How to Calculate Your GPA in Nigerian University
It’s astounding to encounter a third-year, second-year or even a final-year student in a Nigerian tertiary institution who lacks the basic knowledge of how to compute their CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average). It’s essential for students, particularly freshmen, to grasp the methodology behind calculating their GPA after the release of each semester’s results and to aggregate the cumulative average at the end of each academic session.
In Nigerian universities, students’ performance in various courses is assessed using letter grades ranging from A to F, each representing a specific range of attainable scores. Below is a table illustrating the corresponding grade points and remarks for each score range:
| SCORE (%) | GRADE | GRADE POINTS | REMARKS |
|———–|——-|————–|———|
| 70-100 | A | 5 | Excellent |
| 60-69 | B | 4 | Very Good |
| 50-59 | C | 3 | Good |
| 45-49 | D | 2 | Fair |
| 40-44 | E | 1 | Pass |
| 0-39 | F | Fail |
At the conclusion of each semester, a student’s grade point average (GPA) is determined using the aforementioned grading system.
Calculation of Grade Point Average (GPA) in Nigerian Universities
All courses in Nigerian universities have a designated number of credit units (CU). By multiplying the credit units of a particular course by the grade point corresponding to the grade obtained, you derive the Quality Point (QP) for that course.
For example, suppose MTH101 is a 5-unit course and you earned a B grade, which corresponds to a grade point of 4. Referencing the table above, your quality point for that course would be 5 x 4 = 20, where Quality Point = Grade Point x Credit Unit.
The Total Quality Point (TQP) is obtained by summing up the quality points of all courses taken in that semester, while the Total Credit Unit (TCU) is obtained by summing up the credit units of those courses.
The Grade Point Average (GPA) is then calculated by dividing the total quality point by the total credit unit for that semester. For instance, if you obtained a total of 82 quality points and 18 credit units in a semester, your GPA would be 82/18, resulting in 4.55.
Calculation of Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)
The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is computed by summing up the total quality points for all semesters completed to date and dividing it by the total credit units for all those semesters.
For example, if we consider a student’s results for the first and second semesters in a Nigerian university:
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First Semester
| Course Code | Credit Unit | Grade | Grade Points | Quality Points (CU x GP) |
|————-|————-|——-|————–|————————–|
| MTH 101 | 5 | A | 5 | 25 |
| PHY 101 | 4 | B | 4 | 16 |
| CHM 101 | 4 | A | 5 | 20 |
| TPD 101 | 1 | A | 5 | 5 |
| CSC 101 | 2 | B | 4 | 8 |
| CHM 103 | 1 | A | 5 | 5 |
| PHY 107 | 1 | A | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 18| | 84| |
For the first semester:
– TQP = 84
– TCU = 18
– GPA = TQP/TCU = 84/18 = 4.67
Second Semester
| Course Code | Credit Unit | Grade | Grade Points | Quality Points (CU x GP) |
|————-|————-|——-|————–|————————–|
| MTH 102 | 5 | C | 3 | 15 |
| PHY 102 | 4 | A | 5 | 20 |
| CHM 102 | 4 | B | 4 | 16 |
| CSC 102 | 2 | A | 5 | 10 |
| MTH 104 | 2 | D | 2 | 4 |
| CHM 105 | 1 | A | 5 | 5 |
| PHY 108 | 1 | A | 5 | 5 |
|Total|19| | 75 | |
For the second semester:
– TQP = 75
– TCU = 19
– CGPA = TQP/TCU = 159/37 = 4.30
Therefore, the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) for the two semesters is 4.30. This process is repeated for each semester result.
Note: Certain courses, whether with or without credit units, are not factored into GPA and CGPA calculations. These courses, known as special electives, only require students to avoid failing; they do not contribute to grade points.