SmartCGPA

CGPA Calculator for South Korea

Calculate your GPA using South Korea's 4.5 or 4.3 grading system. Credit-weighted as used by SNU, Korea University, Yonsei, KAIST, POSTECH and other universities. Supports relative grading and percentile (Baekbunyul).

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Grading System Overview (South Korea)
4.5 and 4.3 scales • Relative vs absolute grading

Universities in South Korea use a GPA system on a 4.5 scale (most common) or 4.3 scale (e.g. Yonsei, KAIST, Ewha, Sogang). GPA is credit-weighted; credits are called "Credits" (학점). Pass mark is typically 60% or grade C; GPA is shown to two decimal places.

4.5 scale: Most national and private universities (e.g. SNU, Korea University). 4.3 scale: Prestigious international-facing institutions.

Relative Grading (상대평가): Most courses use a fixed distribution (e.g. A: top 30–35%, B: next 35–40%, C and below: remaining). Absolute Grading (절대평가): Small classes, practical arts, or Pass/Fail (P/F) courses. Transcripts often include a 100-point percentile (Baekbunyul, 백분율), used for GKS and major employers.

Step-by-Step GPA / CGPA Calculation
Standard practice at major Korean universities
  1. Grades: Letter grades (A+, A0, B+, B0, C+, C0, D+, D0, F) — convert to points using your university's scale.
  2. Weighted sum: Σ(Grade points × Credits).
  3. GPA: GPA = Σ(Grade points × Credits) ÷ Σ(Credits attempted). P/F and S/U grades grant credits but are excluded from the GPA denominator.
  4. Retakes (재수강): Usually only for C+ or lower; retaken courses are often capped at A0 (4.0) or B+ (3.5). Old grade is replaced by "R" and removed from GPA but remains on transcript.
Grade to GPA Conversion (4.5 Scale)
Common at SNU, Korea University
Letter GradeGPA PointsScale
A+4.54.5
A0 / A4.04.5
B+3.54.5
B0 / B3.04.5
C+2.54.5
C0 / C2.04.5
D+1.54.5
D01.04.5
F0.04.5
4.5 vs 4.3 vs 100-Point (Percentile)
Korean transcripts often include 100-point Baekbunyul
Letter Grade4.5 Scale4.3 ScalePercentile (approx)
A+4.54.395–100
A0 / A4.04.090–94
A−N/A3.787–89
B+3.53.382–86
B0 / B3.03.077–81
B−N/A2.774–76
C+2.52.369–73
C0 / C2.02.064–68
D+1.51.360–63
F0.00.0Below 60
Worked Example (4.5 Scale)
4 courses in one semester
CourseCreditsGradeGPA PointsGrade Points
Microeconomics3B+3.510.5
Financial Accounting3A04.012.0
Statistics3B03.09.0
Business Law3C+2.57.5
Total-39.0

GPA = 39.0 ÷ 12 = 3.25 (out of 4.5)

Worked Example (4.3 Scale, with P/F)
3rd year engineering, 15 credits; Physics Lab is P (excluded from GPA)
CourseCreditsGradePointsCredit × Points
Data Structures3A04.012.0
Calculus II3B+3.39.9
Physics Lab1P(excluded)
Elective History3A−3.711.1
Capstone Project5B03.015.0
Total GPA credits / points--48.0 ÷ 14

Total grade points = 12.0 + 9.9 + 11.1 + 15.0 = 48.0 • GPA credits = 14 (Physics Lab excluded)

Semester GPA = 48.0 ÷ 14 = 3.43 / 4.3

Types of Averages & Honors

Cumulative GPA (CGPA): Standard for graduation.

Term GPA: Average for a specific semester (often shown).

Major GPA: Only core and elective courses within the department.

Converted GPA: 4.3 or 4.0 equivalents for international use.

Academic Warning (Haksa-gyeonggo): Typically if semester GPA < 1.75 or 2.00; three warnings can lead to expulsion.

Honors (U-su): Summa Cum Laude often requires CGPA ≥ 4.0 (4.3 scale) or ≥ 4.3 (4.5 scale). Early graduation possible with GPA ≥ 4.0 for 6–7 semesters.

Top Universities in South Korea

Seoul National University (SNU)

Scale: 4.3 / 4.5

4.3 internal; 4.5 conversion and 100-point percentile on request.

Korea University

Scale: 4.5 GPA

Strict rules on Credit Withdrawal.

Yonsei University

Scale: 4.3 GPA

Active S/U grading for Holistic Education courses.

KAIST

Scale: 4.3 / 4.5

High rigor; 3.0 often viewed as 3.5 elsewhere.

POSTECH

Scale: GPA-based

Academic policies apply.

Ewha Womans University

Scale: 4.3

International-facing scale.

Sogang University

Scale: 4.3

International-facing scale.

International Conversion (GKS & NIIED)

Korean GPAs are converted by scale normalization (e.g. 4.5 → 4.0: GPA_4.0 = (Korean GPA ÷ Max scale) × 4.0). For the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), the NIIED Official Conversion Table is often used; if your transcript shows a 100-point score, that is the primary reference. Receiving institutions may request official conversion tables; credential evaluation (e.g. WES) may be required and can treat Korea's strict relative grading differently.

Frequently Asked Questions (South Korea)

Educational estimates only • Verify with your institution