Australian GPA Calculator

How an Australian GPA is calculated

Australian universities grade units with words rather than letters: High Distinction (HD), Distinction (D), Credit (CR or C), Pass (P) and Fail (N or F). For a grade point average, each grade gets a number of grade points, which are then averaged with each unit weighted by its credit points. A 12-credit-point unit counts twice as much as a 6-point one.

GPA = Σ (grade point × credit points) ÷ Σ credit points

What differs between universities is the scale. Many use a 7-point scale, where a High Distinction is 7. Monash uses a 4-point scale, where a High Distinction is 4. Some, such as the University of Melbourne, UNSW and the University of Sydney, don’t calculate a GPA at all and report a weighted average mark instead; use the WAM calculator for those.

The scales in this calculator

ANU 7-point scale

Monash 4-point scale

At the University of Queensland the grade itself is the grade point: results run from 7 (High Distinction) down to 4 (Pass), and 3, 2 and 1 are fails that still count at their value. Choose “grades 1–7 (UQ)” for that system. Other 7-point universities map their grades in much the same way as ANU, but check how yours treats fails and withdrawals.

Worked example

The units pre-filled above are Statistics HD (6 credit points), Chemistry D (6), Biology CR (6), Psychology D (12) and an elective Pass (6). On the 7-point scale:

(7×6 + 6×6 + 5×6 + 6×12 + 4×6) ÷ 36 = 204 ÷ 36 = 5.667

The same grades on Monash’s 4-point scale give (4×6 + 3×6 + 2×6 + 3×12 + 1×6) ÷ 36 = 96 ÷ 36 = 2.667. The numbers look very different, so always say which scale a GPA is on when you quote it. Monash’s own worked example (nine units, 229.8 grade points over 78 credit points, GPA 2.946) is one of this calculator’s automated tests, as is UQ’s (30 ÷ 6 = 5.0).

Fails, withdrawals and repeats

• Fails count. At ANU a fail is worth 0; at Monash a fail is 0.3 and a near pass 0.7; at UQ a fail keeps its grade of 1, 2 or 3. Monash includes grades from repeated units, so passing a unit later adds a new result but doesn’t remove the fail.
• Late withdrawals can count. “Withdrawn fail” (WN) is worth 0 at both ANU and Monash, while a withdrawal without failure is left out.
• Pass/fail units are left out. Units graded only as satisfied or ungraded pass carry no grade points, so don’t enter them.
• Credit from elsewhere usually appears as status or credit with no grade and doesn’t affect your GPA.

What is a good GPA in Australia?

On a 7-point scale, a GPA of 5 means you average a Credit, 6 means a Distinction average, and anything above 6.5 is outstanding. Honours programs, graduate-entry courses and scholarships often set their bar between about 5.0 and 6.0, and many employers’ graduate programs look for a Credit average or better. On Monash’s 4-point scale, 3.0 is a Distinction average and 2.0 a Credit average.

Tips

• Use your transcript’s credit points. Units can be worth 2, 6, 12 or 12.5 points depending on the university; a wrong weight throws the whole GPA off.
• Don’t convert between scales yourself. If an application wants a GPA on a different scale, use the conversion that organisation publishes.
• Check the official figure. Your university calculates the GPA on your academic record, usually to three decimal places; this calculator is an estimate for planning.

Results are estimates for planning. Your school, college or testing organization calculates your official numbers. UPMYGPA is not affiliated with College Board, ACT, LSAC or the AAMC.