Calculating grade point average (GPA)

The UTS grade point average (GPA) is based on a 4.00 point GPA scale. Effective from results release Spring 2010 the grade point for each grade level has been increased as per the table below. All students who have had a grade point average calculated since the inception of GPA (i.e. Autumn 2008) have had the GPA recalculated based on the new scale.

Subjects included

Grades for all enrolled subjects within a course will be included in the GPA calculation, including fail results, except where the grade type is ungraded. GPA is calculated on finalised subjects only, therefore students who have unresolved or withheld grades will not have a GPA reflected on their academic record.

Subjects where you have exemptions or any form of recognition of prior learning are not included in the calculation.

GPA formula

The GPA is calculated using a formula based on two dimensions:

• a grade point for each subject grade, and
• subject credit points.

All GPA values are between the range of 0.00 and 4.00.

The GPA formula is:

GPA = [(Sub1 GP x CP) + (Sub2 GP x CP) + . . (SubN GP x CP)] /(Total CP enrolled)

Where:
Sub GP = the subject's grade point value
CP = Credit points

Subject grade point (GP)

The following table summarises the grade point schema, per subject grade, used for GPA calculations.

• High Distinction

  Grade point: 4.0

• Distinction

  Grade point: 3.5

• Credit

  Grade point: 2.5

• Pass

  Grade point: 1.5

• Conceded pass (awarded only prior to 2004)

  Grade point: 0.5

• Fail

  Grade point: 0.5

• Ungraded subjects: Pass/Fail

  
  Grade point: Exclude

Calculation example

For a student with the following results for the subjects completed in their course to date:

• Autumn Semester
  • Corporate Law
    • Subject grade: Distinction
    • Subject grade point (GP): 3.5
    • Credit point (CP): 6
  • Criminal Law
    • Subject grade: Credit
    • Subject grade point (GP): 2.5
    • Credit point (CP): 6
  • Law of Torts
    • Subject grade: Pass
    • Subject grade point (GP): 1.5
    • Credit point (CP): 6
  • Real Property
    • Subject grade: Fail
    • Subject grade point (GP): 0.5
    • Credit point (CP): 6
• Spring Semester
  • Insolvency
    • Subject grade: High Distinction
    • Subject grade point (GP): 4.0
    • Credit point (CP): 6
  • Revenue Law
    • Subject grade: Withdrawn Fail
    • Subject grade point (GP): 0.5
    • Credit point (CP): 6
  • Civil Litigation
    • Subject grade: Credit
    • Subject grade point (GP): 2.5
    • Credit point (CP): 6
  • Administration Law
    • Subject grade: Credit
    • Subject grade point (GP): 2.5
    • Credit point (CP): 6

The following steps are used to calculate the GPA:

1. For each enrolled subject, multiply the subject grade point (GP) by the credit point (CP) value:

   • Corporate Law
     GP x CP = 3.5 x 6 = 21
   • Criminal Law
     GP x CP = 2.5 x 6 = 15
   • Law of Torts
     GP x CP = 1.5 x 6 = 9
   • Real Property
     GP x CP = 0.5 x 6 = 3
   • Insolvency
     GP x CP = 4.0 x 6 = 24
   • Revenue Law
     GP x CP = 0.5 x 6 = 3
   • Civil Litigation
     GP x CP = 2.5 x 6 = 15
   • Administration Law
     GP x CP = 2.5 x 6 = 15

2. Determine the accumulated value of CP X GP (from Step 1) for all subjects enrolled:

   Accumulated CP X GP = 21+15+9+3+24+3+15+15= 105

3. Work out the total number of credit points for all subjects enrolled:

   Total credit points = 6 X 8 = 48

4. Divide acculated value of CP X GP for all subjects enrolled (from Step 2) by the total credit points (from Step 3):

    

   GPA = 105 / 48 = 2.19

Converting to a 7 point GPA

The following information describes the 7 point GPA scale used in some Australian and overseas universities.

Some universities using 7 points scales also award GPA values for failing grades, so if you are planning to use your GPA to apply to another university you may wish to look for on that university's website.

As a guide, the following scale may be applied to calculate your GPA on a 7 point scale.

The method of calculation is the same as for the 4 point GPA above eg.

For a student with the following results for the subjects completed in their course to date:

• Autumn semester
• Corporate Law
• Subject grade: Distinction
• Subject grade point (GP): 6.0
• Credit point (CP): 6
• Criminal Law
• Subject grade: Credit
• Subject grade point (GP): 5.0
• Credit point (CP): 6
• Law of Torts
• Subject grade: Pass>
• Subject grade point (GP): 4.0
• Credit point (CP): 6
• Real Property
• Subject grade: Fail
• Subject grade point (GP): 0.0
• Credit point (CP): 6
• Spring semester
• Insolvency
• Subject grade: High Distinction
• Subject grade point (GP): 7.0
• Credit point (CP): 6
• Revenue Law
• Subject grade: Withdrawn Fail
• Subject grade point (GP): 0.0
• Credit point (CP): 6
• Civil Litigation
• Subject grade: Credit
• Subject grade point (GP): 5.0
• Credit point (CP): 6
• Administration Law
• Subject grade: Credit
• Subject grade point (GP): 5.0
• Credit point (CP): 6

The following steps are used to calculate the GPA:

1. For each enrolled subject, multiply the subject grade point (GP) by the credit point (CP) value:
• Corporate Law
  GP x CP = 6.0 x 6 = 36
• Criminal Law
  GP x CP = 5.0 x 6 = 30
• Law of Torts
  GP x CP = 4.0 x 6 = 24
• Real Property
  GP x CP = 0.0 x 6 = 0
• Insolvency
  GP x CP = 7.0 x 6 = 42
• Revenue Law
  GP x CP = 0.0 x 6 = 0
• Civil Litigation
  GP x CP = 5.0 x 6 = 30
• Administration Law
  GP x CP = 5.0 x 6 = 30
2. Determine the accumulated value of CP X GP (from Step 1) for all subjects enrolled:
   Accumulated CP X GP = 36+30+24+0+42+0+30+30 = 192
3. Work out the total number of credit points for all subjects enrolled:
   Total credit points = 6 X 8 = 48
4. Divide accumulated value of CP X GP for all subjects enrolled (from Step 2) by the total credit points (from Step 3):
   GPA = 192 / 48 = 4.0