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. The WAM calculation used on the transcript and AHEGS is standard across UTS and is cumulative.

WAM is the average mark achieved across all completed subjects in an award course. 

The cumulative WAM calculation is used for UTS transcripts and AHEGS according to the following formula:

WAM = Σ(MU)/ΣU

Where:
M = mark received in a course
U = units of credit for a course
Σ = the sum of

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.