WAM calculator (weighted average mark)
This WAM calculator works out your weighted average mark the way Australian universities define it: each mark is multiplied by the credit value of its unit, the products are added up and the total is divided by the sum of the credit values. Type one unit per line – mark first, then credit points – and the result updates as you type.
Source: UNSW Sydney, Current Students: Weighted Average Mark (WAM) – formula WAM = Σ(M × U) ÷ ΣU, worked example, results included and nominal marks. Updated: .
How it is calculated
WAM = Σ(mark × credit points) ÷ Σ credit points. Your weighted average mark is the average of your marks out of 100 in which a unit worth more credit counts more. A 12-point unit weighs twice as much as a 6-point unit.
How to calculate your WAM
- Multiply the mark for each unit by its credit points (units of credit).
- Add up the products.
- Add up the credit points.
- Divide the first sum by the second.
Example
| Unit | Mark | Credit points | Mark × credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | 80 | 6 | 480 |
| Unit 2 | 81 | 6 | 486 |
| Unit 3 | 82 | 6 | 492 |
| Unit 4 | 83 | 3 | 249 |
| Unit 5 | 84 | 3 | 252 |
| Total | 24 | 1,959 |
WAM = 1,959 ÷ 24 = 81.625, shown as 81.63 with two decimal places. This is the example UNSW uses to explain the formula, and it is preloaded above. The plain average of the five marks would be 82 – slightly higher, because it ignores that the two best marks belong to the smaller units.
WAM at different universities
The basic formula is the same everywhere; the details are not. Check your own university’s rules for these points before relying on a figure for honours, scholarships or exchange:
- Which units count. Usually every unit with a numerical mark, including failed attempts. Units graded only satisfactory/unsatisfactory and credit transferred from another institution are commonly left out.
- Marks for grade-only results. Some universities assign a nominal mark to a grade without a mark – UNSW, for example, uses 55 for a Pass and 25 for a Fail in its WAM.
- Weighting by level. Honours and faculty WAMs may weight later-year units more heavily. The University of Sydney notes that some faculties use their own average-mark calculations, such as an engineering honours WAM weighted by level of study.
- Name of the credit value. Units of credit, credit points or simply points – the number goes in the same place.
To reproduce a level-weighted WAM, multiply the credit points of each unit by its level weight yourself and enter the result as the credit value (for example 6 credit points × weight 3 = 18).
WAM or GPA?
A WAM averages marks out of 100. A GPA first converts each mark into a grade point – on the scale its university uses – and averages those. Two students with the same GPA can therefore have different WAMs. For a grade point average see the GPA calculator.
What mark do I need next semester?
Add your planned units as extra lines with the marks you are aiming for and watch the WAM change. Because the list is stored in the page address, you can bookmark it, update it after each results release, or send it to a friend on WhatsApp. For a single unit, the what grade do I need calculator works backwards from your target.
Frequently asked questions
How is WAM calculated?
Multiply each mark by the credit points of its unit, add the results and divide by the total credit points. Example: (80 × 6 + 84 × 3) ÷ 9 = 732 ÷ 9 = 81.33.
What does WAM stand for?
Weighted average mark: the average of your unit marks, weighted by the credit value of each unit.
Are failed units included in my WAM?
At most universities, yes – a failed attempt with a numerical mark counts, and so does the later pass. Check your university’s policy, then enter both attempts as separate lines.
Do pass/fail units count?
Units without a numerical mark are generally not included. Leave them out of the list.
What is the difference between WAM and GPA?
WAM is an average of marks out of 100. GPA is an average of grade points after each mark has been converted to a grade. The two are not interchangeable.
What is a good WAM?
It depends on the purpose. Honours programs, scholarships and exchange each publish their own minimum WAM. Compare your result with the requirement in the application guide.
Can I calculate my WAM without credit points?
If every unit has the same credit value, yes – the WAM is then the plain average. Leave the credit points out on every line and the calculator averages the marks.
Why is my result slightly different from my transcript?
Universities may exclude some units, use nominal marks for certain grades or weight units by year level. The transcript is the official figure; this calculator applies the basic formula to exactly the lines you enter.
Sources and legal basis
- UNSW Sydney, Current Students: Weighted Average Mark (WAM) – formula WAM = Σ(M × U) ÷ ΣU, worked example, results included and nominal marks
- The University of Sydney: Weighted Average Mark (WAM) – marks weighted by credit point value, units included, faculty-specific calculations
As of: · Editorial policy
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