CGPA and GPA are two of the most commonly confused terms in academic grading — partly because they measure similar things, and partly because the same letters mean slightly different things depending on which country's education system you're in. Here's a clear breakdown.
GPA: Grade Point Average
GPA typically refers to your average grade point for a single term, semester, or your overall record, depending on context — and is the term most commonly used in the United States and several other countries on a 4.0 scale. Each letter grade (A, B, C, etc.) maps to a numeric point value, and your GPA is the credit-weighted average of those points across your courses.
In the US system specifically:
| Letter Grade | GPA Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| B | 3.0 |
| C | 2.0 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
CGPA: Cumulative Grade Point Average
CGPA is the term most commonly used in India and several other countries, and specifically refers to the cumulative average across all semesters completed so far — not just one term. It's typically measured on a 10-point scale, though 5-point and 4-point variants exist depending on the institution.
Within this system, a single semester's average is usually called SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average), and CGPA is the average of all your SGPAs to date — either as a simple average or weighted by credit hours, depending on your university's rules.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | GPA (US-style) | CGPA (Indian-style) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical scale | 4.0 | 10.0 (sometimes 5.0 or 4.0) |
| Time period | Term, semester, or overall | Cumulative across all semesters |
| Single-term metric | "Term GPA" | SGPA |
| Common regions | United States, Canada | India, parts of South Asia |
Converting Between CGPA and GPA
If you're applying to a US institution with an Indian CGPA, the commonly used approximate formula is:
GPA = (CGPA ÷ Maximum Possible CGPA) × 4
For example, a CGPA of 8.0 out of a maximum of 10 converts to (8.0 ÷ 10) × 4 = 3.2 GPA. Use our GPA calculator if you have individual course letter grades, or this proportional formula if you only have an overall CGPA.
Keep in mind that many universities and credential evaluation services (such as WES) use their own specific conversion tables rather than this simple proportional formula, so always check the receiving institution's official guidance for admissions purposes.
Which One Applies to You?
If your transcript says "CGPA," you're most likely in an Indian or South Asian university and your overall record is cumulative across semesters. If it says "GPA," you're likely in a US-style system where GPA can refer to either a single term or your overall average — check which one your specific document is reporting.
Whichever scale you're working with, you can move between CGPA, SGPA, GPA, and percentage using the calculators on this site — start with our CGPA to Percentage calculator if you need a quick percentage equivalent.