Learn about what the Grade Point Average (GPA) represent and how it is calculated.
Your Grade Point Average (GPA) represents the average grade you have achieved across your courses. You can calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA) for a semester (TERM GPA) or cumulatively for all your courses (CUM GPA).
What is included in the Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations?
Apart from the exceptions outlined below, all the courses that you have attempted are included in the Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations. The GPA reflects the average grade across all courses, not just those that you have successfully passed.
A course with a DNS (Did Not Sit) result is included in the calculations (fail grade).
A course with a P (Pass) result is included in the calculations, and is equal to a C- grade.
A course with a WDN (withdrawn) is not included.
Any course with assessment still to be finalised: NC (Not complete), IC (Incomplete), MP (Mark Pending), RP (Result Pending) will not be included until the grade is finalised.
Any course that has been added to your Lincoln academic record as a result of cross credit or transfer credit will not be included in the GPA calculations (unless that course has been taken at Lincoln).
A course with an EX (exemption) is not included (as the EX is an indication that you are exempt the requirement to complete that course, not of your having completed it).
A course with an CC (course continuing) is not included, you will see this for courses that are split over two semesters, such as MGMT 73 for the Diploma in Farm Management which is worth 60 credits in total. The course will receive a ‘CC’ grade for part A and be given a grade for part B. The grade achieved for the second part of the course (part B) will be included in the GPA calculations.
Lincoln University Grading Scale (applies to GPA calculations from 2009)
Lincoln University uses a nine point scale to calculate the Grade Point Average (GPA). Each letter grade is assigned a numerical value, with A+ representing a value of ‘9’ points and so on, as per the table below.
If your transcript has courses completed prior to 2009 please contact [email protected] to request a copy of the grading scale that applies for you.
| Grade | Mark Range | Points |
| A+ | 90-100 | 9 |
| A | 85-89 | 8 |
| A- | 80-84 | 7 |
| B+ | 75-79 | 6 |
| B | 70-74 | 5 |
| B- | 65-69 | 4 |
| C+ | 60-64 | 3 |
| C | 55-59 | 2 |
| C- | 50-54 | 1 |
How to calculate the Grade Point Average (GPA)
You can calculate the Grade Point Average (GPA) by working through the following steps.
Step 1:
Note down the credit value for each of the courses you have taken. For undergraduate courses the credit value is typically 15 credits (note that some courses in the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture are 30 credit courses and MGMT 73 for the Diploma in Farm Management and MGMT 72 for the Diploma in Horticultural Management are 60 credits). For postgraduate (600 level) courses the value is typically 20 credits; however COMM 601, COMM 602, COMM 603 and COMM 604 are all 10 credit courses.
You can find the credit value of the courses you have taken by checking on the course prescriptions pages. The credit value is listed under Info, just above the Semester and Timetable block information.
Step 2:
Using the Lincoln University grading scale, identify the point value of the grade you achieved for each course taken.
For example: if you studied BIOS 201 Population Biology (15 credit course) and achieved a B-; then ‘4’ is the grade point (see table above) assigned to the B- grade.
Step 3:
Multiply the credit value of the course (15 credits) by the numerical value of the grade achieved (4 points).
So, for this example, the calculation would be: 15 (course credits) x 4 (point value of the B-) = 60.000 (course grade points).
At the end of each semester of study you can calculate your TERM GPA by adding up your totals for all courses undertaken (including any courses not passed).
| Course | Credit value of course | Grade | Grade point value | Grade point x course credits | Points achieved |
| BIOS 201 Population Biology | 15 credit course | B- | points value: 4 | (4 points x 15 credits) | 60 |
| COMM 113 Economies and Markets | 15 credit course | A | points value: 8 | (8 points x 15 credits) | 120 |
| SOCI 315 Practice and Policy | 15 credit course | E | points value: 0 | (0 points x 15 credits) | 0 |
| QMET 103 Statistics | 15 credit course | C- | points value: 1 | (1 points x 15 credits) | 15 |
Summary calculation to work out the Grade Point Average for a group of courses
| total credit value of all courses attempted (4 courses x 15 credits each = 60) | total of the grade points achieved (60 + 120 + 0 + 15 = 195) | (195) divided by the total credit value of all your attempted/achieved courses (60 | Your average grade points |
| 60 | 195 | 195 divided by 60 | 3.25 |
Step 4:
Once you have your average points value (in this example 3.25) refer back to the Lincoln University grading scale and find the grade equivalent of your points average (eg, 3.25 indicates a grade equivalent of C+).
What is the difference between a TERM GPA and a CUM GPA?
A TERM GPA is the average of your courses in a single semester. Use the calculation method outlined above on the courses you have attempted in a single semester to find your TERM GPA. A CUM GPA is the cumulative (overall) average of all your courses. Use the calculation method above on all courses you have attempted to find your CUM GPA.
What does a good Grade Point Average (GPA) look like?
The higher the Grade Point Average (GPA) the better the academic performance. The maximum TERM GPA / CUM GPA possible would be 9, a student would have had to achieve an A+ grade (mark range 90% – 100%) in every single course they studied to achieve it.
What is the Grade Point Average (GPA) used for?
The GPA is often used as entry criteria into higher level study, for example into Honours or Masters degrees. It is also sometimes a condition of a scholarship to maintain a particular GPA or above as a condition of continuing funding.
What Grade Point Average (GPA) information is shown on my official transcript?
Lincoln University issues an academic transcript with the parchment when you graduate. The transcript is placed into the reverse side of your parchment sleeve.
Your academic transcript is the document that records your courses taken and your results achieved. Your official transcript will show the final overall grade point average you achieved, the CUM GPA, and the GPA calculation information for each course.
| Course Description | Attempted | Earned | Grade | Points |
| BIOS 201 Population Biology | 15.00 | 15.00 | B- | 60.00 |
What is the difference between Honours and Distinction and the Grade Point Average (GPA)?
The GPA is an average of all your courses undertaken. If the qualification you are undertaking can be awarded with Honours or Distinction this will be calculated using a specific criteria, often only using specific courses, or with different weightings for different elements of the calculation.
If you have questions about the calculation of Honours or Distinction for your qualification please contact your Programme Academic Manager.