Difference Between SGPA and CGPA

Did you also get SGPA or CGPA while you were studying in Indian institutions? If you have to share your scores to study abroad can you tell what is the difference between SGPA and CGPA? Check out the difference between CGPA and SGPA in this article.

Since Indian institutions widely use CGPA and SGPA as part of their assessments, students likely want to know more about them. Both SGPA and CGPA hold importance academically, for admissions abroad, performance assessment, scholarships, and other assessing parameters. But there is a big difference between CGPA and SGPA. 

Both SGPA and CGPA are calculated differently, used for a different academic setting and purpose. So difference between SGPA and CGPA is essential to know before getting on to calculating them. SGPA is for a semester based performance, while CGPA is for both semester and annual performances. SGPA to CGPA is simple but vice versa can get complicated. 

If want to know more about the two understand the difference between CGPA and SGPA. Check out the article, where we discuss SGPA vs CGPA in detail and shed light on how CGPA and SGPA are important for students. Along with how they are different from one another.

What is SGPA and CGPA?

SGPA is Semester Grade Point Average calculated after the end of each semester. Based on scores on different subjects taken up in a semester SGPA is calculated. On the other hand CGPA or Cumulative Grade Point Average is calculated for both semesters and performance in an academic year. While SGPA gives a short term analysis, CGPA on the other hand gives a broader purview.

Difference between SGPA and CGPA

Both SGPA and CGPA are two different terms and metrics to assess academic performance. Both these grading systems have their own formulae and calculations. Check out the following table to understand the difference between SGPA and CGPA based on different parameters:

How to Calculate SGPA?

Calculating SGPA is simple. There is a formula which applicants can use manually based on their semester scores for each subject. The SGPA is calculated using a simple formula and that is -

SGPA = Grade Points Sum / Credit Points Sum

Where, 

• Grade points are awarded to each student's grade in his/her subject.
• Credits are the number of hours devoted to a class course plus the homework. 

Grade points are first multiplied with credits and then the sum is calculated. The credits sum is calculated alone for all subjects. And then when both these parameters are accounted for, SGPA for a given semester is computed. 

An example for calculating SGPA is as follows:

SGPA = Grade Points Sum / Credit Points Sum

SGPA = 111 / 16

SGPA = 6.93

So the SGPA for the above given set of courses for a given semester is 6.93. 

For a detailed understanding check out: SGPA to Percentage Converter

How to Calculate CGPA?

When we talk about how to calculate CGPA one must know that it can be calculated for semester as well for an academic year or entire education year at university. Before getting on to calculating SGPA, we follow these steps:

Here's how CGPA is calculated from the above given data set:

• Step 1: Calculate Grade points based on grades obtained from the UGC-approved 10-point grading table.
• Step 2: Sum the grade points, which is: 8+6+8+7+5=34
• Step 5: Sum the total subjects = 5 
• Step 6: Calculate CGPA:

CGPA Formula = Sum of Grade Points / Total Number of Subjects

Therefore, your CGPA for semester 1 would be 6.8.

Check: How to Calculate CGPA?

Related Reads:

What is SGPA to CGPA Calculator?

SGPA to CGPA calculator is a tool used to calculate CGPA from SGPA. The SGPA to CGPA converter is required by applicants to track their short term and long term academic performance based on future goals. Applicants who plan to study abroad and apply for admission will require the SGPA to CGPA calculator to understand their performance and check if they are eligible to apply as well. This tool is useful for prospective applicants. 

How is CGPA Calculated from SGPA?

SGPA vs CGPA calculation is very different from one another. While there is a big difference between CGPA and SGPA, yet there is a common point where SGPA to CGPA calculation can happen. CGPA to SGPA calculator is simple, students can use this formula:

CGPA = (SGPA of Sem 1 + SGPA of Sem 2 + …… + SGPA of Sem 6) / (Total Semesters)

For example:

CGPA = ΣSGPA / Total Semesters

CGPA = 8.20 (Sem 1 SGPA) + 9.10 (Sem 2 SGPA) + 7.80 (Sem 3 SGPA) + 8.50 (Sem 4 SGPA) + 9.40 (Sem 5 SGPA) + 8.70 (Sem 6 SGPA) / 6

CGPA = 51.70 / 6

CGPA = 8.61

Why Convert SGPA to CGPA?

While SGPA is a metric assessing academic performance for a semester, which is shorter in duration, it is thus essential to convert it to CGPA. The CGPA can be calculated annually or even for a given semester; thus, it is a more widely chosen key academic indicator. Students who get scored on an SGPA scale should consider converting their SGPA to CGPA to:

• Get a glimpse of overall academic progress and keep a track of performance.
• Areas for improvement to scale up scores in CGPA overall.
• Also, if planning to apply abroad, having a good CGPA will result in better selection chances.
• Finally, having a high CGPA can also help students secure scholarships to study abroad. 

The reasons will vary per student based on how they wish to use the SGPA to CGPA conversion and use it accordingly.

Top Tips to Improve CGPA Through Low SGPA

For those who are in college and are getting low scores or eventually want a target CGPA score, they can use the following tips to improve their CGPA:

These were some of the top tips students can consider if they are scoring lower SGPAs but want to boost their CGPA scores. These may work effectively if strategised properly. 

How to Effectively Use SGPA and CGPA?

The difference between SGPA and CGPA is big, yet these two metrics have a common purpose at the end of the year or semester. So after understanding these two metrics are computed differently, they are still used for some common purposes. Coming to the question of effectively using SGPA and CGPA, here’s a list of things students can do irrespective of their metrics:

• Students can use SGPA or CGPA to track their overall academic performance. They can also review the SGPA vs CGPA calculation and assess their performance. In case of satisfactory academic performance, students can include effective time management strategies or boost their brain power using certain tricks and tips. They can also download apps to boost productivity.
• Based on the final SGPA or CGPA, students should understand where they are lacking and how they can cope. They can incorporate skills like boosting their concentration on studies for a few subjects. 
• Check which subjects have better future potential based on current performance and marks. Build your communication skills with seniors and peers to address this problem and achieve a higher SGPA or CGPA. 
• Learn the ideal way to ace your exams and score high without getting a backlog in the exam which may affect your SGPA and CGPA. 
• Being consistent with your efforts so that you can score good SGPAs or CGPAs. Not taking things easy and working hard for your exams. 
• Finally, interact with your teachers to understand your weaknesses and identify your strengths. And scoring well in exams resulting in good SGPA or CGPA at the end.

While there may be huge differences, the ultimate aim is the same: to get a good SGPA or CGPA. Most Indian institutions assess using these two metrics, SGPA or CGPA, while universities abroad require a GPA calculator. To understand them better, applicants can check out SGPA vs CGPA. So, irrespective of whatever the metric is, one can always convert SGPA to GPA or CGPA to GPA on their own or request a transcript evaluation. SGPA vs CGPA is complex and are different from one another, but both are used differently in different contexts.