Using Outdated or Incorrect Information

Always use your university’s most current grading scale and credit point system. Policies can change, so verify the information from your institution’s official resources.

Understanding how to calculate SGPA is essential for tracking your academic performance, primarily if you aim to study abroad. 


So whether you’re planning your next academic move or preparing your application, Leap Scholar is here to guide you every step of the way –  from choosing the right university to visa assistance, SOP review, and so much more. Connect with us now!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q. What is SGPA, and how to calculate SGPA?

    A. SGPA stands for Semester Grade Point Average, representing the average of grade points earned in a semester. To calculate SGPA, use the formula SGPA = (Total Grade Points) / (Total Credit Points). First, gather your grades and their corresponding credit points for each subject. Multiply the grade points by the credits for each subject, sum these values, and then divide by the total credit points for that semester. This will give you your SGPA.

  • Q. How to find SGPA?

    A. To find SGPA, collect the grades for all subjects in the semester along with their credit points. Convert your grades into grade points based on your institution’s grading system. Apply the formula: SGPA = (Total Grade Points) / (Total Credit Points). This process allows you to assess your academic performance for that semester accurately.

  • Q. Is there an SGPA calculator available?

    A. Yes, various online tools can help you calculate SGPA easily. SGPA calculator typically requires you to enter your grades and corresponding credit points. They will then compute the SGPA for you, making it a convenient option if you want a quick calculation without manual effort.

  • Q. How to calculate SGPA of a semester?

    A. To calculate the SGPA of a semester, start by listing all the subjects you’ve taken, along with their grades and credit points. Convert the grades to grade points using your institution’s scale. Then, apply the formula: SGPA = (Total Grade Points) / (Total Credit Points). This will provide you with the average grade point for that semester, allowing you to gauge your academic standing.

  • Q. How to calculate SGPA from marks?

    A. To calculate SGPA from marks, first, convert your marks into grade points based on your institution’s grading scale. Then, multiply each grade point by the corresponding credit points for that subject. Finally, use the formula SGPA = (Total Grade Points) / (Total Credit Points). This method provides a direct correlation between your actual marks and your SGPA.

  • Q. What is the difference between SGPA and CGPA?

    A. SGPA is focused on the performance within a single semester, providing a snapshot of your academic success during that period. In contrast, CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) reflects the overall average across multiple semesters, giving you a broader view of your academic journey. Understanding both is essential for tracking progress and making improvements

  • Q. How to calculate total SGPA of all semesters?

    A. To calculate the total SGPA of all semesters, you need to first determine the SGPA for each semester individually. Then, sum all the semester SGPA values and divide by the total number of semesters. This average will give you the cumulative performance over your entire academic career, which is useful for assessing your overall progress.

  • Q. Why is it important to calculate SGPA?

    A. Calculating SGPA is crucial for assessing your academic performance each semester. It helps you understand how well you’re doing in your courses and allows you to identify areas where you may need improvement. Additionally, a higher SGPA can enhance your eligibility for scholarships, internships, and job opportunities after graduation.

  • Q. Can SGPA impact my overall CGPA?

    A. Yes, SGPA plays a significant role in determining your overall CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average). Since CGPA is calculated by averaging the SGPA across all semesters, each semester’s performance directly affects your cumulative score. Maintaining a good SGPA is essential for achieving a strong CGPA by the end of your degree.

  • Q. How can I improve my SGPA?

    A. To improve your SGPA, focus on effective study techniques such as time management, active learning, and regular revision. Attend classes consistently, participate actively, and seek help from professors or peers when needed. Developing a study plan tailored to your learning style can also help boost your grades and, consequently, your SGPA.

  • Q. What if my SGPA is low?

    A. If your SGPA is low, don’t be discouraged. Analyse the reasons behind your performance, whether it’s difficulty with specific subjects or study habits. Seek academic support services, such as tutoring or study groups, to help you grasp challenging concepts. Setting realistic goals for improvement and staying committed to your studies can lead to better results in future semesters.

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Prachi Sethi

Hi, I am Prachi, an experienced writer with extensive knowledge about the study abroad domain in particular countries such as the USA and Canada and other popular courses.
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