As a student, you may have heard the terms “GPA” and “GWA” used interchangeably, but they actually have different meanings and calculations. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between GPA and GWA, why it’s important to know them, and how to calculate them accurately.
Explanation of GPA
GPA stands for “Grade Point Average,” and it’s a measure of your academic performance in a particular course or set of courses. GPA is usually calculated on a scale of 0.0 to 4.0, with 4.0 being the highest possible score. To calculate your GPA, you first convert each letter grade you receive in your courses to a corresponding grade point value, as shown in the table below:
| Letter Grade | Grade Point Value |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
Once you have the grade point values for each course, you add them up and divide by the number of courses you took. This gives you your overall GPA.
Explanation of GWA
GWA stands for “General Weighted Average,” and it’s a measure of your overall academic performance across multiple courses or subjects. GWA is usually used in the Philippines and some other countries, and it’s calculated on a scale of 1.00 to 5.00, with 1.00 being the highest possible score. GWA is calculated based on the quality of your grades and the number of units assigned to each course.
To calculate your GWA, you first need to convert each grade to its corresponding verbal description, as shown in the table below:
| Verbal Description | Grade Point Value |
|---|---|
| Excellent | 1.00 |
| Superior | 1.25 |
| Very Good | 1.50 |
| Good | 1.75 |
| Fair | 2.00 |
| Passed | 3.00 |
| Failed | 5.00 |
Once you have the verbal descriptions of each grade, you multiply them by the corresponding number of units assigned to each course. Then, you add up the total grade points and divide by the total number of units. This gives you your GWA.
Differences Between GPA and GWA
The main differences between GPA and GWA are:
- Scale: GPA is usually calculated on a scale of 0.0 to 4.0, while GWA is usually calculated on a scale of 1.00 to 5.00.
- Calculation: GPA is calculated by averaging the grade point values of your courses, while GWA takes into account the quality of your grades and the number of units assigned to each course.
- Purpose: GPA is usually used to measure your academic performance in a particular course or set of courses, while GWA is used to measure your overall academic performance across multiple courses or subjects.
Importance of Knowing the Difference
Knowing the difference between GPA and GWA is important for several reasons:
- College admissions: Colleges and universities often have different GPA or GWA requirements for admission. Knowing which score is required can help you determine which schools you’re eligible for and how to prioritize your college applications.
- Scholarships: Many scholarships have GPA or GWA requirements. Knowing which score is required can help you determine which scholarships you’re eligible for and how to prioritize your scholarship applications.
- Academic standing: Knowing your GPA or GWA can give you an idea of where you stand academically in your courses or programs. This can help you identify areas where you need to improve and set academic goals for yourself.
How to Calculate GPA and GWA
Now that you understand the differences between GPA and GWA, you can calculate your scores accurately.
To calculate your GPA, you can use the following formula:
GPA = (Total Grade Points ÷ Total Units)
To calculate your GWA, you can use the following formula:
GWA = (Total Grade Points ÷ Total Units)
To get the total grade points, you can multiply each grade point value by the number of units assigned to each course. To get the total units, you add up the number of units for all the courses you took
Conclusion
In conclusion, GPA and GWA are both important measures of academic performance, but they have different meanings and calculations. Knowing the difference between GPA and GWA can help you understand your academic standing, identify areas where you need to improve, and prioritize your college and scholarship applications. By using the appropriate formula and grade point values, you can calculate your GPA and GWA accurately.