Difference Between SGPA and CGPA

Different institutions have different metrics for assessing their students’ performances. While some prefer using SGPA, others may use CGPA. But what is the difference between SGPA and CGPA? If you are also looking for answers for SGPA vs CGPA, then you have come to the right place. Let us address in detail about the difference between CGPA and SGPA. 

Since Indian institutions widely use CGPA and SGPA as part of their assessments, students likely want to know more about them. Both SGPA and CGPA hold importance academically, for admissions abroad, performance assessment and other parameters. Check out the article where we discuss in detail the difference between CGPA and SGPA.

Difference between CGPA and SGPA

Check out the following table to understand the difference between SGPA and CGPA based on different parameters:

Parameters	SGPA	CGPA
Full Form	Semester Grade Point Average	Cumulative Grade Point Average
Timeframe	SGPA is calculated for a single semester.	CGPA can be calculated for a single semester, year or overall result.
Formula	SGPA = Grade Points Sum / Credit Points Sum	CGPA = Sum of Grade Points / Total Number of Subjects
Computation	SGPA is calculated using grade points subject-wise and averages them out at the end of the semester.	CGPA is also calculated using the grade points average but for a broader result analysis.
Scope	SGPA helps students understand the scope of subjects in future based on their performance in the current year.	This will help students understand the scope of subjects based on performance throughout the year.
Importance	For admission to the next year of study.	For higher education admissions and even consideration for scholarships.

SGPA vs CGPA can be understood more effectively from the following sections. The calculation difference between CGPA vs SGPA can also be understood from the following sections. 

SGPA Calculation Vs. CGPA Calculation

While both SGPA and CGPA are two different metrics, they are calculated differently. Since we are still discussing the difference between SGPA and CGPA, it is important to understand this aspect as well. Let us check them out in the following sections. 

How is SGPA Calculated?

SGPA is calculated using a simple formula and that is - 

SGPA = Grade Points Sum / Credit Points Sum

Where, 

• Grade points are points awarded to each grade a student gets in his/her subject.
• Credits is the number of hours devoted in a class course plus the homework. 

Grade points are first multiplied with credits and then the sum is calculated. The credits sum is calculated alone for all subjects. And then when both these parameters are accounted for, SGPA for a given semester is computed. 

An example for calculating SGPA is as follows:

Subject	Credit Points (CP)	Grade	Grade Points (GP)	Subject-wise Score (CP x GP)
Mathematics	4	A	8	32
Physics	3	B+	7	21
English Literature	3	B	6	18
History	2	A	8	16
Chemistry	4	B	6	24
Total	16			111

SGPA = Grade Points Sum / Credit Points Sum

SGPA = 111 / 16

SGPA = 6.93

So the SGPA for the above given set of courses for a given semester is 6.93. 

For a detailed understanding check out: 

• SGPA to Percentage Converter

How is CGPA Calculated?

When we talk about how to calculate CGPA, before getting on to calculating SGPA, we follow these steps:

Subjects for Sem 1	Grade	Grade Points (GP)
English	A	8
Hindi	B	6
Maths	A	8
Science	B+	7
Social Science	C	5
Total Courses = 5		Sum of GPxCredits = 34

Here's how CGPA is calculated from the above given data set:

• Step 1: Calculate Grade points based on grades obtained from the UGC-approved 10-point grading table.
• Step 2: Sum the grade points, which is: 8+6+8+7+5=34
• Step 5: Sum the total subjects = 5
• Step 6: Calculate CGPA:

CGPA Formula = Sum of Grade Points / Total Number of Subjects

Therefore, your CGPA for semester 1 would be 6.8.

Check: How to Calculate CGPA?

Related Reads:

Percentage to CGPA	What is GPA?
CGPA into Marks	CGPA to Percentage

How is CGPA Calculated from SGPA?

While there is a big difference between CGPA and SGPA, yet there is a common point where SGPA to CGPA calculation can happen. CGPA to SGPA calculator is simple, students can use this formula:

CGPA = (SGPA of Sem 1 + SGPA of Sem 2 + …… + SGPA of Sem 6) / (Total Semesters)

For example:

Semesters	SGPA
1	8.2
2	9.1
3	7.8
4	8.5
5	9.4
6	8.7
Total: 6 Semesters	Total: 51.70

CGPA = ΣSGPA / Total Semesters

CGPA = 8.20 (Sem 1 SGPA) + 9.10 (Sem 2 SGPA) + 7.80 (Sem 3 SGPA) + 8.50 (Sem 4 SGPA) + 9.40 (Sem 5 SGPA) + 8.70 (Sem 6 SGPA) / 6

CGPA = 51.70 / 6

CGPA = 8.61

How to Effectively Use SGPA and CGPA?

The difference between SGPA and CGPA is big, yet these two metrics have a common purpose at the end of the year or semester. So after understanding these two metrics are computed differently still they are used for some common purposes. Coming to the question of effectively using SGPA and CGPA, here’s a list of things students can do irrespective of their metrics:

• Students can use SGPA and CGPA to track their overall academic performance. Students can include effective time management strategies or boost their brain power using certain tricks and tips in case of satisfactory academic performance. Also, download apps to boost productivity.
• Understand where they are lacking and how they can cope based on the final SGPA or CGPA. They can incorporate skills like boosting their concentration on studies for a couple of subjects. 
• Check which subjects have a better scope for performance in future based on current performance and marks. Build your communication skills with seniors and peers to cater to this problem and get a higher SGPA or CGPA. 
• Learn the ideal way to ace your exams and score high without getting a backlog in the exam which may affect your SGPA and CGPA. 
• Being consistent with your efforts so that you can score good SGPAs or CGPAs. Not taking things easy and working hard for your exams. 
• Finally, interact with your teachers to understand your weaknesses and identify your strengths. And scoring well in exams resulting in good SGPA or CGPA at the end.

While there may be huge differences, the ultimate aim is the same, to get a good SGPA or CGPA in the end. The majority of Indian institutions assess using these two metrics that is, SGPA or CGPA. While universities abroad require a GPA. So irrespective of whatever the metric is, one can always convert SGPA to GPA or CGPA to GPA on their own or request for transcripts evaluation. SGPA and CGPA are different from one another, but both are used differently in different contexts.