How the WAM is calculated
A Weighted Average Mark (WAM) is the average of your final unit marks out of 100, weighted by each unit’s credit points. Universities such as Melbourne, UNSW and Sydney use it instead of a GPA, and Monash reports it alongside a GPA. Because it uses your actual marks, a WAM separates a 74 from a 66, which a GPA treats as the same Credit.
WAM = Σ (mark × credit points × level weight) ÷ Σ (credit points × level weight)
At most universities every level weight is 1, so the WAM is simply credit-weighted. Monash weights first-year units at 0.5 and all later units at 1.0, whenever you take them. The University of Sydney’s formula includes a level weight but says it is generally 1, with exceptions for some faculty calculations.
Worked examples
The units pre-filled above are Intro Economics 72 and Calculus 81 (both first-year, 6 points), Microeconomics 68 (6 points), Econometrics 77 (12 points) and an elective at 59 (6 points). With credit points only:
(72×6 + 81×6 + 68×6 + 77×12 + 59×6) ÷ 36 = 2,604 ÷ 36 = 72.333
With Monash’s first-year weighting, the two first-year units count as 3 points each: 2,145 ÷ 30 = 71.500. Melbourne’s own example (76 and 67 at 12.5 points, 81 at 37.5 points, WAM 77.200) and Monash’s nine-unit example (WAM 74.476) are both built into this calculator’s automated tests.
Grade bands
The band your WAM falls in depends on the university. UNSW uses HD 85–100, D 75–84, CR 65–74 and P 50–64, while ANU puts the High Distinction line at 80, with D 70–79 and CR 60–69. The example’s 72.333 is a Credit at UNSW but a Distinction at ANU. Melbourne uses H1 (first class), H2A, H2B and H3 instead; check its grading scheme for the exact cut-offs.
| Grade | UNSW | ANU |
|---|---|---|
| High Distinction | 85–100 | 80–100 |
| Distinction | 75–84 | 70–79 |
| Credit | 65–74 | 60–69 |
| Pass | 50–64 | 50–59 |
| Fail | 0–49 | 0–49 |
What counts
- Fails count with the mark you received. Melbourne includes the percentage for a failed subject; Monash counts a withdrawn fail as a mark of 0 and includes repeated units.
- Left out: pass/fail-only units, subjects with no mark recorded, withdrawals without fail, and credit for study at another institution.
- Honours and some faculties use their own weighted averages (for example, an honours average over later-year units only), so check the rules for the program you’re applying to.
Planning a target WAM
Enter the credit points you still have to complete and your target, and the calculator shows the average you need across them. With the example’s 72.333 over 36 points and 48 points to go, finishing on 75 needs an average of 77.0. The remaining units are assumed to count at full weight, which suits later-year study under either weighting method.
Tips
- Weight by credit points. A 12.5-point and a 37.5-point subject are not equal; enter the points from your transcript.
- Compare to three decimals. Universities calculate the WAM to three decimal places, and honours or scholarship cut-offs can be close.
- Check the official figure. Your university’s record is final; this calculator is for estimating and planning.
Questions students ask
What is a good WAM?
A WAM of 65 or more is a Credit average at universities with UNSW-style bands and is a common bar for honours and graduate programs. 75 to 80 or more is a Distinction average, depending on where your university sets its bands.
Do failed subjects count in my WAM?
Yes. The mark for a failed subject is included, which pulls the average down. At Monash a withdrawn fail counts as a mark of 0.
Does first year count towards my WAM?
At most universities first-year units count at full weight. Monash weights first-year units at half (0.5).
What is the difference between WAM and GPA?
A WAM averages your actual marks out of 100; a GPA averages grade points (such as 7 for a High Distinction). A WAM shows smaller differences in performance.
Sources
Checked: November 2026
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.