Consolidated Marksheet: Meaning, Types, Format

Have you ever been confused between a semester’s regular marksheet and a consolidated marksheet? Why a consolidated marksheet is required and where is it used? Academic transcripts and consolidated marksheet are one of the most important documents required to study abroad. Read forth to explore all the important details on consolidated mark sheets, how they can be obtained, their format and uses, and the information listed on this significant piece of academic document.

If you are yet to become a graduate student, then, chances are you have not been introduced to the term “consolidated marksheet”. Don’t worry! We have got all the information you need about what is a consolidated marksheet. A consolidated marksheet is a single, comprehensive document that summarises the academic performance of a student throughout their degree, by totalling their SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average) across various semesters involved. Received at the end of a degree, the consolidated marksheet combines all the grades and marks of individual semesters into one single record. It can be used to apply for higher education, studying abroad, a job or for credential verification. 

Here are other forms of academic documents that you might need on your journey to study abroad:

Gap Certificate	No Objection Certificate (NOC)	Bonafide Certificate
Education Loan Documents	Documents Required for PCC	APS Certificate

What is Consolidated Marksheet?

The term consolidated, meaning "unified as a whole" is added to a college student's final marksheet. A consolidated marksheet contains the total marks and the actual marks of the student in different semesters, along with the average of actual marks for all semesters. It represents a student's performance during individual semesters and throughout the course. For example, if your course had 8 semesters, then your consolidated marksheet would contain your marks from semesters 1 through 8 along with the consolidated/overall calculated scores. These consolidated scores are often called the cumulative grade point average or CGPA. 

A consolidated marksheet memorandum or memo is provided by the university to its students at the end of the course. This marksheet is different from the semester marksheet that a student receives after the completion of each semester. The consolidated marksheets are required while applying for higher education, a job or an internship. If a student has missed his semester mark sheets, he can still go through the screening process by presenting his consolidated marksheet. Here are some points on the key purpose and importance of consolidated marksheets:

• Comprehensive academic record: It provides a complete overview of the student's performance through different semesters.
• Higher education: Universities often require consolidated marksheets for postgraduate admissions to assess students' profiles. 
• Verification of the employment: Employers may ask for a consolidated marksheet to verify the academic standing of a candidate (especially if they're hiring a fresher). 
• Credential verification: Since a consolidated marksheet is provided after the end of the last semester's exams, it serves as proof that the student has completed his academic course. 

Types of Consolidated Marksheets

There are mainly 2 types of consolidated marksheets, the college consolidated marksheet and the university consolidated marksheet. Both the consolidated marksheets, provided on the college’s/university’s letterhead, are signed by the Controller of Exams or the Registrar and sealed with the university's/college's stamp.   

Format of a Consolidated Marksheet

The format of a consolidated marksheet is different from the individual semester marksheet. Like any other academic transcript, a consolidated marksheet is also provided on the letterhead of the institution. The format of a consolidated marksheet is explained in brief below.

1. Reference Number: On the top left corner of a consolidated marksheet, a unique reference number is given. In some cases, it can be complemented with a scannable bar code or QR code. 
2. Student’s Enrolment Number: On the top right corner of the consolidated marksheet, the candidate’s application/enrolment number and batch are given.
3. The course’s name is mentioned just below the institution’s name and address on the letterhead. 
4. Student’s Details: In the next line, the student’s name, and their father’s and mother’s names are given along with their department’s name.
5. Semester-wise Marks: Below the personal details of the student, the maximum marks and the obtained marks of each subject across different semesters are given. At the end of each semester’s marks, each semester’s SGPAs are also given. This is done for all the semesters. 
6. CGPA: This is the most important part of a consolidated marksheet’s format. The CGPA is calculated from the SGPAs obtained in all semesters. The CGPA for the entire course/degree is mentioned once, at the end of the consolidated marksheet. 
7. Signature: The consolidated marksheet is attested with the signatures of the Controller of Examinations of the said institution at its bottom.

Information Listed on a Consolidated Marksheet

Even though it is clear from the format of the consolidated marksheet, here we are listing all the details that are listed on a consolidated marksheet.

1. Name and address of the issuing institution 
2. Unique reference number
3. Student’s enrolment number, name, their father’s and mother’s name and batch
4. Semester and subject-wise marks
5. SGPAs and CGPA
6. Signature of Registrar/Controller of Examinations of the institution.

Learn how to calculate your SGPA and CGPA by reading our blogs - "How to Calculate Your SGPA?" and "How to Calculate Percentage to CGPA?".

Uses of Consolidated Marksheet

There are various uses of a consolidated marksheet, meaning you can put this document to use in various circumstances. A consolidated marksheet is usually required at the time of the document submission process while applying to study abroad. Universities abroad may ask you for your bachelor’s degree’s consolidated marksheet or provisional degree if you have not received your course degree yet. It is advised that students check the document requirements of their desired university on their official website beforehand to avoid any last-minute delays. 

Some uses of a consolidated marksheet are given below. 

1. If you do not have a degree or provisional degree certificate for your course then, you can apply for a job by presenting your consolidated marksheet for all the previous semester exams.
2. The consolidated marksheet acts as proof that you have been a trustworthy student of an institution and that you have passed a certain level of educational qualification.
3. A consolidated marksheet also verifies that you have acquired the prescribed skills as a result of completing your degree.  

Differences Between a Consolidated Marksheet and Provisional Certificate

Before checking out their differences, let us learn the similarities between a consolidated marksheet and provisional certificate. Like a consolidated marksheet, a provisional certificate also acts as proof that the given student has completed the specified level of education at the said institution and is provided only after the completion of the degree.

If a student wants to apply for further education but has not yet received their permanent degree, they can represent their consolidated marksheet or provisional degree. Both of these documents stand as proof that the student has completed the mentioned level of education at the said institution, without any backlogs.

The differences between a consolidated marksheet and provisional degree certificate are given below. 

More Useful Reads:

• Internship Certificate for Students
• What are Academic Transcripts and How to get it? 

This was all about the consolidated marksheet meaning, format, types, and uses. We have also learnt the differences between a consolidated marksheet and a provisional certificate. Students looking for assistance with the university application process can get in touch with our Shiksha Counselling Services on the same. Candidates can also write to us with their queries in the comments section, below.