How to calculate your CGPA in a Nigerian university
How GPA and CGPA are worked out on the 5.0 scale in Nigerian universities, with a worked example, the degree classes, and the mistake most students make.
Grade points
Most Nigerian universities use a 5.0 scale. Each grade earns points:
- A (70 and above): 5
- B (60 to 69): 4
- C (50 to 59): 3
- D (45 to 49): 2
- E (40 to 44): 1, in schools that still give E
- F (below 40, or below 45 without E): 0
Working out your GPA
Example: an A in a 3 unit course (15 points), a C in a 2 unit course (6 points) and a B in a 3 unit course (12 points) give 33 points over 8 units. 33 ÷ 8 = 4.13.
- For each course, multiply its units by the points for your grade. This is the course's quality points.
- Add up the quality points for the semester.
- Divide by the total units you took that semester.
Working out your CGPA
Your CGPA uses every course you have taken: add up all your quality points from every semester, then divide by all your units. Do not just average your semester GPAs. If one semester had 24 units and another had 16, averaging the two GPAs gives the wrong answer.
Degree classes
Always check your school's handbook: some schools differ slightly in grade boundaries or whether E is given.
- First class: 4.50 to 5.00
- Second class upper (2:1): 3.50 to 4.49
- Second class lower (2:2): 2.40 to 3.49
- Third class: 1.50 to 2.39
- Pass: 1.00 to 1.49