What Is a GPA and Why Is It So Important?

GPA is referred to as Grade Point Average and is the ideal method to evaluate students' progress during their study. GPA defines the average performance of the candidates and the score ranges between 1.0 to 4.0.

However, if your country still follows a grading system or percentage system, then you can also calculate your percentage to GPA. Many educational institutions and employers across the world know and recognize the value of the GPA as a reliable indicator of a student's potential. 

A good GPA can be important for various reasons and can factor in career building. If you are a high school student then you must understand that your GPA plays an important role while applying for universities.

If your GPA is low, you might not get admission to the desired universities. Even if you get admission, you may not get benefits such as scholarships or funding. Let's see why GPA is crucial:

1. Admission to Colleges and Universities

As discussed earlier, one of the major importance of having a good GPA is getting admission to your desired colleges and universities along with other benefits. You will also be able to get into a premium course which is not allowed for those students with low GPA scores.

2. Financial Assistance and Scholarships

There are many financial funding and scholarship programs for some of the potential students who have relatively higher GPA scores than others. Moreover, if you are planning to study abroad, then your GPA can be your key strength. Universities and Colleges are constantly looking for students who can excel in academics and help the universities with valuable research.

3. Performance Indicator for Employment

An excellent GPA must be submitted to apply for better career prospects in competitive industries such as business and finance consulting. If the grade point average is low, there is less chance to be invited to the following selection round, unless they prove their potential in some other way.

A good GPA is a subjective scale and sometimes may differ based on the high school, career stream, and university chosen by the candidate. It may be very easy to achieve a relatively higher GPA in high school than in university.

Furthermore, a good GPA for any student might depend majorly on the standards of a potential employer or a university that they hope to attend. In short, a good GPA can be different for every student.

If you have completed high school recently and looking for good universities then you must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. However, there are also plenty of universities that will accept students with a GPA of 2.5 or sometimes even less.

And, if you are in university and looking for further education, then the minimum GPA expectation is usually 2.0 although the demand varies from institute to institution. In the post-graduation course, an average good GPA may range from 2.75 to 3.5.

Grading systems and GPA scores depend on the educational system and the particular institution. Many grading systems use different scales, letters, numbers, and so on. Here are a few common ways of grades that are measured throughout the world:

• A-F: US, Canada, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, etc.
• 1-10: Netherlands, Columbia, Latvia, Israel, etc.
• 1-5: Germany, Austria, Russia, Slovakia, Paraguay, etc.
• Percentage: Kuwait, Belgium, Hungary, Poland, etc.

There are some countries and universities that make their grading system translateable and often use an average score system. For example, European universities and colleges often use the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) to convert grades.

By making the system more accessible, education has now become transparent and allows students to have their grades recognized all over the world.

Calculating your GPA is a systematic process that involves assigning each grade a point value, taking the weighted average based on course credit, and then summing it all up. Even though various institutions might have variations in their GPA scale, the principle remains the same.

Some online GPA calculators make this procedure much simpler. Students who understand how to calculate their GPA gain confidence in their academic status and gain awareness of growth opportunities.

Unweighted vs. Weighted GPA

The systematic way to calculate GPA is through an unweighted scale that ranges from 0 to 4.0. The weighted scale showcases the academic performance ranging between 0 to 5.0.

On the other hand, the weighted scale is a more reliable scale for the assessment of achievement of students as it takes the difficulty and the learning curve involved in each course. It is a better way to calculate GPA.

For example, an A in a challenging program is marked 5.0 for outstanding work, but an A in a simpler course is marked 4.0.

Cumulative GPA va. Overall GPA

A student's average grade points or performance analysis over a shorter period, such as a semester, quarter, or term, is covered by their cumulative GPA.

Overall GPA is the total of the average grade points or scores obtained during the academic year. It shows the entire performance curve and includes the entire course, semesters, and terms.

It could be discouraging for a student to maintain a higher GPA at the end, if they have a poor starting GPA. But for any student, developing and expanding is crucial. 

Even though it could be challenging, students should strive to do well in the course and by the end of the third year, have an above-average or excellent GPA.

Here are some of the tips to get a high GPA:

• You can establish and maintain a daily study routine, this can ensure that the material is regularly reviewed and understood.
• Manage your time effectively as your time is a precious resource. Some classes may require more time than others, know this and give priority accordingly.
• Join or assemble a study group, this will help you reduce procrastination and help you prepare for assignments or tests.
• If you find your course to be extra challenging, you can take the help of a tutor to help you review concepts, arrange a study schedule, and prepare for tests.

Content Sources:

• U.S. News
• James Cook University
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Coursera