Grade point average
Understand how your academic performance gets calculated and its impact on your studies
What is your grade point average?
Your grade point average (GPA) is the main calculation Concordia uses to determine your academic performance at the end of each term, with letter grades from A to F on a 4.3 scale.
You can see your final grades in the Student Hub via My CU Account. From your Student Centre, choose Academics > View My Grades.
Over time, you will see three different kinds of GPA on your student record:
- Your term grade point average indicates your academic performance for that term.
- Your assessment grade point average (AGPA) is an annual calculation of grades for courses you have taken over the past academic year (summer, fall and winter terms).
- Your cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is the ongoing GPA for all the courses you attempted during your degree.
How GPA affects academic standing
Your annual assessment GPA (AGPA) determines your academic standing and whether you may continue your studies the following academic year. Your standing can be:
Acceptable: 2.0 and above
Conditional: between 1.50 and 1.99
Failed: below 1.50 for the first time or below 2.0 for a second consecutive time
You need at least a 2.0 to continue your studies with no conditions. If you are in conditional standing, you will need to 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.)
If you are in failed standing, know that you are not alone in experiencing difficulties with your academic performance. An academic advisor can help you understand your options.
Concordia calculates your AGPA at the end of May 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.
Both your most recent assessment GPA and cumulative GPA must be at least 2.0 to be eligible to graduate.
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
- Build your action plan
Plan to take advantage of all the resources in place to help you succeed.
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