In high school and college, you may have heard your teachers, advisors, or friends talk about semester GPA, weighted GPA, unweighted GPA, and cumulative GPA. They relate to distinct measures, and they are quantified in a different way.
Instead, we are going to concentrate on: What is cumulative GPA? How do you calculate it?; Why is it a big deal?; How can you improve it?. We will also distinguish cumulative GPA as well as the weighted and unweighted types of GPA.
Cumulative GPA, or cumulative grade point average, is the total sum of all the grades you have acquired in high school and college courses, from the beginning of your studies until now. This total is arrived at by summing the grades you obtained in all the courses you undertook in the course of this period, regardless of whether you passed or failed. Since it is based on credit hours, your cumulative GPA also provides an overview of your academic performance throughout your education.
Here’s how cumulative GPA is different from semester, weighted and unweighted GPA.
To calculate your cumulative GPA, follow the below steps:
Step 1: Gather your grades and credits: For the updates to the GPA, you will need the letter grade and the number of credits from all the courses taken that are included in the GPA.
Step 2: Convert letter grades to grade points: A normal level also designates a special number of grade points for every letter grade. Perhaps you will see a little difference depending on the school system that you are in, so you should check the grading system of your school to get the grade point equivalents for your grades. For example, in KU, an A was equivalent to 4.0 points, a B+ 3.
Step 3: Multiply grade points by credits: To calculate your GPA for each course, just divide the number of grade points earned by you by the credit hour of the respective course.
Step 4: Sum the total quality points and total credits: Add the sum of total quality points you received in all the courses taken to get the sum of total credit hours as gotten from all the courses offered.
Step 5: Calculate your cumulative GPA: To calculate GPA, divide your total points by your total credit hours. This will give you your cumulative GPA.
Examples of Cumulative GPA Calculation
Semester 1
Course | Letter Grade | Grade Point | Number of Credits | Raw Value (Grade Point x # Credits) |
Honors English I | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12 |
World History | A- | 3.7 | 3 | 11.1 |
French I | B+ | 3.3 | 3 | 9.9 |
Chemistry | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
Art | A- | 3.7 | 2 | 7.4 |
Honors Algebra II | B+ | 3.3 | 3 | 9.9 |
TOTAL |
|
| 17 | 62.3 |
So, for semester 1, the GPA calculation is:
Semester 2
Course | Letter Grade | Grade Point | Number of Credits | Raw Value (Grade Point x # Credits) |
Honors English II | A- | 3.7 | 3 | 11.1 |
World History II | A | 4.0 | 3 | 12.0 |
French II | A- | 3.7 | 3 | 11.1 |
Physics | B+ | 3.3 | 3 | 9.9 |
Computer Science | A | 4.0 | 2 | 8.0 |
Honors Geometry | B+ | 3.3 | 3 | 9.9 |
TOTAL |
|
| 17 | 62.0 |
For semester 2, the GPA calculation is:
To calculate the cumulative GPA for both semesters, sum the raw values and divide by the total number of credits:
Alternatively, you can average the semester GPAs since the credit values are the same:
Remember, if the credit values are different, you need to use the raw values and total credits method.
Academic GPA is an essential aspect in academic and career fields since it illustrates a learner’s performance from one level to the next. In college admissions, it stands as key evidence of the consistency, hard work, and ability of that student to work hard in a competitive school. Several institutions of learning consider cumulative GPA crucial in admission criteria, especially whereby institutions assign significant weight to this scale. Also, a stake in many scholarships and grants may be attained through maintaining a good cumulative GPA, most of which possess prerequisites for a certain cumulative GPA score. Scholarships and financial aid also factor in cumulative GPA, which is hence an important determinant for students who need financial assistance in their education.
However, in a broader context, cumulative GPA has great importance in the professional space. The reason is that GPA is a reliable indicator that employers, especially when recruiting freshmen, can easily rely on to determine not only the candidate’s academic prowess and commitment in class but also his/her performance and ability to succeed in the organization. Academic performance measured by a high GPA is a critical factor that determines one’s chances of securing internships, co-op programs, and a job offer since it shows the candidate’s focus and ability to produce results when called upon to do so. Thus, one must strive hard to maintain a very high cumulative GPA, especially for students who have plans to proceed to graduate or professional schools since the cumulative GPA is part of the admissible requirements for these advanced schools. Therefore, cumulative GPA not only impacts the educational path but is also a crucial factor in determining further professional directions and development.
The criterion for a cumulative GPA for college admission is relatively flexible, depending on the degree of selectivity at the institution and the programs offered. Here are some general guidelines:
Highly Selective Colleges (e.g., Ivy League schools, Stanford, MIT)
This suggests that students intended for engineering majors must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.8 to 4. It is also essential to point out that a GMAT score of 0 or higher is usually expected of students. It is also a known fact that most of these schools offer challenging admissions; in this case, students have to be performing exceptionally well among their peers.
Selective Colleges (e.g., University of California schools, University of Michigan, UNC-Chapel Hill)
Combined GPA of 3.0, The above criteria must be met in order for a student to be selected into the programme of their choice). It is a figure often thought of as competitive. Such schools are interested in performance in group A subjects and sometimes consider other attributes including extracurricular activities and essays.
Moderately Selective Colleges (e.g., Penn State, University of Florida, Indiana University)
A cumulative GPA of 3 likely denotes that the institution has high academic standards and attracts bright and dedicated students 3.0 to 3.5 can be sufficient. These schools may put lots of stock in a balanced application; letters of recommendation and personal statements.
Less Selective Colleges (e.g., state schools with higher acceptance rates)
The answer is 2. 5 to 3.0 may be acceptable. These institutions might look at the overall potential of the applicant and adaptability of the candidate as well.
While developing an initial list of colleges to consider, potentially our posts about grades and GPA are a good introduction to determining one’s cumulative GPA. It is necessary to understand your own GPA for that, because it defines whether admission into some school will be more or less difficult. So, always remember that admissions are done in a holistic way; hence, getting a low GPA does not mean you will not be able to get into the college of your choice.
Do not be concerned if your school curriculum is quite challenging and you are cramming a 4.0; colleges will look at you with respect in certain classes and will note that you are ranking highly among your fellow classmates. Also, if a student comes from a disadvantaged or low-income family, colleges might overlook low GPA scores.
Set clear goals: When the course begins, the educational goal should be to attain an A in Chemistry within the entire semester and get not less than 90 percent in all the tests and assignments. Further subdivide this into week-wise targets where you may aim at learning one chapter of the textbook in a week.
Stay organized: Choose a planner like Google Calendar to set up study sessions, classes, and assignments due date to be reminded of them. To remain best-organized, set reminders for essential due dates a week at least ahead.
Attend all classes: If your class schedule is green lighted with flexibility consider them monumental appointments you have to honor. If for instance, you were expected to attend a lecture at 9:00 AM on Mondays, ensure that the timetable doesn’t allow for flexibility. This will assist you in organizing with the material and gain a better apprehension of ideas and wisdoms.
Take detailed notes: Create a note taking procedure that’s similar to the Cornell Technique. During lectures, divide your page into three sections: points for notes, prompts and recap. This makes work easier in that information is well organized and review is also made easy.
Participate Actively: Some examples of ways to participate and engage in the class are in a history class when the teacher is partially discussing a specific event you can speak out and provide your opinion on the matter or ask questions regarding the topic. It also assists with remembering the material because you can easily connect it to something you already know.
Develop a study schedule: Spend 2 hours every evening studying. Each day has its own specific subject. For instance, Monday can be a day to tackle Mathematics and Chemistry then on Tuesday focus on English and History.
Use effective study techniques: In terms of language learning, it will be handy to use flashcards as a form of vocabulary. In subjects such as biology, active recall can be done by concealing the definition and attempting to remember it through memorization. Instead of books, tutorials are more effective especially when explaining concepts that are hard to explain like physics – explain to a friend.
Form study groups: Hold a problem solving session with the work mates twice a week to discuss the hard problems and perhaps explain to them the solutions that have been made. Due to this, students may benefit from the collaborative approach, as it acts as a point of reference when they are stuck and cannot seem to grasp the concept independently.
Seek help when needed: For instance, if you are having difficulty understanding information in your economics textbook or in class, go to your instructor during his/her office hours with specific questions. In equal measure, a student can seek assistance from the tutoring services offered in the institution for further help.
How often should I check my cumulative GPA?
It’s advisable to check your cumulative GPA at the end of each semester or quarter. You would be able to know your performance and make some alterations on the way you handle your books or the classes you are likely to be having in the next semester. Students should make it their habit to keep abreast with GPA so as to ensure that they can give appropriate corrections on time and meet their overall offered goals. Many schools have their students’ online self-service system where you can get GPA, or any other record you need.
Can I improve my cumulative GPA quickly?
In this case, the following tips will help in raising the cumulative GPA within the shortest time possible and could be especially useful to those with a lot of credits to make up. However, the important thing is that there is a lot that you can achieve when you have proper study and learning strategies, where you can go for help and when you take the course as your top priority. The immediate effect of your GPA is shaped by the performance in the subject areas you are currently studying and in classes you are likely to take in the future. If you are comfortable with redoing your courses where you have low grades, then it is advisable to do so. Further, the daily classes list of students enrolled in summer or winter session can also be beneficial to obtain better high grades quicker as compared to other regular terms.
How do transfer credits affect cumulative GPA?
The number of credit transfers varies to the overall GPA depending on the regulations of the new institution. Usually, when you get a transfer of credits from another school, the grades in the courses that the credits belong to do not affect the GPA of the receiver school. That’s why it is possible to transfer only the credits and even they are often recognized as pass/fail. It also means that the credits do accumulate in the total credit hours required towards graduation but do not in any way affect the GPA of the student. Nevertheless, it seems logical to look into specific features and policies of your selected institution in order to clarify the rules of transferring credits and calculating GPA.
Does earning a B reduce cumulative GPA?
Yes, getting a B will lower your GPA; but if one only has one B throughout all four years in high school the effect on the cumulative score would not be very much. The overall impact is likely to be less when you get a ‘B’ for one assignment, this means you want to get other scores on other assignments, enabling you to get an ‘A’ in the particular course. Also, it is important to understand that being given a B on an AP or honors class is not the same as being given a B in any other class with a higher weighted GPA due to the nature of the course.
Cumulative GPA gives an overall cumulative sum of your semester GPA after a number of semesters, helping you understand how well or badly you are likely to be faring in your academic work. Thus, accumulating an overall GPA allows for strategic planning in terms of personal academic goals, sound decisions with regards to curricula, and bolstering one’s college or employment application. Whether you want to increase your GPA or simply keep a good one, it is vital that you learn how to evaluate the average of your grades as well as the cumulative GPA.