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CGPA stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average. IITs use it to evaluate the performance of IITians in the examinations.
How is the CGPA calculated?
Students are given a grade as per their performance in the examinations. Each grade has a numerical equivalent - 'a point'.
IITKgp has the following point system
How is the CGPA calculated?
Students are given a grade as per their performance in the examinations. Each grade has a numerical equivalent - 'a point'.
IITKgp has the following point system
| Ex | A | B | C | D | P |
| 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Each subject has a credit - the weight the subject carries. To calculate the SGPA (Semester Grade Point Average), the weighted mean of the grades is calculated.
Let us consider an example.
Suppose a student - say Jug gets the following grades.
Let us consider an example.
Suppose a student - say Jug gets the following grades.
| Subject | Marks | Credit | Grade | Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 79 | 4 | B | 8 |
| B | 98 | 4 | Ex | 10 |
| C | 89 | 2 | A | 9 |
| D | 97 | 1 | Ex | 10 |
The SGPA would be calculated as
(8x4 + 10x4 + 9x2 + 10x1)/11 = 9.09
The CGPA is the weighted mean of the SGPAs. His percentage would be
(79x4 + 98x4 + 89x2 +97x1)/11 = 89.36%
The CGPA and Percentage are incompatible
Now consider the grades of Mug.
(8x4 + 10x4 + 9x2 + 10x1)/11 = 9.09
The CGPA is the weighted mean of the SGPAs. His percentage would be
(79x4 + 98x4 + 89x2 +97x1)/11 = 89.36%
The CGPA and Percentage are incompatible
Now consider the grades of Mug.
| Subject | Marks | Credit | Grade | Point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 81 | 4 | A | 9 |
| B | 91 | 4 | Ex | 10 |
| C | 91 | 2 | Ex | 10 |
| D | 91 | 1 | Ex | 10 |
His SGPA would be calculated as
(9x4 + 10x4 + 10x2 + 10x1)/11 = 9.63
And his percentage would be
(81x4 + 91x4 + 91x2 + 91x1)/11 = 87.36%
(Assuming 90 to be the cutoff for Ex, 80 for A and 70 for B)
I have considered 11 credits here. You can imagine the discrepancy that would arise if we were to do this for 25 credits and then average it over 8 semesters. (i.e. close to 200 credits)
Clearly the CGPA system and the percentage system are incompatible. One has to choose between the two.
Inconsistencies in the CGPA System
In the previous examples, I assumed the cutoffs as 70, 80 and 90 for B, A and Ex respectively. The cutoffs could very well be different. If the class performs poorly/question paper was tough, then the cut off may be relaxed to an extent if the Professor so wishes.
(9x4 + 10x4 + 10x2 + 10x1)/11 = 9.63
And his percentage would be
(81x4 + 91x4 + 91x2 + 91x1)/11 = 87.36%
(Assuming 90 to be the cutoff for Ex, 80 for A and 70 for B)
I have considered 11 credits here. You can imagine the discrepancy that would arise if we were to do this for 25 credits and then average it over 8 semesters. (i.e. close to 200 credits)
Clearly the CGPA system and the percentage system are incompatible. One has to choose between the two.
Inconsistencies in the CGPA System
In the previous examples, I assumed the cutoffs as 70, 80 and 90 for B, A and Ex respectively. The cutoffs could very well be different. If the class performs poorly/question paper was tough, then the cut off may be relaxed to an extent if the Professor so wishes.
The cutoff depends on the Professor's whims and wishes.
So for the same question paper, different Professors may set different cutoffs.
Some institutes use the distribution curve to decide the cutoffs. Aid of statistical tools is taken to decide the cutoffs. Sounds really hi-tech, doesn't it?
Think again.
Suppose, Jug is in a batch that has all the 'high performing' students. His grade would be lower than Mug who has the same marks but is in a batch that has 'normal students'.
Some institutes use the distribution curve to decide the cutoffs. Aid of statistical tools is taken to decide the cutoffs. Sounds really hi-tech, doesn't it?
Think again.
Suppose, Jug is in a batch that has all the 'high performing' students. His grade would be lower than Mug who has the same marks but is in a batch that has 'normal students'.
So Jugs grade not only depends on the Professor but also on his batchmates.
IITKgp has 6 different sections and 6 different Professors teaching the same course in the 1st year. You can imagine the range of SGPA that the same set of marks may create.
There are courses that have 'Centralised Grade Calculation' but there are also courses that do not have this.
There are courses that have 'Centralised Grade Calculation' but there are also courses that do not have this.
Mind you, do not mistake the CGPA to be the Percentile system. Nor is it the Percentage system. It is a hotch-potch of something in between.
Some subjects have relative grading. Others have absolute. The subjects that are 'scoring' are absolutely graded - for example, Maths or Programming. Subjects like English or Manufacturing Process have relative grading.
So if Jug happens to be good at Maths, he gets an A. Mug who is weak at it gets a D. Mug though is good at English. So he manages an A in it. Jug is pathetic at English but still manages a B because not just Jug - the whole batch is bad at English. So Mug loses out even though Jug and Mug have the same aggregate in the two subjects.
The CGPA system need a serious re-look. With the present system it is only encouraging unfair practices. The system is not transparent. At times, the grades that are given defy all logic.
To keep the students in a motivated frame of mind, IITs need to evaluate the students in a fair manner. And this means a review of the CGPA system.
Either it needs to be replaced with a better system. Or it needs to be made more consistent.
What system does your institute follow? Do let me know your opinions on it.
So if Jug happens to be good at Maths, he gets an A. Mug who is weak at it gets a D. Mug though is good at English. So he manages an A in it. Jug is pathetic at English but still manages a B because not just Jug - the whole batch is bad at English. So Mug loses out even though Jug and Mug have the same aggregate in the two subjects.
The CGPA system need a serious re-look. With the present system it is only encouraging unfair practices. The system is not transparent. At times, the grades that are given defy all logic.
To keep the students in a motivated frame of mind, IITs need to evaluate the students in a fair manner. And this means a review of the CGPA system.
Either it needs to be replaced with a better system. Or it needs to be made more consistent.
What system does your institute follow? Do let me know your opinions on it.
6 comments
I had never thought about this. You really have put a lot of brain and hard work into this...Alas nothing can be done about it :(
lol
Impressive post. And I agree, there's way too much to be done to make the marking fair. Some of us keep on suggesting the proffs/admin about it.
Others realize how fake the Indian Educational system is, and decide to ignore it. :|
It's amusing how questions in papers are exactly what's done in the tutorials, just to "motivate" students to come to tutorials. Or how questions are nearly the same as those at back of the book etc. How students literally spend hours mugging up questions (& answers ofcourse) and just vomit it all during the paper.
Ask them something that involves the basics, but isn't written in the book, wasn't explained in the lecture or wasn't pointed by the prof as "important". It's fun to see the reaction.
Still can't believe we're in college, if this is how we're "learning" and preparing for our "future". After you realize how shallow the marks awarded are (Heard about how in Lab exams, marks vary depending upon the evaluator and not the students?), you really don't think pushing for changes in grading system is worth the trouble.
I believe it's better to focus on things that you'll actually need later, even though it doesn't fetch you grades. :D
@Prateek: A lot can be done if we wish. Small changes such as centralising the CGPA system would go a long way.
@Rash: I do agree that the education system in India is quiet hollow. But we need to recognise that the CGPA system is part of the problem. If bringing in a new system sounds counter productive, efforts need to be taken to improve the present grading system
I personally feel less weightage should be given to the cgpa and more focus should be on projects/actual work done by the student. I anyway don't see much reason why someone's performance in a Technical job (say App Dev) is judged on the basis of his/her marks in Chem/Phys! :P
Though about a few changes that could be made?
@Rash: After this comment, I decided to write a whole new post on my suggestions. If you have any ideas, do let me know!
Haha.. Well I don't really have many at the moment. Right now, busy trying to fight the system while I give my sem end exams :P
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