GWA Calculator (General Weighted Average)
This GWA calculator works out your general weighted average the way registrars do: every grade is multiplied by the units of its subject, the products are added, and the sum is divided by your total units. Type one subject per line – grade first, then units – and the computation updates as you type.
Source: University of the Philippines Diliman, Office of the University Registrar: Grade Averages (General Weighted Average, which subjects are counted). Updated: .
How it is calculated
Your GWA is the sum of each grade multiplied by its units, divided by the total number of units: GWA = Σ(grade × units) ÷ Σ units. A 4-unit subject therefore weighs twice as much as a 2-unit subject. On the usual Philippine college scale, 1.00 is the highest grade and 5.00 is a failing grade, so a lower GWA is better.
How to compute GWA
- Multiply the grade of each subject by its units.
- Add up the products.
- Add up the units.
- Divide the sum of the products by the total units.
Example
| Subject | Grade | Units | Grade × units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math 101 | 1.75 | 3 | 5.25 |
| English | 1.50 | 3 | 4.50 |
| Physics | 2.25 | 4 | 9.00 |
| History | 2.00 | 3 | 6.00 |
| PE | 1.00 | 2 | 2.00 |
| Total | 15 | 26.75 |
GWA = 26.75 ÷ 15 = 1.7833. The plain average of the five grades would be 8.5 ÷ 5 = 1.70 – it ignores that Physics has more units than PE. That is why the units matter.
Which subjects are included?
That depends on your school and on what the GWA is for. At UP Diliman, for example, the registrar distinguishes the general weighted average (all subjects taken at that level) from other averages used for shifting or for honors. Many schools leave PE and NSTP out of the computation for honors or scholarships. Delete those lines if your handbook says they are not counted. Subjects without a final numerical grade – incomplete (INC) or dropped (DRP) – are left out until a grade is given.
GWA for one semester or for the whole course
For a semester GWA, enter only that semester’s subjects. For a cumulative GWA, enter all subjects from all semesters – do not average the semester GWAs, because semesters with more units must weigh more.
Latin honors and scholarships
Cut-offs for cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude, for the dean’s list and for scholarships differ from school to school, and so do extra conditions such as minimum load or no failing grade. Compare your result with the figures in your own student handbook.
Tips
- Choose 2, 3 or 4 decimal places to match how your school reports the GWA.
- The page address stores your list, so you can bookmark it or share it and update it next semester.
- For grades on the 4.0 scale used with letter grades, see the GPA calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compute my GWA?
Multiply each grade by the units of the subject, add the results and divide by the total units. Example: (1.75 × 3 + 2.25 × 4) ÷ 7 = 14.25 ÷ 7 = 2.0357.
What does GWA mean?
General weighted average: the average of your grades in which each subject counts according to its units.
Is a lower or a higher GWA better?
On the 1.00 to 5.00 scale used by most Philippine colleges, lower is better: 1.00 is the highest grade and 5.00 is a failure.
Are PE and NSTP included in the GWA?
It depends on the school and the purpose. Many schools exclude them when checking for honors. Follow your student handbook and remove the lines that do not count.
How do I compute GWA without units?
A GWA needs units – without them you only have a simple average. If every subject has the same units, enter the same number (for example 3) on every line; the result then equals the simple average.
What GWA do I need for cum laude?
Each school sets its own cut-offs and conditions. Compute your GWA here and compare it with the requirement published by your university.
How do I compute a cumulative GWA for all semesters?
List every subject from every semester with its grade and units. Averaging the semester GWAs is only correct if all semesters have the same total units.
Sources and legal basis
- University of the Philippines Diliman, Office of the University Registrar: Grade Averages (General Weighted Average, which subjects are counted)
- Far Eastern University, Registrar: Computation of Grade Point Average (weighted mean, weights = units of each course ÷ total units taken)
As of: · Editorial policy
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