What is GPA? Important Facts to Know About Your GPA | IDP Vietnam

GPA, or Grade Point Average, is an indicator that represents the average score that measures your academic results accumulated during study at a particular level or course, usually on a scale of 1.0 to 4.0.

1.1. What is the difference between GPA and CGPA?

The main difference between a GPA and a CGPA comes from the time it takes to calculate the score.

• CGPA is the Cumulative grade point average of all semesters and entire courses in an academic term.

• GPA is the grade point average of all scores you have earned in one semester or a year.

1.2. Why is GPA so important?

A student's GPA is an important statistic for evaluating academic performance and study plan, and it plays an important role in a student's life, especially in the following situations:

• Admission to universities: Whether you apply to colleges or universities, GPA is the first criteria that is required in your application. Achieving a good GPA brings you more chances to get into top schools and universities in the country.

• Chances to receive bursary and scholarships: All financial aid and scholarships will require a minimum GPA. An overseas student's chances of being awarded scholarships or financial help can be improved by having a high GPA.

• Job opportunities: GPA is one aspect that employers and companies will look for when searching for potential employees. Companies may evaluate the productivity and competence of their candidates based on their GPA, especially if the position requires strong analytical and quantitative abilities.

There are many grading systems that use different scales, letters, numbers, or percentages … A student’s academic achievement in any course or program is often evaluated based on this grading system.

Here are a few common ways grades are measured throughout the world:

• 10-point grading scale

• 4-point grading scale

• 5-point grading scale

• Letter scale (A - F)

• Percentage (%)

While the education system in Vietnam often uses a 10-point grading scale to calculate the average score, universities in the US often measure GPA using a 4-point scale, while the UK educational system may evaluate student’s academic performance based on IGCSE scores or A-levels…

Each country has a different way to calculate GPA as well as a conversion table for GPA scale. However, the most basic and accurate GPA scale is a 4-point scale, then the letter scale is used to evaluate student learning results.

Depending on the policy, each school in Vietnam will have a different GPA calculation method. However, whether the result you get is a number, letter or percentage, it equates to a certain score.

GPA for Highschool

For secondary school or high school students, who interested in studying abroad, here is how to calculate GPA:

(∑The average score of each year) / Number of years of study

(High school GPA will be rounded to 1st decimal according to the rounding rules)

GPA for Undergraduate degree

The GPA score at universities in Vietnam usually includes attendance score, midterm test score and final exam score. Depending on different universities, there are different ways to calculate GPA. However, the most common formula is:

(∑GPA * number of credits) / Total credits

(GPA at universities is rounded to 4 decimals according to the rounding rules)

In case you are not sure how to convert GPA, you can use the GPA conversion table below to calculate your own GPA.

GPA Converting Table for students in Vietnam and around the world:

For example, if your GPA is 8.4 on a scale of 10.0, GPA in your studying overseas profile will be converted to 3,5 on a 4.0 scale.

You also need to pay attention to unweighted GPA and weighted GPA when converting:

• Unweighted GPA: This grade point average calculated from 0 - 4.0, on an unweighted scale. This means that these courses are not so important. Grades will still be counted as 4.0 whether you get an A in a basic class or a more advanced class.

• A weighted GPA: This reflects your detailed academic efforts, using a scale of 0 - 5.0. The weighted average will take into account the level of the school or subjects attended. This means an A in an easy class counts as 4.0, but an A in a difficult class is 5.0.

In addition, some schools accept the Vietnamese 10-point scale, so if they are not required to convert, it is better for students to keep their score according to the Vietnamese 10 system.

Depending on the country you choose to study in, different schools in different countries will have different GPA requirements. Most schools require a minimum of a letter grade of B or a GPA above 3.0

4.1. Study in Canada

Depending on the level of study, the states or countries, each university will have different GPA requirements, you can refer to the table below:

4.2. Study in the US

To study at a school in the US, you need an entry GPA of 7.0 or higher. In case you want to get a scholarship, your GPA must be 3.5 or higher (4.0 scale).

4.3. Study in Australia

Depending on the level of study, the states or countries, each university will have different GPA requirements, you can refer to the table below:

CPA (Cumulative Point Average) is also known as cumulative grade point average. This is the overall average score of all the subjects you have studied during your studies at a school abroad. Cumulative Point Average (CPA) is the average of the total number of credit points that you have studied since the beginning of the course divided by the total number of registered credits.
Although CPA and GPA are both common terms in education, there are still differences you need to keep in mind as follows:

For example:
CPA: Suppose you have studied 8 semesters of college with an average GPA of 3.0 each semester. So your CPA after graduation will be 3.0 (because 3.0 x 8 = 24, divided by 8 academic credits = 3.0).

GPA: Let's say you are in your first semester of freshman year, your average GPA this semester is 3.5. So your GPA after the end of your first semester will be 3.5.

Although CPA and GPA are both important indicators to evaluate students' academic achievements, you must also note that this is only part of the assessment process. Besides, pay attention to improving yourself in other aspects such as soft skills, research ability, and participating in extracurricular activities to complete your study abroad profile.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about GPA, hopefully our suggestions can help answer some of your questions.

6.1. Does a low GPA affect the process of studying abroad or applying for scholarships?

Yes. You need to meet the GPA requirements that the school or scholarship program requires. Therefore, it is better to focus on studying and earn good grades. In addition, you should also pay attention to other aspects such as foreign language certificates - IELTS, extracurricular activities, experience from your previous jobs.

6.2. Is it necessary to participate in extracurricular activities to achieve a high GPA?

In fact, there is no connection between your GPA and extracurricular activities certificate. Therefore, participating in extracurricular activities will be a plus point in your application for study abroad or scholarship, especially when your GPA is not too outstanding.

Hopefully, this article answers your question about GPA as well as the method for calculating and converting GPA points. If you have any other questions, or are still confused about your intention to study abroad and apply for a scholarship, please contact IDP Education for free support and advice. You will be advised by experts about your university's options, choose a major that suits your aspirations, participate in Australian study abroad seminars organized by IDP, guide to apply for admission, practice interview, apply for a visa. IDP also supports free services on accommodation, health insurance and student welfare, flight booking, and pre-departure briefing sessions. Contact IDP to start your Australian study abroad consultation today!