CWA vs GWA both are used to measure a student’s academic performance.
GWA stands for General Weighted Average and includes all subjects a student has taken, whether they are part of the main course or not.
CWA, on the other hand, stands for Curriculum Weighted Average. It only includes the subjects that are part of your specific degree program.
CWA is often used when a student wants to shift to another academic program or course. In this case, the grades from subjects that match the new program are counted to check if the student qualifies. This applies to regular students and those transferring from different courses.
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There’s also a similar term called CWAG, which stands for Cumulative Weighted Average Grade. This looks at the overall performance of a student over time.
Among these, GWA is the most commonly used. If you’re unsure how to calculate it, you can use an online GWA Calculator to easily find your grade average.
CWA Vs GWA Calculation – How It’s Calculated
GWA (General Weighted Average) is a way to measure your academic performance by giving more value (weight) to certain subjects. It usually focuses only on the current academic year and does not include courses from previous years. This makes it a good way to see how well you’re doing now.
CWA (Curriculum Weighted Average) is slightly different. It focuses only on the subjects that are part of your official course or program.
- Look at the credit hours (or units) of each course.
- Multiply the grade you got in each course by its credit hours.
- Add up all those results.
- Divide the total by the sum of all credit hours.
Finally, you’ll get your CWA score.
If you want to calculate your CWA (Curriculum Weighted Average), you can use this simple formula:
CWA = (Sum of [Unit Credits × Marks]) ÷ (Sum of Unit Credits)
CWA Vs GWA: Which Is Better
Choosing between CWA and GWA depends on your academic goals, since both are grading systems in the Philippines. CWA is best if you want a complete view of your entire academic performance over your whole course. Meanwhile, GWA is useful when you want to check how well you did in a particular school year.
There’s also GPA, which is a popular grading system used worldwide. Although GWA and GPA are different, many students want to know how they compare. If you’re studying in the Philippines, you can get a Certificate of GWA to officially prove your GWA grades.
Also Read: Certificate of Enrollment
Conclusion
Both grading systems (CWA vs. GWA) are useful and serve different purposes. The right one for you depends on your academic goals and the situation where your grades are being reviewed. You can choose either CWA or GWA based on what works best for your needs.
When deciding, it is important to consider factors such as the level of specificity you require and the way the grading system aligns with your academic and professional aspirations. Some individuals may prefer CWA for a more detailed and consistent performance overview, while others might opt for GWA for a broader, more generalized assessment. Regardless of the choice, understanding the implications of each grading system will help ensure you can navigate academic requirements with confidence.
FAQs
Can I compute my own CWA or GWA at home?
Yes, you can calculate your CWA or GWA by yourself using your grades and the credit units of each subject.
What is the formula to calculate CWA?
To calculate CWA (Curriculum Weighted Average), the formula is this: (Sum of Grade × Unit Credits) ÷ Total Unit Credits.
Does CWA consider how hard a course is?
Not directly. CWA uses the number of units or credits assigned to a course, which often reflects how important or time-consuming the course is.
