What is GWA (General Weighted Average) and How its Calculated
Have you ever examined your result card and wondered how these were calculated? That’s where the GWA or General Weighted Average comes in. In the Philippines, Colleges and Universities use GWA to measure the student academic record.
Calculating your grade is essential as we all know but every grading system is calculated differently and understanding them is crucial. This is the reason why I am here to solve all the queries related to GWA.
Let’s jump into the guide.
Meaning Of GWA?
GWA or General Weighted Average is used to calculate the grade or academic performance of students in College or Universities of Philippines. It’s actually the average grade of all subjects whether it’s passed or not.These grades evaluate the overall progress of individual students throughout the academic year or semester.
Unlike other grading systems, GWA is calculated in scale 5.0. It means the grades are evaluated from a grade scale of 1.0 to 5.0 whereas the 1.0 is highest marks, 1.0 is lowest and the 3.0 is accepted as passing marks.
Following is the table of different ranges of GWA, GWA in Percentage and their remarks
| Grade Point Equivalence | Grade Letter Equivalence | Equivalence | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A+ | 99–100% | Excellent |
| 1.25 | A | 96–98% | Very Good |
| 1.5 | A- | 93–95% | Very Good |
| 1.75 | B+ | 90–92% | Good |
| 2.0 | B | 87–89% | Good |
| 2.25 | B- | 84–86% | Satisfactory |
| 2.5 | C+ | 81–83% | Satisfactory |
| 2.75 | C | 78–80% | Pass |
| 3.0 | C- | 75.00–77.74% | Pass |
| 4.0 | – | – | Conditional |
| 5.0 | F | Below 60% | Fail |
| INC | – | – | Incomplete |
How GWA is Calculated
To calculate the GWA or General Weighted Average, collect all the subject details including subject, subject grade and credit hours or units.
Now multiply each subject grade with its corresponding unitl. Once, you perform for all the subjects, sum all the subject weights and divide it with all the credit hours.
For example, we have 3 subjects(English, Mathematics and History) to calculate the General Weighted Average or GWA.
| Course Name | Course units | Course grade |
| English | 3 | 2.00 |
| Mathematics | 4 | 1.25 |
| History | 2 | 1.50 |
Multiplying the subject grade with its unit for weight:
For English: 3(Units) * 2.00(Course Grade) = 6.00
For Mathematics: 4(Units) * 1.25(Course Grade) = 5.00
For History: 2(Units) * 1.50(Course Grade) = 3.00
Now adding all the weightage of subjects:
6.00(English) + 5.00(Mathematics) + 3.00(History) = 14.00
Finally, dividing the total weightage with number of units:
14.00/(3+4+2) = 14.00/9 = 1.5
GWA is 1.5
You can use this calculator to find your overall GWA within seconds. Click here GWA Calculator
Key Differences Between GWA and Other Averages
| Feature | GWA (General Weighted Average) | GPA (Grade Point Average) | CWA (Cumulative Weighted Average) |
| Scope | Represents the overall average grade across all courses taken, with emphasis on more difficult or higher-credit courses. | Represents the average grade for a specific term or semester. | Represents the overall average grade across all terms or semesters. |
| Calculation | Consider course difficulty/credit hours along with earned grades. | Typically uses a simple numerical scale (e.g., A = 4, B = 3, etc.) without additional weighting. | Averages individual GPA calculations over multiple terms or semesters. |
| Usage | Common in countries like the Philippines | Common in the United States, Canada, and many other countries. | Often used to track overall academic progress across an entire educational program. |
Conclusion:
In nutshell, GWA or General Weighted Average is used in Philippines Colleges and Universities to compute the overall student academic performance. The GWA is calculated through Subject grade and its credit hours or units.
FAQs
Robert Wolf, an acclaimed academic and mentor, evolve innovative approaches to education, encourage critical thinking and bring up a love for learning in his students. With a commitment to excellence, he develop an environment where intellectual growth thrives and educational aspirations soar.