Universities across the globe follow a unique grading system, that scores students based on their academic performance. Most foreign universities follow the Grade Point Average (GPA) marking system in countries like the US, the UK, Germany, Australia, etc. On the other hand, India follows a percentage system giving a particular division to the students.  

What is a GPA? 

GPA, or Grade Point Average, is a number that indicates how well or how high you scored in your courses on average. It’s meant to score you (usually on a GPA scale between 1.0 and 4.0) during your studies and shows whether your overall grades have been high or low. This number is then used to assess whether you meet the standards and expectations set by the degree program or university. 

What is a CGPA?  

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is an educational grading system. It is used in schools and colleges to measure the overall academic performance of a student. With the calculation of CGPA, students are allotted grades (A, B, C, D, or F). Different countries have their own grading standards. India’s grading system is based on percentages.  

Percentage System in India 

As explained earlier, colleges and study institutions in India adhere to the percentage grading system. Here, candidates are graded by a percentage that categorizes them under a respective division.  

The table below shows the percentage of marks obtained and their respective divisions:  

Percentage Obtained	Division
75 % and above	Distinction
60-75 %	First Division
50-60 %	Second Division
40-50%	Third Division

A lot of students end up wondering whether their percentage affects their study abroad chances. The answer to this is yes and no. Yes, because you would be required to submit your scores to the university, and no, because the marks are only a part of your much bigger admission picture. 

Candidates should note that marks play an important role while applying abroad. However, equal importance is given to your purpose of studying, IELTS or TOEFL Scores, GRE/GMAT scores, and above all, your overall presentation of your reason for studying abroad. Hence candidates should not be too hooked on their scores. They should be more concerned about creating a strong student profile for studying abroad. 

How to Convert Percentage to GPA & CGPA 

We are going to tackle this section in two parts. The first would be converting percentage into a 4-point GPA system and then converting percentage into a 10-point CGPA system. 

How to Convert Percentage to GPA 

In the United States, the 4-grade point system is widely followed. Candidates wanting to calculate their percentage to a 4-grade point GPA only need to divide their percentage by 100 and multiply it by 4. 

So, for example, if a candidate gets 80%, he would be required to divide 80 by 100 and multiply it by 4, and his GPA would stand at 3.2. 

Here are some things that you must know about a GPA:  

1. Various platforms such as WES iGPA Calculator help students convert GPA into percentage and vice versa.  

2. Always remember to cross-verify your score as a miscalculation can impact your admission procedure.  

3. Remember there is no such thing as ‘A good GPA’ as the GPA score requirements vary from university to university.  

4. If you want to check if you have a good GPA score, you may compare it with the university requirement. 

How to Convert Percentage into CGPA 

Similarly, in Europe and also other parts of the world, the 10-grade point CGPA is widely followed by students. Candidates wanting to calculate their percentage to 10-grade point CGPA only need to divide their percentage by 9.5. 

So, for example, if a candidate gets 80%, he would be required to divide 80 by 9.5 CGPA would stand at 8.4. 

Conclusion 

Lastly, a student’s GPA is one of the key indicators of their skill and merit. This grading system helps foreign universities to determine where a candidate stands based on their scores in the previous courses.  

Obtaining a high GPA score will help not only academically but also professionally, as there are a lot of companies that assess applicants based on their GPA scores.  

So undoubtedly, maintaining an attractive GPA score can fetch up many opportunities towards the possibility of a starry shining future!