Getting a University degree today is no longer a luxury but a necessity. However, it is more important to understand the academic grading system- before venturing into any. Calculating your CGPA in a Nigerian University
We understand the gush of excitement that comes with being newly admitted into a university of one’s choice! Unfortunately, this excitement beclouds a lot of information that should be known at the point of entry. Thereby, leading to students struggling or being under-prepared at the early stage of their academic journey. Not to worry, this article would provide all you need to know about how to calculate your CGPA in a Nigerian University in order to set yourself for an early and prosperous academic journey- and subsequently position you for great Internship Opportunities
Why You Should Understand How to Calculate Your CGPA
Understanding how the GPA and CGPA are calculated would curb around 45% of academic failures experienced by freshers. One major importance is making informed decisions on the courses to register in a semester, based on your understanding of the impact of the weight of the course unit on your CGPA.
At the inception of the semester; it is important to note which courses to avoid and which can be taken- based on past success rates and the course units. Course which seems difficult to pass and with heavy units should be avoided.
The Five-Point Grading System Adopted Amongst Nigerian Universities
To begin with; let’s draw the basic by stating that all schools have grade system; either using the five-point or the four-point grading system. Where the Five-Point Grading System is the most commonly used amongst Nigerian Universities, and the approved system by the Nigerian University Commission, a few universities still adopt the four-point system.
The five-point grading scale allots 5 to an A grade or a distinction; where the four-point grading system assigns a 4 to an A grade or distinction.
For the purpose of this article and the example cited; the five-point grade point will be referenced. However, more details about the four-point grading system will be shared at the end of this write-up.
A five-point grade point has a scale ranging from 5-0, as illustrated below.
Score Range | Grade | Grade Point |
70- Above | A | 5 |
60-69 | B | 4 |
50-59 | C | 3 |
45-49 | D | 2 |
40-44 | E | 1 |
0-39 | F | 0 |
The scale determines how much point is multiplied with the course unit to get the total Grade Point Average (GPA) by the end of the semester.
Grade Point Average (GPA), and how to calculate it?
A Grade Point Average (GPA) is a number that indicates how well you performed in a semester. It is usually calculated by the end of the semester; factoring into consideration the total score in each course by the total course unit. Basically, it is an indication of how well you performed- academically– in a semester.
If for example; the courses to be taken in a semester are ACC100 (3 units), ACC101 (3 units) and ACC102 (3 units).
Using the five-point grading scale:
Score Range | Grade | Grade Unit |
70- Above | A | 5 |
60-69 | B | 4 |
50-59 | C | 3 |
45-49 | D | 2 |
40-44 | E | 1 |
0-39 | F | 0 |
We need to get the scores gotten for each of the courses. Depending on the grade gotten in a course by the end of the semester; the grade unit will be multiplied by the course unit, in order to get the Grade Point (GP) for a particular course.
The GP for all courses divided by the total course units in the semester makes up the Grade Point Average (GPA).
Course Title | Score | Grade | Grade Unit | Course Unit | Grade Point |
ACC100 | 70 | A | 5 | 3 | 15 |
ACC101 | 60 | B | 4 | 3 | 12 |
ACC102 | 50 | C | 3 | 3 | 9 |
Total | 9 | 36 |
The Grade Point for ACC100, ACC101 and ACC102 is 15 points, 12 points and 9 points- respectively. The (GPA) for that semester will be the total grade points divided by the total course unit.
That gives; 36/9= 4.0 GPA for the first semester.
If by the second semester, the courses taken by the students are ACC200 (4 units), ACC201 (3 units), ACC 202 (4 units), and ACC203 (2 units); and by the end of the semester- the student gets a total score of 70, 40, 45 and 39, in the order of each of these courses.
Here’s how it’d be calculated (Going by the initial process covered)
COURSE TITLE | SCORE | Grade | Grade Unit | Course Unit | Grade Point |
ACC200 | 70 | A | 5 | 4 | 12 |
ACC201 | 40 | E | 1 | 3 | 3 |
ACC202 | 45 | D | 2 | 4 | 8 |
ACC203 | 39 | F | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Total | 13 | 23 |
Thesecondsemester GPA will be 23/13 = 1.77
By the end of the second semester; the two GPAs gotten in that session will be calculated to get the overall academic standing of the student for the session. This is known as the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
How to calculate your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)?
The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is simply the overall academic evaluation of a student’s performance in a session. Where the GPA calculates the average for a semester; CGPA calculates the average for a session. The difference is the period or duration.
CGPA is an aggregate of the total points from the first and second semester divided by the total course units taken in the first and second semester.
CGPA = Total Grade Points in the first and second semester/ Total course units or number of credit units for the first and second semester.
Following our example above; the CGPA for that session will be 36 + 23 = 59 = 2.68 CGPA
13 + 9 22
This calculation process is repeated every semester and then session- as the case may be for either the GPA or CGPA.
The CGPA the student ends with by the end of the semester or program determines their academic standing or class of degree– as defined by the grading system adopted (Five-point or four-point grading system).
How to determine your class of degree
The class of degree, in general, speaks to the academic performance of the student as defined by a structured category or classification.
Whether it is the five-point grading system or the four-point grading system- the student’s academic stance is determined by a pre-defined category dependent on the grading system. By the end of the program; the CGPA gotten determines what the students graduates with.
The major difference between the five-point and the four-point grading system is the Class of Degree.
As the name implies, where the five-point grading system ranges from a 5.0-1.0; the four-point grading system ranges from 4.0-1.0.
The five-point grading system has a class of degree from 5.0-1.0
Class of Degree | CGPA |
First Class | 4.50 – 5.0 |
Second Class (Upper Class) | 3.5 – 4.49 |
Second Class (Lower Class) | 2.40 – 3.49 |
Third Class | 1.50 – 2.39 |
Pass | 1.00 – 1.49 |
As in our example above (the five-point grading system)- the student’s final CGPA for the degree or program is 2.68; which is a Second Class (Lower).
Whereas, the four-point grading system has a class of degree from 4.0-1.0
Class of Degree | CGPA |
First Class | 3.50 – 4.0 |
Second Class (Upper Class) | 3.0 – 3.49 |
Second Class (Lower Class) | 2.0 – 2.99 |
Third Class | 1.0 – 1.99 |
Universities in Nigeria and their Current Grade-point System
The Four-Point grading system was enacted before 2018/2019 academic session; before it was ruled out had set a constraint on the possibility of graduating for below-average students; and on the other hand made it very easy for students slightly above average to graduate with a first-class.
Here’s a sample of the grade scale for adopted by the four-point grading system;
Score Range | Grade | Grade Point |
70- Above | A | 4 |
60-69 | B | 3 |
50-59 | C | 2 |
45-49 | D | 1 |
40-44 | E | 0 |
Here’s a sample of the class of degree adopted by the four-point grading system;
Class of Degree | CGPA |
First Class | 3.50 – 4.0 |
Second Class (Upper Class) | 3.0 – 3.49 |
Second Class (Lower Class) | 2.0 – 2.99 |
Third Class | – 1.99 |
Conclusion
Where most tertiary institutions have adopted the five-point grading system.
These include universities like; Ahmadu Bello University, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Covenant University Ota, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Nigeria, University of Port Harcourt, Federal University of Technology Akure, Landmark University, Federal University of Technology Minna, Bayero University Kano, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, University of Calabar, University of Benin, Adekunle Ajasin University, Lagos State University, University of Abuja, University of Jos, Redeemer’s University.
Other Universities, are still implementing the four-point grading system.