College Grade Equivalent Guide and GWA Calculator
College Grade Equivalent and GWA in the Philippines
What is College Grade Equivalent?
College grade equivalent represents your numerical or percentage grades into a standard of grading used in universities.
In the Philippines, most of the colleges use a 1.00 to 5.00 grade scale, which shows as the higher the better, or closer to 1.00 and the lower the worse it is, i.e., the closer to 5.00.
- 1.00 = Excellent
- 3.00 = Passing or average
- 5.00 = Fail
College Grading System in the Philippines
Now, let us understand this grading system more thoroughly. The table ahead shows that what grade holds what value:
| Grade | Equivalent Meaning |
| 1.00 | Excellent |
| 1.25 – 1.75 | Very Good |
| 2.00 – 2.50 | Good |
| 2.75 – 3.00 | Passing |
| 4.00 | Conditional |
| 5.00 | Failed |
Some universities, like FEU or others, may have slight differences; the basic concept is the same, but institutions have variations. Always check with your institution.
What is a Passing Grade in College?
Again, it depends upon the institution. Make sure to check it out. But in most of the cases:
3.00 is considered passing, and anything below it is considered a failure. Some courses, like engineering or medical, may require a minimum of 2.50 or more.
What is GWA and How to compute it in College?
General Weighted Average is your total average grade. It considers your grades per subject and credited units. If one subject is harder and has more units, it affects your GWA more. Find out your GWA by our GWA Calculator. Which is in line with the UP.
It is calculated simply by this formula:
GWA = (Grade X Units) / Total Units
Suppose you have 3 subjects, and you were to find out your GWA using this formula, the results would be as follows:
| Subject | Grades | Units | GWA |
| Math | 1.5 | 3 | 4.5 |
| English | 2.0 | 3 | 6 |
| Science | 1.75 | 4 | 7 |
| Total | 5.25 | 10 | 17.5 |
So, by using the aforementioned formula, and using these values, the total 17.5 divided by 10 units gives the final GWA as 1.75.
Use our GWA Calculator to find out your GWA.
College Grade Equivalent Chart (Common Values)
This section gives you a quick insight into the meaning of a GWA and its equivalents:
| GWA | Equivalent Meaning |
| 1.00 | Excellent |
| 1.25 | Very High |
| 1.50 | Very Good |
| 1.75 | Good |
| 2.00 | Satisfactory |
| 2.50 | Average |
| 3.00 | Passing |
| 4.00 | Conditional |
| 5.00 | Failed |
For Example:
- 1.50 grade equivalent in college = Very Good
- 2.50 grade equivalent = Average
- 5.00 grade = Failed
How to Compute Grades in College per Subject
Each subject is calculated separately in terms of grades. Because the final grade is the sum of the grades acquired in quizzes, exams, and assignments. Which is then divided by the total and then converted into a grade equivalent.
Weighted Grades in College Explained
Firstly, understand that not all subjects are equal. Major subjects have more weightage and the minor ones have less weightage.
As we see in life, a fathers earning runs a whole household and a son has to earn just for himself to become stable. Same logic applies here.
5 Point Grading Scale Explained
This grading scale is the standard scale used in the Philippines. Here, 1.00 is the best, 3.00 is considered as passing, and 5.00 is considered a failure.
Some schools also use a 0-based grading system, and some use a transmuted grading system.
When to Calculate GWA in College and Senior High
GWA can be calculated per semester or at end of the session as the overall college GWA.
Use our free GWA Calculator to find out your GWA.
GWA for Latin Honors (Quick Guide)
GWA is also required for Latin Honors and other qualifications in the Philippines. Typical requirements are as follows:
| Honor | GWA |
| Cum Laude | ~1.75 |
| Magna Cum Laude | ~1.50 |
| Summa Cum Laude | ~1.25 |
Anything below is unacceptable.
College Grade Equivalent vs Percentage
At some institutions, grades are converted into percentage values. Below is a simple table that represents what grade is equal to which percentage.
| Grade | %Equivalent |
| 1.00 | 95-100% |
| 2.00 | 85-89% |
| 3.00 | 75-79% |
You can check your GWA grade as a percentage value using our GWA to Percentage Calculator.
Common Grade Equivalents searched by Students
Most of the students are searching for 1.75 grade equivalent, 1.5 gwa equivalents, 2.25 grade equivalent, 2.7 grade equivalent, 1.3 grade equivalent, 1.6 grade equivalent and 1.8 grade equivalent. Which shows that students give their best and want to stand out.
They are performing well, as these are some good grades. But also, there are exceptions too. Not everyone is at the same pace.
Conclusion
Understanding your college grades and their equivalents helps you to track your performance, aim for honors, and plan and adjust your studies routine accordingly.
Find out your GWA and other academic values today at GWA HUB.
