CGPA vs GPA: Understanding the Difference and How They Compare
What is the difference between CGPA and GPA? This guide compares Indian CGPA on a 10-point scale to the US 4.0 GPA scale with conversion tips.
By SGPA2CGPA Team
CGPA and GPA — What Is the Difference?
If you are a student planning to study abroad or comparing your grades to international standards, you have likely wondered how your CGPA on a 10-point scale compares to a GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Indian CGPA (10-Point Scale)
In India, most universities — including IITs, NITs, and affiliated colleges under Anna University, VTU, Mumbai University, and others — use a 10-point CGPA scale.
Key features:
- Scale: 0.0 to 10.0
- Calculated as weighted average of semester SGPAs
- Percentage equivalent: CGPA × 9.5
US GPA (4.0 Scale)
In the United States, colleges use a 4.0 GPA scale. Letter grades are assigned numeric values:
| Letter Grade | GPA Points |
|---|---|
| A+ / A | 4.0 |
| A− | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B− | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
How to Convert Indian CGPA to US GPA (Approximate)
There is no officially standardized conversion, but a commonly used approximation is:
US GPA = (CGPA / 10) × 4
| Indian CGPA | Approx. US GPA |
|---|---|
| 10.0 | 4.0 |
| 9.0 | 3.6 |
| 8.5 | 3.4 |
| 8.0 | 3.2 |
| 7.5 | 3.0 |
| 7.0 | 2.8 |
| 6.0 | 2.4 |
What Universities Say
Most US graduate programs ask for your official transcripts and evaluate Indian grades contextually. A CGPA of 8.5+ on a 10-point scale is generally considered competitive for US master’s programs.
Many graduate schools explicitly state: “We evaluate international grades on their original scale” — so a 9.0/10 CGPA is understood to be excellent regardless of conversion formulas.
The WES Evaluation
World Education Services (WES) — a leading credential evaluation agency — uses its own conversion tables for Indian institutions. Their evaluation is accepted by most US, Canadian, and Australian universities.
Conclusion
While approximate conversion formulas are helpful, your actual academic performance and the context of your university matter most. Keep your CGPA as high as possible, and use our free SGPA to CGPA calculator to track your progress every semester.