In this post, we will dive deep into how you can understand the KNUST grading system and calculate your weighted average and cumulative weighted average.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology is one of the few schools in Ghana that uses the Cumulative Weighted Average, often called CWA, as a grading system.
Because most universities in Ghana use the Grade Point Average (GPA), most Ghanaians are used to the GPA calculation and often get confused converting CWA to GPA.
Find below more about the KNUST grading system and how you can calculate your average;
How KNUST CWA Is Calculated
Every semester, each student is required to take between 3 and 10 in some cases, it can extend to 11 or 13 courses. No matter the number of courses, the credit hour should be nothing less than 16 and nothing above 21 units.
A Sample of course No and Credit Hours
Course No. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Credit Marks (Hrs)
MAS 151 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3
MAS 153 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
MAS 155 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
MAS 157 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
MAS 159 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
MAS 161 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
MAS 163 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
MAS 159Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3
COM 157Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2
Total Cumulative Credit           20
How To Calculate KNUST Weighted Average
The weighted average is the average for the first semester, when you add that of the second semester, it becomes a cumulative weighted average(CWA). Below are the steps to calculate your weighted average.
- Step 1: Multiply the percentage mark scored in each course by the course credit to obtain the Weighted Marks.
- Step 2: Add up all the Weighted Marks calculated up to the end of the semester in question to obtain the Cumulative Weighted Marks.
- Step 3: Add up all the corresponding Course Credits to the end of the semester in question to obtain the Cumulative Credits.
- Step 4: Divide the Cumulative Weighted Marks by the Cumulative Credits to obtain your Cumulative Weighted Average for the semester in question.
Below is a table demonstrating the steps indicated above.
Calculations of Cumulative Weighted Marks
Course No. Credit Marks (Hrs) (A) Marks (100%) (B) Weighted Marks (A*B)
No              Credit Hour       Score               Cumulative Weighted Mark
MAS 151Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 74 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 222
MAS 153 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 71 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 142
MAS 155Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 67 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 134
MAS 157 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 89Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 178
MAS 159 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 55 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 110
MAS 161 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 47Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 94
MAS 163 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 67Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 134
MAS 169Â Â Â Â Â Â 3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 70Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 210
COM 157Â Â Â Â Â Â 2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 34Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 68
Total: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 20Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1292
After the calculations been done, the student’s total would be divided by 20 (Total Credit Hour or Unit).
To get your WA:
Cumulative Weighted Marks should be divided by the credit hour WM/Credit Hour, Which is: 1292/20= 64.6
WA= 64.6
Note: The weighted average is for the first semester results of year 1. The Cumulative Average can only be struck by adding the Weighted average of the two semesters and dividing it by 2.
A student who failed more than four courses each semester will be asked to withdraw, and if a student completes their academic year and still has some courses to retake, the student will have to pass such classes before a certificate is issued.
This might mean having an extra semester or year, as the case may be. Now you should know that the KNUST grading system is, though, for lazy students, one’s belt must be buckled well if one must excel in this well-sought after school. Excellence is the hallmark of KNUST.
And now that the student used for illustration has a CWA of 64.60 in year one semester one, if the students work hard the next semester being semester two and gets, for instance, 1576 with a total of 21 credit hours, gives the student an average of 75.04 for that semester; therefore the total KNUST grading system (CWA) for the student that year would be 1576 + 1292 which would give 2868, and this would be divided by the total year credit hours of 41 which gives 69.95.
This continues till your days are over in the school.
Students are advised to focus more on the higher credit hour. Higher credit hour has a positive impact on a student’s score.
How To Calculate Your KNUST Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA)
We have already indicated the steps to calculate your weighted average; that’s your results for the first semester. To know the Cumulative Weighted Average for the academic year, follow the guide below.
- Calculate your weighted average. You can follow the guide above to do that.
- Once you have your weighted average, add it to the current weighted average and divide it by the number of members.
E.g.
Let’s say your first-year results are as follows
- First semester results – 64.6%
- Second-semester results – 75%
Add the two averages, i.e. 64.6% + 75% and divide by 2(Semesters)
Thus, 139.6/2 =69.8
So your cumulative weighted average is 69.8, and that’s a second class(upper division) per the KNUST Grading System.
KNUST Grading System for Class of Degree
The KNUST Grading system for class of degree is the calculated points which are used to give students an award of degree. Here is the list of how these points measure up to an honours’ award in order of the highest to the lowest grade.
Marks                 Grade
70 to 100Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A
60Â to 69Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â B
50 to 59Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â C
45 to 49Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â D
40 to 49Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â E
0 to 39Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â F
Grade ClassificationÂ
- First class a CWA of 70.00 and above
- Second class upper a CWA of 60.00 to 69.99
- Second class lowers a CWA of 50.00 to 59.99
- Pass a CWA of 40.00 to 49.99
KNUST Grading System
| Class | CWA |
|---|---|
| First Class | 70.00 and above |
| Second Class Upper | 60.00 – 69.99 |
| Second Class Lower | 50.00 – 59.99 |
| Pass | 40.00 – 49.99 |
Any cumulative weighted average below 40.00 at the end of all your academic years means that you cannot graduate. KNUST requires students to obtain at least 40% to graduate.
Institute of distance learning students also uses the same grading system. They cover the same syllabus and are subjected to the same examination content as regular students, only that they get to study away from the university main campus.
The university has centres across the country offering education to prospective applicants who cannot make it to the main campus for studies.
We have a detailed article you can check out if you want to increase your CWA in KNUST. We are hopeful that it will be of help to you.
ConclusionÂ
We believe that we have explained in detail the KNUST grading system and how you can easily calculate your Weighted Average and Cumulative Weighted Average.
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