Key takeaways
- UEW uses a letter grading system (A to E), where each grade corresponds to specific grade points used to calculate your GPA.
- Your final grade comprises 40% continuous assessment and 60% end-of-semester exam.
- Your overall degree classification (e.g., First Class, Second Class) depends on your cumulative GPA across all semesters.
Understanding the grading system at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) helps track your academic progress and work towards a favourable graduating class. Here’s everything you must know if you’re a UEW student.
The UEW grading system
To begin with, the grading system at UEW assesses your performance in each course by assigning a letter grade (A to E) based on your overall score.
These letter grades are then converted into grade points, which are used to calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA). Each course’s impact on your GPA depends on both the grade you earn and the number of credit hours it carries.
UEW uses a 4.0 GPA scale, and the higher your grade, the more grade points you earn, resulting in a stronger GPA.
What constitutes your grade at UEW?
Your final grade in any course is a combination of your continuous assessment and end-of-semester examination. Continuous assessment accounts for 40% and includes all forms of coursework, i.e., quizzes, assignments, projects, practical tests, reports, etc.
The remaining 60% comes from the end-of-semester exam. Here is the full grading scale:
| Mark | Grade | Grade points | Description |
| 80-100 | A | 4.0 | Excellent |
| 75-79 | B+ | 3.5 | Very Good |
| 70-74 | B | 3.0 | Good |
| 65-69 | C+ | 2.5 | Average |
| 60-64 | C | 2.0 | Fair |
| 55-59 | D+ | 1.5 | Barely Satisfactory |
| 50-54 | D | 1.0 | Weak Pass |
| 0-49 | E | 0 | Fail |
| IC | Incomplete (with justification) | ||
| W | Drop after Deadline | ||
| UD | Unofficial Drop | ||
| X | Disqualification | ||
| Y | Work Still in Progress | ||
| Z | Examination Malpractice |
A grade of E means you’ve failed the course and must retake it. Still, both the original and repeated grades will appear on your transcript and count toward your GPA.
This means the credit hours are counted twice, which can reduce the overall GPA, even if you earn a higher grade on the second attempt.
Grade classification at UEW
UEW uses cumulative GPA (CGPA) to determine your final classification, whether you’re in a bachelor’s, diploma, or certificate programme. We’ll break them down for you here.
Bachelor’s degree classification
The table below outlines how bachelor’s degrees are classified based on CGPA ranges:
| Class | CGPA range |
| First Class | 3.5 – 4.0 |
| Second Class (Upper Division) | 3.0 – 3.49 |
| Second Class (Lower Division) | 2.5 – 2.99 |
| Third Class | 2.0 – 2.49 |
| Pass | 1.0 – 1.99 |
Diploma and Certificate classification
Here’s how diploma and certificate programs are classified based on the CGPA:
| Class Designation | CGPA range |
| Distinction | 3.5 – 4.0 |
| Credit | 2.5 – 3.49 |
| Pass | 1.0 – 2.49 |
How to calculate your GPA at UEW?
Calculating your GPA at UEW is easy. Follow these steps:
- Assign grade points to each course based on the letter grades.
- Multiply the grade points by the course’s credit hours to get the weighted grade point (WGP).
- Add up all the WGPs to get the total grade points (TGP).
- Divide the TGP by the total credit hours (TCR).
That is, GPA = TGP ÷ TCR
Example calculation
Assume Bediako had the following results for Year 3, Semester 2:
| Course code | Credits | Grade | Grade points |
| ABA 111 | 3 | B | 3.0 |
| ART 111 | 2 | C+ | 2.5 |
| ART 119 | 2 | B+ | 3.5 |
| ATE 111 | 3 | B+ | 3.5 |
| GPD 114 | 2 | C+ | 2.5 |
To calculate his semester GPA, first find the WGP of all courses.
| Course code | Credits | Grade points | WGP (Credits × grade points) |
| ABA111 | 3 | 3.0 | 9 |
| ART111 | 2 | 2.5 | 5 |
| ART119 | 2 | 3.5 | 7 |
| ATE111 | 3 | 3.5 | 10.5 |
| GPD114 | 2 | 2.5 | 5 |
| TCR= 12 | TGP = 36.5 |
Then, sum the WGPs to get the TGP (36.5) and divide it by the TCR (12).
GPA = 36.5 ÷ 12 = 3.04.
Therefore, Bediako’s GPA for the semester is 3.04.
Important terms to note
These are terms to note when calculating your GPA:
- SGPA (Semester GPA): GPA for one semester only.
- TCR (Total Credits): Sum of all course credit hours in a semester.
- WGP (Weighted Grade Points): Each course’s credit hours multiplied by its grade point.
- TGP (Total Grade Point): Sum of all WGPs.
- CGPA (Cumulative GPA): GPA averaged across all completed semesters. It’s calculated by dividing your TGP across all semesters by the TCR.
FAQs
How do I calculate my GPA at the end of every semester?
You can calculate your GPA at the end of every semester by dividing the total grade points by the total credit hours.
What GPA is required to graduate from the University of Education, Winneba?
To graduate from UEW, you need a CGPA of at least 1.00. Also, you must earn all necessary credits, settle all financial obligations, and uphold good conduct.
Can I improve my GPA after poor grades?
Yes, you can improve your GPA by retaking failed courses and performing well in future semesters to raise your CGPA.
Wrapping up
As shared in the beginning, understanding how your GPA is calculated gives you a clear advantage in working towards your graduating class. And we hope this guide is helpful.
Take your continuous assessments seriously, and if you experience a setback, you can always bounce back by retaking failed courses. Have any questions? Please share them in the comments below.
