To know about how to know you GPA….Read on this article…!
GPA is an acronym for Grade Point Average used to determine the level of performance in a course by a college student. It is a standardized measurement of performance in different courses taken during the academic program, usually on a scale of 4.0.
How Do I Know My GPA?
To know your GPA, contact your course/academic advisor – who usually has a track record of your academic performance, to get the already estimated Grade Point Average (GPA). Also, you can visit the student affairs unit or log on to your school portal and apply for your transcript, which usually contains your GPA.
How To Calculate Your GPA
A transcript is the record of your academic performance, and it contains all the courses taken and grades achieved. The transcript is an important document that will help you quickly check your GPA at a glance without any calculation. However, you can also calculate the GPA by yourself if you wish, using the information contained in the transcript. Below I will show you some easy steps in calculating your GPA. Some important information in the transcript that will help you calculate your GPA includes the following;
- Course unit – the credit unit assigned to the course
- Grade obtained – the grade can be A, B, C, D, or F
- Total grade points – summation of the product of credit unit and grade achieved.
- Total Course units – a sum of the course units
Step1: Use the course code or course name to determine the credit unit associated with the course. You can get this information using the course manual or other resources that may have detailed descriptions of the program you are pursuing.
Step2: Use the course manual to determine the maximum score associated with every grade and credit mark connected with scores achieved in the course.
Step3: Determine the total grade mark achieved in each course by multiplying the mark for the grade achieved by the credit unit of the course.
Step4: Sum all the credit units of the course and sum all the total grade mark achieved on the course.
Step5: Calculate the grade point average (GPA) by dividing the total grade mark achieved by total course units.
You can use the following formula to calculate grade point average (GPA);
Below I will walk you through the steps in calculating grade point average (GPA) using some practical illustrations. Assuming you took four courses with total credit units of 10 and achieved a cumulative grade mark of 35, your GPA will be 3.5.
Table 1: Sample of GPA Calculation
| Courses | Units | Grade achieved | Total Grade Points |
| Course 1 | 3 | B | 3 x 3 = 9 |
| Course 2 | 2 | A | 2 x 4 = 8 |
| Course 3 | 4 | A | 4 x 4 = 16 |
| Course 4 | 1 | C | 1 x 2 = 2 |
| 10 | 35 |
(Note: Grade A = 4.0, Grade B = 3.0, Grade C = 2.0, Grade D = 1.0 and Grade F = 0)
GPA = 
The Importance of Knowing Your GPA
There are several reasons we go to college, and one of these reasons is to get educated in both characters and learning. The standardized measurement of the level of performance is grade point average (GPA). The GPA achieved at the end of a course program determines the overall performance of every graduating student. The different degree classes awarded at the end of a course program due to the scale of GPA obtained include;
- First class honors – GPA of 3.6 and above
- Second class upper honors – GPA of 3.0 to 3.59
- Second class lower honors – GPA of 2.5 to 2.99
- Pass – GPA of 2.0 to 2.49
The knowledge of your GPA can help you understand the class of your degree. It gives you confidence when applying for a job or seeking admission for further studies. Different job opportunity comes with varying requirements. Some employers may want the service of a first-class graduate – in this situation, if your GPA does not fall or belong to this category, you can save yourself the stress of applying. Some employees may set a minimum qualification for their job opportunities, usually second-class upper honors and above. For instance, in a job where the minimum qualification is second-class upper and above, a graduate with a minimum GPA of 3.0 qualifies to apply for such a job.
In addition, knowing your GPA will help you to select the right university when you want to further your studies because every university has its minimum GPA requirement for a particular course taught in post-graduate studies. Knowing your GPA will help you to make a good list of universities to submit your application for post-graduate studies. The importance of knowing your grade point average (GPA) cannot be over-emphasized.
How To Obtain a Desired GPA?
Every student desire a good GPA after graduation, but not every student knows how to achieve the desired GPA. A common adage says, “it is only when you know the destination that you can tell when you reach it.” It is better to set a target for the GPA you want to get after graduation from the first day you start school. It will help you to keep track of your academic performance and discern your performance while continuously improving your grades to achieve the target GPA. Keeping track of all the scores achieved in every course will make it easier to calculate your GPA after graduation before your transcript is ready. It precludes unnecessary delay and trepidation involving the class of degree you achieved.
Conclusion
In conclusion, knowing your grade point average (GPA) after graduation is necessary when deciding on your post-graduate studies and employment opportunities. You can know your GPA from your academic transcript – issued through your school portal or student affairs unit. The grade point average – GPA, is calculated from a ratio of the total credit mark to total course units. It is necessary to keep track of the grade you achieved in every course taken during the program because it will help you calculate your GPA before your transcript is ready.
