Academic Performance Standards in Canada: What is GPA?
Understanding Canadian grading systems and their importance for university admission and studies.
In Canadian educational institutions, the standardized calculation of the Grade Point Average, known as GPA, is commonly used. This system is also found in several other countries such as the USA, India, Australia, and Japan. Today, we will explain what GPA is used for and how to calculate it correctly.
Why do we need the GPA System?
GPA stands for Grade Point Average. It is a system used to measure academic performance over a semester, year, or block of study.
You may also come across the definition CGPA, which stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average. These grades can be calculated for a high school diploma, college diploma, or university degree, representing the entire course of study.
Calculating GPA is essential when applying to Canadian colleges or universities and during your studies.
If you are preparing to apply to a Canadian university, it is important to know that each institution has its own GPA requirements depending on the program, desired level of education, and province. The grading systems in Canada vary depending on each province and territory. For example, in one province, the highest GPA might be 4.0, in others, it might be 4.33, and in some places, grades might be given as letters from A to F or as percentages from 0 to 100.
Therefore, when choosing a Canadian university, you need to carefully check the GPA requirements in the specific province and ensure that your GPA meets the admission criteria. On average, the required GPA for admission to Canadian colleges or universities ranges from 2.5 to 3.0.
Students already studying in Canada typically calculate their GPA at the end of each semester. Canadian students provide their GPA to demonstrate their academic achievements in various situations:
- meeting graduation requirements;
- obtaining recommendation letters;
- applying for scholarships;
- proving qualifications in their specialization;
- applying for master's or doctoral programs;
- securing employment.
How to Calculate GPA
To calculate your GPA, you need to consider the grade and the number of credits for each course. Credits or credit hours reflect the amount of work required to successfully complete a course.
You multiply the grade for each course by the number of credits for that course to get the weighted grade. If the grade is given in letters, it first needs to be converted to a numerical value.
For example, a student completed three courses in Alberta, where grades are given from A to F, with a maximum GPA of 4.0. The student received an A (4.0) in Math, which had 3 credits, a B (3.0) in Physical Education, which had 4 credits, and a C (2.0) in Biology, which had 2 credits.
| Course | Grade | GPA | Credits | Calculation (GPA x Credits) | Weighted Grade |
| Math | A | 4.0 | 3 | 4.0 x 3 | 12.0 |
| Physical Education | B | 3.0 | 4 | 3.0 x 4 | 12.0 |
| Biology | C | 2.0 | 2 | 2.0 x 2 | 4.0 |
Next, add up the weighted grades: 12 + 12 + 4 = 28. Separately, add up all the credits: 3 + 4 + 2 = 9.
The GPA is calculated using the formula: total weighted grades ÷ total credits.
So, our student's GPA is: 28 ÷ 9 = 3.1. This grade in Alberta corresponds to a B (“good”).
In the age of modern technology, there are tools to calculate your GPA automatically. You can simply go to a website and enter your data into an online GPA calculator:
Calculating CGPA
You can also calculate CGPA — the cumulative GPA for the entire program. Since this is calculated for the whole course, you should use the GPA for each individual semester. The calculation method is the same as for GPA: the average grade for each semester is multiplied by the number of credits in that semester, and then this total is divided by the total number of credits for all semesters.
Be sure to check whether you need to provide GPA or CGPA to a specific organization, as the requirements may vary.
Converting Grades from Other Systems
Different countries may have various grading systems. For example, in some countries, the grading system uses a 5-point scale. When comparing this to the more common GPA scale, where the maximum GPA is 4.0, the following equivalencies can be made:
| Grade | Description | GPA | Letter |
| 5 | Excellent | 4.0 | A |
| 4 | Good | 3.0 | B |
| 3 | Satisfactory | 2.0 | C |
| 2 | Unsatisfactory | 0.0 | F |
Additionally, some of the above calculators can also convert grades from different countries into GPA values.
Assistance with Applying to Canadian Universities
Due to differences in grading systems, applicants and students might face difficulties when applying to Canadian universities. To save time and ensure all your documents meet the requirements, we recommend seeking professional assistance.
Our company, Immigrant.Today, is ready to advise you on all aspects of studying in Canada, from choosing the right university to helping with student visa applications. Schedule a consultation with our education experts to start your journey to studying in Canada.
