Schools and universities in the Philippines summarise a student’s grades as a general weighted average (GWA). It works exactly like a GPA: each subject grade is multiplied by its number of units, the products are added and the total is divided by the total units, so a 5-unit laboratory course counts more than a 2-unit PE class.
Many state universities use a 1.00–5.00 scale where 1.00 is the best grade, 3.00 is the lowest passing grade and 5.00 is a failure; on this scale a lower GWA is better. Others use 4.00 as the best grade and 1.00 as the minimum passing grade, and basic education reports plain percentages. Choose the scale your school uses. On the 1.00–5.00 scale you may type percentages – they are converted with the common table (97–100% = 1.00, 94–96% = 1.25 … 75% = 3.00).
For Latin honors many universities, the University of the Philippines among them, use a GWA of 1.20 or better for summa cum laude, 1.45 for magna cum laude and 1.75 for cum laude, usually with no failing grade and a minimum number of units; your own university’s rules decide.
How to use the GWA Calculator
- Subjects – one per line: name, grade, units — Units default to 3. On the 1.00–5.00 scale you can type percentages (e.g. 92%).
- Grading scale
Everything is calculated in your browser, so results appear instantly and nothing you type is sent to a server.
How it works
Each line gives a grade and its units. Grades are multiplied by units, summed and divided by the total units. The result is compared with the passing grade of the chosen scale and, on the 1.00–5.00 scale, with the common Latin honors cut-offs.
Worked example
Calculus 1.25 (3 units), Physics 1.50 (4), Filipino 1.00 (3), PE 2.00 (2), History 1.75 (3): Σ grade × units = 3.75 + 6 + 3 + 4 + 5.25 = 22 over 15 units, so GWA = 1.467 – inside the common cum laude range (1.46–1.75), just missing magna cum laude.
Common percentage conversion (1.00–5.00 scale)
| Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1.00 | 97–100 |
| 1.25 | 94–96 |
| 1.50 | 91–93 |
| 1.75 | 88–90 |
| 2.00 | 85–87 |
| 2.25 | 82–84 |
| 2.50 | 79–81 |
| 2.75 | 76–78 |
| 3.00 | 75 |
| 5.00 | below 75 (failed) |
Formula
GWA = Σ(grade × units) ÷ Σ units · 1.00 = 97–100%, 1.25 = 94–96%, … 3.00 = 75% (passing), 5.00 = failed
Worked example
Inputs — Subjects – one per line: name, grade, units: Calculus, 1.25, 3
Physics, 1.50, 4
Filipino, 1.00, 3
PE, 2.00, 2
History, 1.75, 3; Grading scale: 1.00–5.00 (1.00 is highest).
Results — General weighted average (GWA) = 1.467; Standing = Passing (3.00 or better); Latin honors range = Cum laude range (1.46–1.75); Percentage equivalent = Nearest grade 1.50 ≈ 91–93%; Total units = 15; Sum of grade × units = 22.
Key terms
- Units
- The credit weight of a subject.
- GWA
- General weighted average – the unit-weighted mean of all grades.
- Latin honors
- Summa, magna and cum laude distinctions awarded for a high GWA.
Frequently asked questions
How do I compute my GWA?
Multiply each grade by its units, add the products and divide by the total units.
Is a lower GWA better?
On the 1.00–5.00 scale used by many universities, yes – 1.00 is the highest grade.
What is a passing GWA?
3.00 on the 1.00–5.00 scale, 1.00 on a 4.00-is-highest scale, or 75% in percentage grading.
What GWA do I need for cum laude?
At many universities, 1.75 or better (1.45 for magna, 1.20 for summa cum laude), with no failing grades.
What is 1.50 in percentage?
Roughly 91–93% on the common conversion table.
Is GWA the same as GPA?
It is the same weighted-average calculation; the name and the scale differ.