CGPA vs Percentage: Which Is Better?
Should you focus on CGPA or percentage? Learn the pros and cons of each grading system and understand how they compare for academics and careers.
Understanding Both Systems
Percentage grading expresses your score as a fraction of 100. If you scored 85 out of 100 marks, your percentage is 85%.
Traditional in many countries, especially for board exams. Provides granular precision but can lead to unhealthy competition over small differences.
CGPA groups marks into grade bands (A, B, C...) and assigns point values. Your CGPA is the weighted average of these points across all courses.
Modern approach used by most universities worldwide. Reduces focus on tiny mark differences and standardizes comparison across subjects.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- More precise differentiation
- Easy to understand (out of 100)
- Direct marks visibility
Cons
- Encourages unhealthy competition
- Hard to compare across subjects
- Small differences feel significant
Pros
- Reduces unhealthy competition
- International standard
- Fair comparison across subjects
Cons
- Less granular detail
- Conversion varies by institution
- May obscure borderline cases
How to Convert
Common Conversion Formulas
CBSE (India) - 10-point scale:
Percentage = CGPA × 9.5
Example: 8.0 CGPA = 76%
4.0 Scale:
Percentage = (GPA ÷ 4.0) × 100
Example: 3.5 GPA ≈ 87.5%
5.0 Scale:
Percentage = CGPA × 20
Example: 4.0 CGPA = 80%
Note: These are approximations. Always verify with your institution's official conversion formula.
Convert Your CGPAWhich Is Better?
Neither system is objectively "better"—they serve different purposes:
- For international applications: CGPA is preferred as it's the global standard
- For local contexts: Use whatever your institution requires
- For your resume: Include both if space allows