SGPA and CGPA both measure academic performance on the same grade-point scale, but they cover different time periods and are calculated slightly differently once you account for varying credit loads across semesters.
SGPA: Semester Grade Point Average
SGPA measures your performance in a single semester only. It is the credit-weighted average of the grade points you earned in that semester's subjects. Every semester, you get a new, independent SGPA.
CGPA: Cumulative Grade Point Average
CGPA measures your performance across all completed semesters combined. It is not simply the average of your SGPAs — it is calculated by credit-weighting across every subject from every semester together (see our full CGPA calculation guide).
Common Mistake: Averaging SGPAs Directly
If Semester 1 has 20 total credits and Semester 2 has 24 total credits, simply averaging the two SGPA numbers (adding and dividing by 2) gives a number close to, but not exactly equal to, your true CGPA — because it doesn't account for the different credit totals. The correct method recombines every subject's credit and grade point across both semesters.
When Each Number Matters
- SGPA matters for tracking single-semester performance and for scholarship/hostel eligibility that some universities assess semester-wise.
- CGPA matters for placements, higher education applications, and any requirement stated as an "overall" academic criterion.
Quick Reference Table
| SGPA | CGPA | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | One semester | All completed semesters |
| Resets each term? | Yes | No — cumulative |
| Used for placements? | Rarely alone | Yes, almost always |
Use our CGPA calculator to compute both accurately without manual errors.