Compute your GWA
| Subject | Grade | Units | Remove |
|---|
Philippine grade scale reference (1.00 to 5.00)
| Grade | Percentage | Descriptor |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | 97-100% | Excellent |
| 1.25 | 94-96% | Excellent |
| 1.50 | 91-93% | Very Good |
| 1.75 | 88-90% | Very Good |
| 2.00 | 85-87% | Good |
| 2.25 | 82-84% | Good |
| 2.50 | 79-81% | Satisfactory |
| 2.75 | 76-78% | Satisfactory |
| 3.00 | 75% | Passing (minimum) |
| 4.00 | 65-74% | Conditional Failure* |
| 5.00 | Below 65% | Failure |
* Grade of 4.00 (Conditional) policy varies by school. At most state universities it is treated as Failure unless a removal exam is passed. Confirm with your registrar.
How to Compute Your GWA
To compute your GWA, multiply each subject's numeric grade by its unit load, add those products together, then divide by the total number of units taken. The calculator above does this in real time as you type.
GWA stands for General Weighted Average, the primary academic metric at most Philippine colleges and universities accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Unlike a simple average, GWA weights each subject grade by its unit load, so a 6-unit major course has three times the influence on your final number as a 2-unit elective.
The General Weighted Average Formula
In this formula, Grade is the numeric value your school assigned on the CHED scale (1.00 is Excellent, 3.00 is the minimum passing grade, 5.00 is Failure), Units is the credit hour load of each subject, and Sigma (Σ) means "the sum of" across all subjects in the term.
Worked Example: Computing GWA for a Semester
A first-year student at a state university completes five subjects in the first semester:
| Subject | Grade | Units | Grade × Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 1.50 | 3 | 4.50 |
| Math | 1.75 | 5 | 8.75 |
| Science | 2.00 | 4 | 8.00 |
| Filipino | 1.25 | 3 | 3.75 |
| PE | 1.50 | 2 | 3.00 |
| Total | 17 | 28.00 |
GWA = 28.00 / 17 = 1.65 (Very Good, Cum Laude range at most schools). Notice that Math (5 units) pulls the GWA closer to 1.75 than PE (2 units) does, because heavier subjects have proportionally more influence on the weighted average.
Passing Grade Requirements in Philippine Universities
The passing grade at most CHED-regulated colleges and universities is 3.00 on the 1.00 to 5.00 numeric scale. This corresponds to 75%, the statutory minimum passing percentage established under CHED memoranda. Grades from 3.25 to 5.00 are considered failing; 5.00 is outright failure and may trigger academic probation after repeated occurrence. Some schools also use a conditional grade of 4.00 requiring a removal exam, as noted in the grade reference table inside the calculator above.
Philippine College Grading Scale and Grade Equivalents
Most CHED-regulated state universities and colleges follow the numeric grading system that assigns grades in increments of 0.25, from 1.00 (Excellent) down to 5.00 (Failure). The passing threshold is 3.00, which corresponds to a percentage equivalent of 75%, per CHED guidelines.
College Grades on the 1.00 to 5.00 Scale
College grades on the standard Philippine scale are reported as decimal numbers in increments of 0.25, running from 1.00 (Excellent) to 5.00 (Failure). A numeric grade of 3.00 is the minimum passing mark at most CHED-accredited schools. The chart and table below show how each numeric grade maps to a percentage range, a descriptor, and a Latin honor bracket.
The standard grade equivalents below apply to most public state universities and colleges governed by CHED. Private institutions such as DLSU and Ateneo de Manila use a 4.0 GPA scale rather than the 1.00 to 5.00 system described here.
| Numeric Grade | Percentage Equivalent | Descriptor | Latin Honor Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | 97-100% | Excellent | Summa Cum Laude |
| 1.25 | 94-96% | Excellent | Summa Cum Laude |
| 1.50 | 91-93% | Very Good | Magna Cum Laude |
| 1.75 | 88-90% | Very Good | Cum Laude |
| 2.00 | 85-87% | Good | Dean's List (many schools) |
| 2.25 | 82-84% | Good | Dean's List (some schools) |
| 2.50 | 79-81% | Satisfactory | Good Standing |
| 2.75 | 76-78% | Satisfactory | Good Standing |
| 3.00 | 75% | Passing | Minimum Passing |
| 5.00 | Below 75% | Failure | Academic Warning |
Letter Grades and Numeric Grade Equivalents
Most Philippine universities report letter grades only for international transcript purposes. The common mapping is 1.00 to 1.75 = A, 2.00 to 2.75 = B, 3.00 = C (Passing), and 5.00 = F. Always request your registrar's official letter grade equivalency certificate when applying to foreign institutions, as each school's mapping can differ slightly from this general reference.
Latin honor thresholds vary by institution and degree program. At the University of the Philippines Diliman Office of the University Registrar, Cum Laude requires a GWA of 1.75 or better with no grade of 5.00 and no incomplete. Confirm the specific GWA cutoff with your school's registrar before relying on this table for honor eligibility.
GWA vs GPA: Key Differences for Philippine Students
GPA Meaning in Philippine Academic Records
GPA meaning refers to Grade Point Average, the 0.0 to 4.0 academic metric used in the United States, Canada, and many other countries. Philippine students whose international applications ask for a GPA should note that their GWA transcript uses an inverted scale and must be converted before submission. Most US graduate programs accept a credential evaluation from WES or ICES in place of a direct GPA value.
GWA and GPA describe the same concept: a weighted average of course grades across a term, using the same weighted formula. The two systems differ in scale direction, numerical range, and governing authority, as the table below shows.
| Feature | GWA (Philippines) | GPA (United States) |
|---|---|---|
| Best grade | 1.00 | 4.0 (or 4.3 with A+) |
| Worst grade | 5.00 | 0.0 |
| Passing threshold | 3.00 or below | 2.0 or above |
| Scale direction | Lower is better | Higher is better |
| Formula | Same weighted average formula | Same weighted average formula |
| Governing body | CHED (Philippines) | Individual institutions (US) |
College Grade Conversion: GWA to GPA Converter
College grade conversion from Philippine GWA to US GPA uses the approximation GPA = 4.0 x (1 - (GWA - 1.00) / 4.00). This GWA to GPA converter gives a rough equivalency: a GWA of 1.75 yields roughly 3.25, and a GWA of 3.00 yields roughly 2.00. For official conversion, use a NACES-member credential evaluator such as WES or ICES, whose report is accepted by most US and Canadian graduate programs.
The scale inversion is the most common source of confusion. A GWA of 1.00 is the highest achievable grade in the Philippine system; on a US GPA scale, 1.0 represents a D. When applying to graduate programs abroad, always clarify which scale your grades are on. Use our CGPA to GPA converter as a starting point, then request an official credential evaluation before submitting transcripts.
GWA Scales by Philippine University: UP, PUP, UST, DLSU, Ateneo
Not all Philippine universities use the same grading scale. Most CHED-regulated state universities follow the 1.00 to 5.00 system, but DLSU and Ateneo de Manila use a 4.0 GPA scale similar to US universities. The five largest institutions illustrate the split:
| University | Scale | Best Grade | Passing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UP Diliman / UP System | 1.00 to 5.00 | 1.00 | 3.00 | GWA 1.75 or better for Cum Laude; 1.50 for Magna; 1.25 for Summa |
| PUP (Polytechnic University) | 1.00 to 5.00 | 1.00 | 3.00 | Standard CHED scale; Dean's List at GWA 1.75 or better |
| UST (University of Santo Tomas) | 1.00 to 5.00 | 1.00 | 3.00 | Standard CHED scale with additional 1.00 to 5.00 numeric increments |
| DLSU (De La Salle University) | 0.0 to 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | Uses US-style GPA scale; not directly comparable to the 1.00-5.00 GWA |
| Ateneo de Manila University | 0.0 to 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 | Uses US-style GPA scale; Latin honor thresholds follow Ateneo's own GPA rules |
If you attend DLSU or Ateneo de Manila, the GWA calculator on this page applies a different formula and a different interpretation scale than your school uses. Use the GPA calculator instead, which handles the US-style 0.0 to 4.0 scale used at those institutions. For all other Philippine universities following the CHED 1.00 to 5.00 numeric system, this calculator applies directly.
Evaluation of Grades and Academic Standing
Philippine universities conduct a formal evaluation of grades after each semester's results are posted. A GWA above 3.00 typically triggers academic probation; two consecutive semesters on probation may result in dismissal at state universities. A GWA of 1.75 or better in a given semester usually qualifies for the Dean's List, though exact thresholds vary by college and degree program. Always confirm the specific GWA cutoff with your school registrar.
Source: University registrar pages for UP Diliman, PUP, UST, DLSU, and Ateneo de Manila. Grading policies are subject to revision; verify the current rules with your registrar before making academic decisions.