The CGPA is the cumulative Grade Point Average of all the courses you registered for in the university/polytechnic. It can be said differently as the total grade points are divided by the total units of the courses registered.
In this post we would look at ways we can calculate GPA and CGPA in Polytechnics.
The calculation of GPA in Nigerian polytechnics follows nearly the same procedure as that of Nigerian Universities. However Nigerian polytechnics make use of the following grading system in the calculation of GPA and the awarding of Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND): 
Polytechnics Grading System Table:
| Score (%) | Grade | Grade Point | Final CGPA | Class Of Degrees |
| 100-80 | A | 4.00 | 3.50 – 4.00 | Distinction |
| 79-70 | AB | 3.50 | 3.00 – 3.49 | Upper Credit |
| 60-69 | B | 3.00 | 2.50 – 2.99 | Lower Credit |
| 59-50 | BC | 2.50 | 2.00 – 2.49 | Pass |
| 49-40 | C | 2.00 | 0.00 – 1.99 | Fail |
Assuming you offer the following courses and obtain scores that correspond to the following grades that lead to the distribution on the tables below. then you will your GPA as follows:
| Course Code | Credit Unit | Grade | Grade Points | Quality Points (CU X GP) | Total Points |
| Gsp 101 | 2 | C | 2.00 | 2 x 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Gsp 105 | 2 | C | 2.00 | 2 x 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Gsp 111 | 2 | A | 4.00 | 2 x 4.00 | 8.00 |
| Gsp 201 | 2 | AB | 3.50 | 2 x 3.50 | 7.00 |
| Cos 101 | 2 | BC | 2.50 | 2 x 2.50 | 5.00 |
| Sta 131 | 2 | B | 3.00 | 2 x 3.00 | 6.00 |
| Mth 221 | 3 | C | 2.00 | 3 x 2.00 | 6.00 |
| Total Credit Units | 15 | 44 |
First Semester OND1:
GPA = Total points/Total Credit Units = 44.00/15 = 2.9.
Therefore your first semester ND1 GPA = 2.9.
Second Semester OND1 GPA Calculation Assuming you offer the following courses and obtain scores that correspond to the following grades that lead to the distribution on the tables below. then you will your GPA as follows:
| Course Code | Credit Unit | Grade | Grade Points | Quality Points (CU X GP) | Total Points |
| Chm 112 | 2 | A | 4.00 | 2 x 4.00 | 8.00 |
| Gsp 208 | 2 | E | 0.00 | 2 x 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Gsp 106 | 2 | c | 2.00 | 2 x 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Gsp 202 | 2 | C | 2.00 | 2 x 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Bio 152 | 3 | B | 3.00 | 3 x 3.00 | 9.00 |
| Phy 196 | 2 | BC | 2.50 | 2 x 2.50 | 5.00 |
| Glg 142 | 3 | C | 2.00 | 3 x 2.00 | 6.00 |
| Total Credit Units | 16 | 36 |
Second Semester GPA = Total points/Total Credit Units = 36.0/16 = 2.21875= 2.25.
Therefore your second semester ND1 GPA = 2.25.
Not, to calculate your cumulative grade point average (CGPA) for ND1 (first year), you add your ND1 first semester and second semester GPA and divide the result you obtain by two (2), i.e. the number of semesters. This is simply finding the average.
How A Polytechnic Student Can Calculate C.G.P. An On His Own Without Stress.
According to Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo, information handbook, (revised Edition, 2013) Candidate’s raw scores in an examination, usually expressed as percentages, shall be converted into grades which are then weighted by the credit point values.
The following range of marks and their corresponding grades and point weighted shall be used in all the Polytechnic examinations.
CLASSIFICATION OF CERTIFICATES IN THE NIGERIAN POLYTECHNICS:
C.G.P.A
CLASS OF CERTIFICATES
3.50-4-00
Distinction
3.00-3.49
Upper Credit
2.50-2.99
Lower Credit
2.00-2.49
Pass
NOTE:
1.50-1.99
Repeat
0.00-1.49
Withdraw (Expel)
SCORE RANG %
LETTER GRADE
WEIGHTING POINT
75-100
A
4.0
70-74
AB
3.5
65-69
B
3.25
60-64
BC
3.00
55-59
C
2.75
50-54
CD
2.50
45-49
D
2.25
40-44
E
2.00
0-39
F
0.0
Example of a student’s first semester result:
S/N
COURSE CODE
COURSE TITLE
COURSE UNITS
GRADE POINT
LETTER GRADE
POINT SCORE (G.P.A)
GNS 101
USE OF ENGLISH 1
2
4.00
A
4.00 X 2=8.00
2.
ACC 101
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING 1
4
3.25
B
3.25 X 4=13.00
3.
EED 126
ENTERPRENURSHIP EDUCATION 1
2
3.00
BC
3.00 X 2=6.00
4.
COM 001
APPLICATION OF COMPUTER 1
4
2.75
C
2.75 X 4=11.00
TOTAL
12
38.00
Therefore, total point score divide by total credit unit gives the G.P.A of the student. That is;
38.00/12 = 3.17 G.P.A.
The student’s first semester result in the polytechnic is 3.17, which is Upper Credit.
To compute the Cumulative Grade Point Average (C.G.P.A) for a candidate for a session, for example, the total aggregate of the point score for (i.e. the total grade point score for the first semester, plus the total grade point score for the second semester) are divided by the total number of credit units for the first and second semesters. Similarly, to compute the C.G.P.A for National Diploma or a Higher National Diploma grandaunt, the total aggregate points for the candidate’s year of academic work shall be added and divided by the total number of course credit units taken during those years, for example a candidate who completed a National Diploma in two years,
THE C.G.P.A =
(TOTAL POINT SCORE IN FIRST YEAR) + (TOTAL POINT SCORE IN SECOND YEAR)
(TOTAL CREDIT UNITS IN FIRST YEAR) + (TOTAL CREDIT UNITS IN SECOND YEAR)
In other word; it can be simply done by summing the total C.G.P.A of the first and second year and divide by two (2) years to get the overall C.G.P.A of the grandaunt. That is to say;
The Grandaunt C.G.P.A =
(Total C.G.P.A of the first year) + (Total C.G.P.A of the second year)
2years
TIPS: Those courses that have higher credit units are your main (core) courses. Scoring higher grade point in them boosts your Grade Points (G.P) automatically. Therefore they should be your first targets if you want to perform well and graduate with first class or distinction honor.
In summary any Student who can always re-calculates his or her results will never have issue on them till he or graduates.
I hope this article was helpful as well as educative.
