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Grade point average

How well are you performing academically?

What is a GPA? Academic standing Maintaining acceptable standing

What is a GPA?

Your grade point average is the main calculation used to determine your academic performance. Concordia uses letter grades (A-F) on a 4.3 GPA scale. 

Three different kinds of GPA may appear on your student record. Each one has a different meaning:

  • Your term GPA indicates your academic performance for that term. 
  • Your assessment GPA is a calculation of grades for courses you have taken over an academic year (summer, fall and winter terms). Your AGPA determines your academic standing and whether you may continue your studies the following academic year. You need at least a 2.00 to continue your studies with no conditions.
  • Your cumulative GPA is the ongoing GPA for all your attempted courses within your degree.  

Both your most recent AGPA and CGPA must be at least 2.0 to be eligible to graduate.

Learn how to calculate your GPA

Academic standing

Concordia assesses your academic standing annually at the end of May. Your standing can be: 

    Acceptable: assessment GPA of 2.0 and above

    Conditional: assessment GPA between 1.50 and 1.99

    Failed: assessment GPA below 1.50 for the first time or below 2.0 for a second consecutive time

Your assessment GPA gets calculated only if you attempted at least 12 credits between the previous summer, fall and winter terms. If you completed fewer than 12 credits over the academic year, no assessment takes place. Instead, grades and credits carry forward to the next assessment period.

If you are in conditional standing: You must achieve an AGPA of 2.0 at your next annual assessment. You cannot have two conditional standing assessments in a row, or you will be in failed standing.

Students in the Faculty of Arts and Science in conditional standing after their first year must complete Seminars for Success to avoid being blocked from course registration.

If you are in failed standing: Normally, you must take time off from Concordia for one academic year and then apply for readmission. If there were extenuating circumstances that contributed to your failed standing, you may apply for readmission. You may be readmitted as of the fall following your failed standing assessment.

Are you in failed standing? Learn more.

Take steps to maintain acceptable standing

If you have concerns about your academic performance, reach out to an academic advisor.

Advisors can help you:

  • Understand and protect your GPA
  • Get back on track after conditional or failed standing
  • Provide information on readmission

From there, you can build your action plan.

At the Student Success Centre, you'll find one-on-one tutors and mentors, study groups and workshops, plus a friendly community of professionals, peers and faculty who want you to excel. Topics covered include time management, note-taking, writing, language conversation groups, and more.

It may help to have a clearer vision of where you’re headed after graduation, and how your program can help you get there. Career Counselling and Educational Transitions are the people to go to for help exploring your career options given your current field of study – and a discussion about whether your academic path fits with your aspirations for the future.

In our experience, there are any number of factors that contribute to students finding themselves in failed standing. Concordia can help you address a whole range of concerns.

Surrounding yourself with a supportive group of peers can be an important source of encouragement.

  • Take note of course drop deadlines if you want to lighten your course load
  • Shed some of your commitments or extracurricular activities if you need more time for schoolwork
  • Strike a balance between time for socializing and time for studying
  • If you’re working and going to school at the same time, look at working fewer hours
  • It sounds obvious but it’s true: getting a head start on assignments will set you up for success and boost your confidence
 
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