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Hints on Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

The CGPA was introduced in the University in 1996/97 with students admitted to the 100 level in that session. The use of CGPA for the computation of final year results with students graduating in the 2000/2001 session:

1. There are two fundamental differences between GPA and the CGPA systems:

   • Under the GPA system, not all grades obtained by the student are used for calculating the GPA. Rather, a specified number of units (including all compulsory courses), detenl1ined by each Faculty, is taken from the total units earned (passed) by the student and used for calculating the GPA. Under the CGPA system, grades obtained in all courses whether compulsory, required or elective, and whether passed or failed must be included in the computation of the CGPA. in other words, there is no single common denominator number of units to be used for students on the same programme. The CGPA is obtained by simply dividing the total weighted grade point (WGP) by the total number of units taken by the student including those passed and failed (see sample calculation).

   • The range of GPA scores for the classification of degree is different from that for CGPA, with the CGPA system (Table 1) being less stringent than the GPA system (Table 2).

   CGPA	Class of Degree
   6.0 and above	First Class
   4.6 - 5.9	Second Class Upper
   2.6 - 4.5	Second Class Lower
   1.6 - 2.5	Third Class
   1.0 - 1.5	Pass

   GPA	Class of Degree
   6.2 and above	First Class
   4.8 - 6.1	Second Class Upper
   2.9 - 4.7	Second Class Lower
   1.7 - 2.8	Third Class
   1.0 - 1.6	Pass

2. There are Faculty requirements under the CGPA system. Although there is no common denominator for dividing the total WGP, there are Faculty requirements under CGPA system in the sense that the NUC Minimum Academic Standards stipulate that the minimum number of credit units for the award of a degree is 120 for 4-year degree programme. Consequently, the equivalent minimum number of units for the award of a degree is 150 and 180 for 5"year and 6-year degree programmes respectively.

3. There are departmental requirements under CGPA system. Under the G P A system, there are compulsory courses specified by Departments that must be taken and passed by students before they can graduate. These constitute departmental requirements for graduation. The same applies under the CGPA system.

4. When a student fails a course it counts in determining the CGPA. Every grade obtained by a student in a course at every sitting for examination counts towards the CGPA. A student that tails a 3-unit course receives a WGP of (zero) for that course at that sitting. If the student retakes the course and scores 50%, the WGP for that second sitting is 9 (nine). Both count towards the CGPA. (see sample calculation).

5. Should a student pass a course marginally, the course could no longer be retaken by the student with a view to increasing the CGPA.

6. The format for the presentation of final year results at the Faculty level at the Board of examiners' Meeting is different under the CGPA system. One of the advantages of the CGPA system is that it simplifies the computation and presentation of results. Once a student has met Faculty and Departmental requirements, the vital information required are the total units taken, the CGPA and the class of degree