Grade point average and weighted average mark
Grade point average
The UTS grade point average (GPA) is based on a 7.00 point GPA scale. Effective from 14 January 2020 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.
| GRADE | GRADE POINT TO Spring 2019 (OLD SCALE) | GRADE POINT FROM 14 Jan 2020 (NEW SCALE) |
|---|---|---|
| High Distinction | 4 | 7 |
| Distinction | 3.5 | 6 |
| Credit | 2.5 | 5 |
| Pass | 1.5 | 4 |
| Fail | 0.5 | 0 |
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.
If you have ‘Automatic Credit’ appearing on your transcript from previous study at UTS, the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) you receive will be included in the GPA 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 7.00.
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
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 that on their website.
Manually calculating the GPA
The following table summarises the grade point schema, per subject grade, used for GPA calculations.
| grade | grade point |
|---|---|
| High Distinction | 7.0 |
| Distinction | 6.0 |
| Credit | 5.0 |
| Pass | 4.0 |
| Conceded pass (awarded only prior to 2004) | 0.0 |
| Fail | 0.0 |
| Ungraded subjects: Pass/Fail | Exclude |
Calculation example
For a student with the following results for the subjects completed in their course to date:
Autumn session
| Subject | results |
|---|---|
| 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 session
| Subject | results |
|---|---|
| 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:
Step 1: For each enrolled subject, multiply the subject grade point (GP) by the credit point (CP) value:
| Subject | Calculation |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Step 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
Step 3: Work out the total number of credit points for all subjects enrolled:
Total credit points = 6 X 8 = 48
Step 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
Converting to a 4 point GPA
The following information describes the 4 point GPA scale, previously used at UTS.
As a guide, the following scale may be applied to calculate your GPA on a 4 point scale.
| GRADE | GRADE POINT |
|---|---|
| High Distinction | 4 |
| Distinction | 3.5 |
| Credit | 2.5 |
| Pass | 1.5 |
| Fail | 0.5 |
The method of calculation is the same as for the 7 point GPA above, for example:
For a student with the following results for the subjects completed in their course to date:
Autumn session
| Subject | results |
|---|---|
| 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 session
| Subject | results |
|---|---|
| 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:
Step 1: For each enrolled subject, multiply the subject grade point (GP) by the credit point (CP) value:
| Subject | Calculation |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Step 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
Step 3: Work out the total number of credit points for all subjects enrolled:
Total credit points = 6 X 8 = 48
Step 4: Divide calculated 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
Weighted Average Mark (WAM)
From 14 January 2020, UTS transcripts and AHEGS show the weighted average mark (WAM) for each course.
WAM is the average mark achieved across all completed subjects in an award course, taking into account the different credit point weighting of each subject. If you study more than one course at UTS, you will receive a separate WAM for each course.
The WAM calculation used on the transcript and AHEGS is standard across UTS and is cumulative. It's calculated according to the following formula:
WAM = Σ(MU)/ΣU
M = mark received in a course
U = units of credit for a course
Σ = the sum of
How to apply this formula: For each subject, multiply your mark by the credit point value of the subject, and then add all those results together. Divide that number by the total number of credit points.
Included in the WAM calculation:
- All subjects with a 'Grade and marks' result which may include Pass, Credit, Distinction, High Distinction, Fail and Fail (X) results
- All subjects with a Withdrawn/Fail result
- Subjects which have been 'Credited' into your course from previous study at UTS
Not included in the WAM calculation:
- All 'Pass/Fail, no marks' subjects which may include Pass - Not Graded or Fail results
- All 'Grades, no marks' subjects which may include Pass, Credit, Distinction, High Distinction, Fail or Fail (X) results
- Subjects which are 'Exempt' or 'Advanced Standing' based on previous study at other institutions
For courses which are awarded with a 'level of award' (eg. 'with Distinction' or 'with First Class Honours'), the WAM used to calculated the level of award may different from the WAM found on your UTS transcript. This can be for various reasons, for instance: in a combined course which results in two awards, one faculty may only take into account subjects studied towards that particular award, or a faculty may take into account subjects with Pass/Fail grades. If you have a query regarding the level of award for your course, contact Ask UTS.
