Computation of GPA (with effect from 2004/2005)
The GPA (Grade Point Average) is a system which provides an overview of a student's academic performance. It allows students to keep track of their performance throughout their course of study and helps lecturers identify students' academic needs and provide advice and guidance.
The GPA System takes effect from the academic year 2004/2005 for all new students entering Singapore Polytechnic from that year onwards. SP uses a 4-point scale grading system as shown in the previous section.
The GPA is derived using the formula:
GPA = Sum (module credit units × module grade point) / Sum (module credit units)
Two GPA figures will be computed:
- Semester GPA (sGPA): sum of (grade point × credit units) ÷ sum of (credit units) for modules examined (including failed modules) in the semester.
- Cumulative GPA (cGPA): sum of (grade point × credit units) ÷ sum of (credit units) for all modules examined (including failed modules) up to and including the current semester.
Students are not allowed to retake any modules which they have passed. This applies to all students, regardless of whether there was a break in study. Students who are reinstated/readmitted would not be allowed to retake any passed modules, except where there has been a curriculum change making the module(s) previously taken no longer valid.
Note to students:
Please refer to your online results slip or academic transcript for your Modules' Credit Units. To access your online results slip, please log on to E-Services > Exam Results.
Excluding Elective Modules from Cumulative GPA Computation (with effect from 2024/2025)
From academic year 2024/2025, up to two elective modules can be excluded to improve a student’s final Cumulative GPA (cGPA). This applies to all students who complete their course of study in Singapore Polytechnic that year and in subsequent years.
Up to two elective modules taken over a student’s course of study will be automatically excluded from cGPA computation by the system in the student’s final phase, provided that such exclusion(s) improves the student’s final cGPA. The improved cGPA will be reflected in the student’s final semester exam results and academic transcript upon completion of the course of study. Excluded elective modules and their corresponding grades will still be listed in the exam results and academic transcript.
How To Compute GPA?
Below is an illustration of how a student's Semester GPA (sGPA) and Cumulative GPA (cGPA) are computed, presented with clearer, borderless tables for the calculations.
First Semester Computation
Formula: sGPA = [Sum(module credit units × module grade point)] ÷ [Sum(module credit units)]
| Module | Credit Units | Grade Point | Product (C.U. × G.P.) |
| EC1220 (B+) | 4 | 3.5 | 4 × 3.5 = 14.0 |
| EC1223 (C) | 4 | 2.0 | 4 × 2.0 = 8.0 |
| EC1264 (C+) | 4 | 2.5 | 4 × 2.5 = 10.0 |
| EC1566 (B) | 4 | 3.0 | 4 × 3.0 = 12.0 |
| EC1409 (A) | 4 | 4.0 | 4 × 4.0 = 16.0 |
| Total | 20 | | 14 + 8 + 10 + 12 + 16 = 60.0 |
sGPA = 60.0 ÷ 20 = 3.00
After First Semester: sGPA = 3.00, cGPA = 3.00
Second Semester Computation
Formula: sGPA = [Sum(module credit units × module grade point)] ÷ [Sum(module credit units)]
| Module | Credit Units | Grade Point | Product (C.U. × G.P.) |
| ET0120 (D) | 5 | 1.0 | 5 × 1.0 = 5.0 |
| ET0121 (C) | 4 | 2.0 | 4 × 2.0 = 8.0 |
| SP0302 (C+) | 2 | 2.5 | 2 × 2.5 = 5.0 |
| ET0124 (B) | 4 | 3.0 | 4 × 3.0 = 12.0 |
| MS1125 (F) | 4 | 0.0 | 4 × 0.0 = 0.0 |
| Total | 5+4+2+4+4=19 | | 5+8+5+12+0 = 30.0 |
sGPA = 30.0 ÷ 19 ≈ 1.58
Cumulative after Second Semester
From First Semester: Total Points = 60.0, Total Units = 20
From Second Semester: Total Points = 30.0, Total Units = 19
cGPA = (60.0 + 30.0) ÷ (20 + 19) = 90.0 ÷ 39 ≈ 2.31
After Second Semester: sGPA = 1.58, cGPA = 2.31
Third Semester Computation
Formula: sGPA = [Sum(module credit units × module grade point)] ÷ [Sum(module credit units)]
| Module | Credit Units | Grade Point | Product (C.U. × G.P.) |
| ET0130 (B+) | 4 | 3.5 | 4 × 3.5 = 14.0 |
| EC1223 (C) | 3 | 2.0 | 3 × 2.0 = 6.0 |
| ET0164 (C+) | 4 | 2.5 | 4 × 2.5 = 10.0 |
| MS1125 (B+) | 4 | 3.0 | 4 × 3.0 = 12.0 |
| ST0321 (A) | 3 | 4.0 | 3 × 4.0 = 12.0 |
| EP0701 (B+) | 4 | 3.5 | 4 × 3.5 = 14.0 |
| Total | 4+3+4+4+3+4=22 | | 14+6+10+12+12+14=68.0 |
sGPA = 68.0 ÷ 22 ≈ 3.09
Cumulative after Third Semester
From previous semesters: Total Points = 90.0 (60+30), Total Units = 39 (20+19)
From Third Semester: Total Points = 68.0, Total Units = 22
cGPA = (90.0 + 68.0) ÷ (39 + 22) = 158.0 ÷ 61 ≈ 2.59
After Third Semester: sGPA = 3.09, cGPA = 2.59
Final Semester (Excluding Up to 2 Elective Modules)
Total grade points at end of final semester (before exclusions) = 345
Total credit units at end of final semester (before exclusions) = 130
cGPA without exclusions = 345 ÷ 130 ≈ 2.65
Elective Modules and Their Impact
| Elective Module | Credit Units | Grade Point | Product (C.U. × G.P.) |
| EP0701 (B+) | 4 | 3.5 | 14.0 |
| EM0407 (C+) | 4 | 2.5 | 10.0 |
| EP0410 (D) | 3 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
Check different exclusion scenarios:
Exclude EM0407 only:
cGPA = (345 - 10) ÷ (130 - 4) = 335 ÷ 126 ≈ 2.66
Exclude EP0410 only:
cGPA = (345 - 3) ÷ (130 - 3) = 342 ÷ 127 ≈ 2.69
Exclude both EM0407 and EP0410:
cGPA = (345 - 10 - 3) ÷ (130 - 4 - 3) = 332 ÷ 123 ≈ 2.70
Excluding EP0701 does not improve the cGPA, so the best cGPA is 2.70 after excluding both EM0407 and EP0410.
Final cGPA = 2.70
- Under the new credit accumulation modular system, students will take a selected number of modules and accumulate credit units for those modules they have passed.
- Modules are assessed immediately upon completion of the required academic work at the end of a semester. There will be two semesters in an academic year.
- Students who are unsuccessful in the semestral examination need only to repeat the failed modules in the next semester. They will not have to repeat all the modules belonging to the previous semester.
CONDITIONS FOR THE AWARD OF DIPLOMA
A student shall pass all core modules of the course and, where applicable, sufficient elective modules to accumulate the stipulated number of credit units before he is considered for the award of the Diploma.
DURATION ALLOWED TO COMPLETE COURSE
The duration allowed for a student to complete his course of study is as follows:-
- Four years for a two-year course of study
- Six years for a three-year course of study
- Eight years for a four-year course of study
- Ten years for a five-year course of study
Note:
A student who is admitted directly into the second year of a three-year course will be deemed to be doing a two-year course of study. This applies to all students who do not start from the first year of the course.
CONDITIONS FOR PROMOTION IN A COURSE
A student must pass all the core modules and options modules in a stage before he is promoted to the next stage of the course. The overall assessment of a module is based on any one or more of the following:-
- Semestral Examination
- 100% in-course Assessment
- Continual Assessment
To obtain a clear pass in a module, a student must score 50% or more in the overall assessment of that module.
CONDITIONS FOR REPEATING MODULES
i) Students who fail any core module or option module of a stage shall be retained in that stage. They need not, however, repeat the modules they have passed. If a student fails an elective module, he will be allowed to substitute that failed module with another appropriate elective module.
ii) While repeating a stage, students may be allowed to take new modules of the next stage, together with the repeat modules. This is subject to the approval of the respective academic Director and on the condition that the total credit units do not exceed the prescribed number for that stage, and if such classes can be scheduled.
iii) Notwithstanding (ii) above, a student who has to repeat only one module may, upon the approval by the academic Director, be allowed to take that repeat module together with all the new modules in the next stage, provided such classes can be scheduled. This is a privilege granted to the student, and not a right, based solely on the assessment of the student's ability to cope with the additional module.
CONDITIONS FOR REMOVAL
- Any student who is unable to complete his course of study within the period of the course duration allowed, shall be removed from the course.
- Any student who repeats any of the core, option or elective modules and fails, shall be removed from the course.
- Any student who obtains a semestral average below 35% at one sitting shall be removed from the course.
- Any student who is absent from the Semestral Examination without valid reason shall be removed from the course.
