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 CGPA - how to calculate, and why u should dare to fail!

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TSazarimy
post Aug 16 2007, 11:36 PM, updated 5y ago

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what is this guide about?

this guide is written to assist university or college students to understand more about the grading system at tertiery education level. students are often trapped under the pretense that once they've failed, their grades can never go up again. this is fairly untrue in most of the cases. however it is important to note that not all tertiery education system follows the same CGPA system. what i've tabled out below are applicable to local IPTAs, several IPTSs and most UK based universities.

what is CGPA?

ultimately, CGPA is where everything boils down to in ur studies. it stands for Cummulative Grade Point Average, hence CGPA, which is an accumulation of all ur grade points divided to every single credit u take. CGPA is also the determining factor of whether u get to graduate with 1st class, 2nd class upper, 2nd class lower or 3rd class. however, the minimum point for each class differs from university to university. UTM for example classifies 1st class as 3.70 and above and 2nd class upper from 3.00 to 3.69. MMU on the other hand classifies 2nd class upper from 3.30 to 3.69.

what is calculated?

CGPA is calculated based on all subjects that u take. each subjects usually comes with a credit value. some less important subjects carry between 1 to 2 credits, more important ones carry 3 to 4, and the core subjects can carry between 5 to 8 credits each. also, there are subjects categorized as "compulsory attendance only" (hadir wajib sahaja) which usually carry 0 credits. these subjects hold no value, but failing it (due to poor attendance or whatever) will still hold u down from graduating successfully.

how is it calculated?

for each subject that u've successfully taken, a grade will be issued after the final exam. these grades each carry a specific point value. typically, A carries 4.00, B carries 3.00 and C carries 2.00. each of these points will be calculated based on the credit rating of each subject, and later summed up to give u ur GPA for that particular semester. for example:

semester 1

subject M (6 credits): B = 3.00
subject N (2 credits): A = 4.00
subject O (3 credits): C = 2.00

(6 x 3.00) + (2 x 4.00) + (3 x 2.00) = 32 total grade point for 11 credits. hence, your GPA for semester 1 is:

32 / 11 = 2.91 GPA for sem 1. since this is ur first semester, ur GPA is also ur CGPA.

semester 2

subject P (6 credits): A = 4.00
subject Q (3 credits): B = 3.00
subject R (3 credits): E = 0.00 (FAIL)
subject S (2 credits): B = 3.00

(6 x 4.00) + (3 x 3.00) + (3 x 0.00) + (2 x 3.00) = 39 total grade point for 14 credits. hence your GPA for semester 2 is:

39 / 14 = 2.79 GPA for sem 2

now that this is ur second semester, ur CGPA will be calculated by combining the two. however, a direct average is wrong. CGPA is calculated NOT based on the average of GPAs per semester, but based on grade points per credit that u take. to calculate ur CGPA based on the two semesters above:

[(total grade point for sem 1) + (total grade point for sem 2)] / total credit taken in all semesters

[(32) + (39)] / (11 + 14) = 2.84 CGPA

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «


now, let's try the next semester where u retake the failed subject:

semester 3

subject R (3 credits): A = 4.00 (REPEATED SUBJECT)
subject T (3 credits): B = 3.00
subject U (3 credits): B = 3.00
subject V (3 credits): B = 3.00

(3 x 4.00) + (3 x 3.00) + (3 x 3.00) + (3 x 3.00) = 39 total grade point for 12 credits. hence your GPA for semester 3 is:

39 / 12 = 3.25 GPA.

now, how do u calculate ur CGPA when u have a repeated subject? here's the main rule: u recalculate the repeated subject by replacing the old grade with the new one. it means, in ur CGPA calculation, u never failed ur subject R, u actually scored A! lets see what it looks like:

[(grade points for sem 1) + (grade points for sem 2 excluding the failed subject) + (grade points for sem 3)] / [(credit for sem 1) + (credit for sem 2 excluding the failed subject) + (credit for sem 3)]

[(32) + (39 - 0) + (39)] / [(11) + (14 - 3) + (12)] = 110 / 34 = 3.24 CGPA!

a lot of students made the mistake of including the failed subject into the calculation despite having repeated it. here's what the wrong calculation usually looks like:

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «


implications

wrong calculations would lead to students being afraid to fail, simply bcoz the impression that failed subjects would drag the CGPA even further down. this is wrong. repeating the failed subject replaces the old grades. in ur CGPA, it is as if u've never failed before. most students would simply accept a C- or D+, which is usually the minimum passing rate, in hope that they dont have to ever repeat the subject, and hopefully score more subjects in time.

thing is, once u've got a D+/C-, it's very hard to catch up and drag ur pointers up. i strongly advise students whom ultimately concerned for their grades to DARE to fail and repeat it again. ofcourse, certain subjects are big enough that repeating means u have to extend another semester. well, if it means graduating between a 2nd class lower and a 2nd class upper, why not?

good luck! thumbup.gif

This post has been edited by azarimy: Sep 18 2008, 06:39 PM
kenneth87
post Aug 16 2007, 11:44 PM

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Let say i got a C for subject A and i plan to retake again... Will the retaking score replace the old cgpa?
TSazarimy
post Aug 17 2007, 12:05 AM

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if ur school actually permits u to do that, then yes, it will replace the old cgpa. however, the new grade will replace the old one regardless which one's higher. meaning, if u repeat subject A and failed, it will count as a fail and the original C is dissolved.

in any case, not many schools would allow u to repeat a subject that u did not fail.
cavcite
post Aug 17 2007, 04:15 PM

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yup...my fren brave enuff to get fail his subject rather than getting C or D,his extended one semester more than me..just to make sure he pass syarat to take master degree
TSazarimy
post Aug 17 2007, 06:13 PM

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this system seems unfair to the non-failers, isnt it?

now, lets address the most common misconception over this system. we are extremely conditioned to accept that failure is not an option, or fail = death since school. we even frown upon those who ever failed at something, anything. and those who've failed will carry with them a shoulder load of shame all their life. this is not a good environment to encourage learning.

this will only encourage people to find ways not to fail. some studied really hard, some studied smart and some cheated - all for the sake of not to fail. but that's missing the point entirely. we're talking about adult education, where people start to have more things to do other than study. the nature of tertiery education is independent learning, where a student is self motivated to learn, not bcoz the teacher's teaching or their parents says so.

the ability to fail and repeat the subject is an option previously unavailable in school. the cost of failing in school is simply unbearable. fail a subject, and u repeat the entire year. that's not very encouraging.

so in tertiery level education, u are given an opportunity to fail a particular subject and retake it in the future. yes, it does however come with several drawbacks:
    i. subjects are not always available every semester. failing a particular subject offered only once a year would mean u'd have to wait several months before resitting the subject again.

    ii. repeating a credit means paying the fees again. yes, u've paid for the previous credit that u've failed. but now u're retaking it again. so pay up!

    iii. repeating would often mean extending ur studies. literally, u wont be graduating the same year as 1st year friends. it's kinda weird going to convocations where u dont know the rest of the graduates.

    iv. learning with ur juniors might not be the same or as fun as learning with ur friends. but some guys find this a great way to get to know girls tongue.gif

TeckPeow
post Aug 17 2007, 06:57 PM

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QUOTE(azarimy @ Aug 16 2007, 11:36 PM)
semester 3

subject R (3 credits): A = 4.00 (REPEATED SUBJECT)
subject T (3 credits): B = 3.00
subject U (3 credits): B = 3.00
subject V (2 credits): B = 3.00

(3 x 4.00) + (3 x 3.00) + (3 x 3.00) + (3 x 3.00) = 39 total grade point for 11 credits. hence your GPA for semester 3 is:

39 / 11 = 3.54 GPA. well done! that's a dean's list for u wink.gif.

Subject V is 2 credits so it should be multiplied by 2 instead of 3?


The GPA is only 3.27 not 3.54.




This post has been edited by TeckPeow: Aug 17 2007, 07:00 PM
TSazarimy
post Aug 17 2007, 07:00 PM

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QUOTE(TeckPeow @ Aug 17 2007, 06:57 PM)
Subject V is 2 credits so it should be multiplied by 2 instead of 3?
*
aiyaaah... dammit u're right. thanks for the heads up. too many numbers make me dizzy already rclxub.gif

corrected! again, thanks for the heads up!

This post has been edited by azarimy: Aug 17 2007, 07:03 PM
mutt
post Aug 17 2007, 08:13 PM

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this thread is useful for freshies.. gud work TS rclxms.gif
jasperng
post Aug 17 2007, 09:28 PM

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=o! good guide you have here... this should be pinned for easy reference for freshies ^^
yixings
post Jan 4 2008, 10:02 AM

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I think a good uni shouldn't grade according to fix points, else it will have tonnes of honour student.

Instead it should be awarded according to distribution.

Too bad that our local unis are pratising the former, so that the chancellors can claim that so many honour students are produced, hence their uni are the good one!

My experience of interviewing the first batch of a new local uni, out of a total of 105 graduates, 50 of them got 1st class, and the rest 2nd upper. I found this out because the dean gave me 40 resume which are all 1st class students!

This post has been edited by yixings: Jan 4 2008, 10:06 AM
djspinnet
post Jan 4 2008, 11:03 AM

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My uni while it gives us the method to calculate CGPA, they recommend the WAM method instead - weighted average mark. It's fair to all students and you get the WAM score that you truly earn rather than weezling round an easily exploitable system.
TSazarimy
post Jan 4 2008, 05:16 PM

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QUOTE(yixings @ Jan 4 2008, 02:02 AM)
I think a good uni shouldn't grade according to fix points, else it will have tonnes of honour student.

Instead it should be awarded according to distribution.

Too bad that our local unis are pratising the former, so that the chancellors can claim that so many honour students are produced, hence their uni are the good one!

My experience of interviewing the first batch of a new local uni, out of a total of 105 graduates, 50 of them got 1st class, and the rest 2nd upper. I found this out because the dean gave me 40 resume which are all 1st class students!
*
well, making honours harder to get can push the prestige of a school over the roof, but that doesnt quite work in universities that are struggling to even get into the top 100, where it can be counter productive. reason:

in mass education, we're always pushing to produce as many able professional graduates. although i'm not emphasizing quantity over quality, but producing mass quantities of people fulfilling the quality aspects. lets use an analogy of riding a bicycle. take 10 kids that has never ridden a bicycle before, and teach them how to ride. u give them "pass" if they could ride a bike for a few metres within a day, and distinction/honours if they could ride them all the way along the track without falling.

now, we all know not everyone CAN achieve honours in a day. but given time, everybody COULD be able to achieve honours or distinctions. so which is more important? churning out 1 or 2 honour students by constricting the title, or opening up where everybody, even the dyslexics to have a chance at honours? at the end of the day, employers would want quality workers. after graduation, the graduates apply more than they acquire (as opposed as in school), so employers need not worry if their honours students are slow learners.

and FYI, malaysian universities are not the only university practicing this grading method wink.gif
Benjamin911
post Jan 4 2008, 08:05 PM

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QUOTE
semester 3

subject R (3 credits): A = 4.00 (REPEATED SUBJECT)
subject T (3 credits): B = 3.00
subject U (3 credits): B = 3.00
subject V (3 credits): B = 3.00

(3 x 4.00) + (3 x 3.00) + (3 x 3.00) + (3 x 3.00) = 39 total grade point for 12 credits. hence your GPA for semester 3 is:

39 / 12 = 3.25 GPA.

now, how do u calculate ur CGPA when u have a repeated subject? here's the main rule: u recalculate the repeated subject by replacing the old grade with the new one. it means, in ur CGPA calculation, u never failed ur subject R, u actually scored A! lets see what it looks like:

[(grade points for sem 1) + (grade points for sem 2 excluding the failed subject) + (grade points for sem 3)] / [(credit for sem 1) + (credit for sem 2 excluding the failed subject) + (credit for sem 3)]

[(32) + (39 - 0) + (39)] / [(11) + (14 - 3) + (12)] = 110 / 34 = 3.24 CGPA!

a lot of students made the mistake of including the failed subject into the calculation despite having repeated it. here's what the wrong calculation usually looks like:

� Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... �

[(32) + (39) + (39)] / [(11) + (14) + (11)] = 110 / 36 = 3.06 CGPA!

can u see how much difference it can make if u calculate ur grades wrongly?
azarimy;

Thanks for such a useful thread. smile.gif

However, I would like to know why do you have to add 11 instead of 12 in your second (Student mistake) equation; depicting credits for semester III?

Is it a mistake?

This post has been edited by Benjamin911: Jan 4 2008, 08:06 PM
Darkmage12
post Jan 4 2008, 11:24 PM

shhhhhhhhh come i tell you something hehe
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wow you should dare to fail notworthy.gif
skyliner
post Jan 5 2008, 07:36 AM

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remind me of my CG, isk isk isk isk isk....
chungwl20
post Jun 9 2008, 04:05 PM

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Hello, anyone know how to calculate CGPA with given cumulative average? for example my cumulative average is 60.50. So, how to convert to CGPA as my college doesnt calculate CGPA for me, just gv me my cumulative average..
farique
post Jun 9 2008, 07:09 PM

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QUOTE(chungwl20 @ Jun 9 2008, 04:05 PM)
Hello, anyone know how to calculate CGPA with given cumulative average? for example my cumulative average is 60.50. So, how to convert to CGPA as my college doesnt calculate CGPA for me, just gv me my cumulative average..
*
I believe they give the grades as well right? like A, B, C, D, E ,F etc?

my school gave A, A-, B+, B, B-, C, C+,C-, D, E and F for Fail as the grades..




my goodness, this thread deserved to be pinned as a guide and discussions. nod.gif
fruitie
post Jun 9 2008, 07:20 PM

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QUOTE(chungwl20 @ Jun 9 2008, 04:05 PM)
Hello, anyone know how to calculate CGPA with given cumulative average? for example my cumulative average is 60.50. So, how to convert to CGPA as my college doesnt calculate CGPA for me, just gv me my cumulative average..
*
What is the total credit hour? For example, if it's 18 hours. Then 60.50/18 = 3.361 is your CGPA smile.gif
Crazy.SoT.Gila
post Jun 18 2008, 09:30 PM

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Erm, this may sound stupid, but would it differ between having a "W" and "F" in the transcript?
ujah
post Jun 18 2008, 10:11 PM

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wow, really scare to fail...after i reading this thread, i suppose to say that "u only have 1 shot if u don't want to turn back".

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