GPA has become a popular alternative to the percentage system for exams worldwide. It stands for Grade Point Average.
In some countries, the GPA is measured on a scale of 1-4, and in others, on a scale of 1-10. However, what people confuse as the same is the Cumulative GPA and the Overall GPA.
Key Takeaways
- Cumulative GPA calculates a student’s average performance, including all classes and grades throughout their academic career.
- Overall GPA focuses solely on a specific term or semester, providing a snapshot of a student’s performance.
- Both GPAs are important in evaluating academic progress, but colleges and employers may prioritize one depending on their criteria.
Cumulative GPA vs. Overall GPA
Cumulative GPA is a calculation of the average of all of a student’s grades for all semesters and courses completed up to a given academic term. The overall GPA, on the other hand, could refer to an average grade for one particular semester or it could be an average grade of all the completed semesters.
A cumulative GPA is the grade point average for a short exam term assessment. This term may be a semester or half-yearly examination.
An overall GPA is the grade point average of average points scored in many short-term exams. Thus, it assesses a student‘s overall performance over a year or course.
Comparison Table
| Parameter Of Comparison | Cumulative GPA | Overall GPA |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A cumulative GPA is the average of the grades in one exam. | An overall GPA is the average of the grades of all the exams that make up an academic term. |
| Basis of Calculation | A cumulative GPA has different bases for calculations based on a particular institute. | An overall GPA has uniform bases for calculations as all the bases are converted into equivalent ones. |
| Grade Transfer | A cumulative GPA doesn’t take into account grade transfers from different institutions. | An overall GPA takes into account grade transfers from different institutions. |
| Performance Consideration | The cumulative GPA depicts only the partial academic performance of a student. | The overall GPA depicts the absolute academic performance of a student throughout the term. |
| Consistency Measurement | The cumulative GPA cannot be considered a measure of the consistency of a student. | The overall GPA is considered a measure of the academic consistency of a student. |
What is Cumulative GPA?
The Cumulative GPA stands for cumulative grade point average. It is the average of the grades acquired by a student in a particular term of the academic calendar.
The variance of cumulative GPA makes grade transfer from one institute to another difficult. The institutes may differ in calculating grades and maximum and minimum points.
It cannot be ascertained that a student is consistent in their studies based on his cumulative GPA. Therefore, other tools for overall assessment should be adopted.
What is Overall GPA?
The Overall GPA stands for overall grade point average. It is the average of the grades acquired by a student in all the terms of the academic calendar.
The uniformity of overall GPA makes grade transfer from one institute to another easy. The institutes may convert their forms of assessment into a single document.
It can be ascertained that a student is consistent in their studies based on his overall GPA. Therefore, the overall GPA is a valuable tool for grade assessment.
Main Differences Between Cumulative GPA and Overall GPA
The grade-based assessment is widely favored by universities around the world today. There are many different ways for this type of academic assessment.
The main differences between the two are :
- The cumulative GPA cannot predict the entire performance of a student, whereas the overall GPA gives the absolute academic performance of a student.
- The cumulative GPA is not considered a measure of the academic consistency of a student. On the other hand, the overall GPA depicts the consistent efforts of a student.
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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