How Is Singapore GPA Calculated? The 5.0 Scale Explained
Singapore universities (NUS, NTU) use a 5.0 GPA scale, not the US 4.0. Both A and A+ count as 5.0, A- is 4.5, B+ is 4.0, and each step down drops 0.5. Your overall GPA is the credit-weighted average of those grade points. NUS used to call it CAP and renamed it GPA in August 2023, with no change to the math.
One table maps NUS/NTU letter grades to 5.0 grade points, a worked example shows how the weighting actually works, and the rest clears up CAP vs GPA, why SMU uses 4.0, and which GPA earns which honours class (First Class and up). Get your own system straight before you apply.
Singapore letter grade / percentage → 5.0 grade point
| Letter grade | Percentage (approx.) | Singapore 5.0 point |
|---|---|---|
| A+ / A | 90 – 100 | 5.0 |
| A− | 85 – 89 | 4.5 |
| B+ | 80 – 84 | 4.0 |
| B | 75 – 79 | 3.5 |
| B− | 70 – 74 | 3.0 |
| C+ | 65 – 69 | 2.5 |
| C | 60 – 64 | 2.0 |
| D+ | 55 – 59 | 1.5 |
| D | 50 – 54 | 1.0 |
| F | Below 50 | 0.0 |
The letter ↔ 5.0 point mapping is the official NUS/NTU scale (A and A+ both count as 5.0; each step down is 0.5). The percentage column is our calculator's approximation for transcripts that only show marks — Singapore schools grade on a bell curve, so there's no fixed percentage-to-letter cutoff. SMU uses a 4.0 scale, so this table doesn't apply to SMU.
So how is Singapore GPA actually calculated?
Two steps. First, turn each course's letter grade into a 5.0 grade point — A/A+ = 5.0, then drop 0.5 per step down (A- 4.5, B+ 4.0, B 3.5, … F 0). Second, take the credit-weighted average, not a plain average. Credits are called Units at NUS and Academic Units (AU) at NTU, and higher-credit courses pull your GPA more.
Doing this by hand gets error-prone once you have a lot of courses. To skip the arithmetic, use the GPA calculator: switch to Manual mode, set the country to Singapore (the 5.0 scale), weight every course at once, and see which honours band you land in. (The default "upload transcript" mode only estimates a US 4.0 — don't use it for the 5.0 scale.)
In Manual mode, pick Singapore and calc on the 5.0 scale →Worked example: turning a transcript into a 5.0 GPA
Here's a four-course transcript run through the weighting. Each course's weighted value is grade point × units; sum those and divide by total units to get the GPA.
| Course | Letter grade | Units | 5.0 point | Weighted (pt × units) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principles of Economics | A | 4 | 5.0 | 20.0 |
| Statistics | A− | 4 | 4.5 | 18.0 |
| Intro to Computer Science | B+ | 4 | 4.0 | 16.0 |
| Academic Writing | B | 2 | 3.5 | 7.0 |
| Total | 14 | 61.0 |
Overall GPA = 61.0 ÷ 14 = 4.36 on the 5.0 scale. That lands in the 4.00–4.49 band — Second Upper Honours (2:1) — just shy of the 4.50 First Class cutoff.
CAP, GPA, and how NUS / NTU / SMU differ
Even within Singapore, the naming and the maximum aren't identical across schools. Figure out which system your transcript uses and the math falls into place.
CAP is just today's GPA
NUS used to call the cumulative average CAP (Cumulative Average Point). From August 2023 it was renamed GPA, with the computation left exactly the same on the 5.0 scale. At the same time Module became Course and Modular Credit (MC) became Unit. Old transcripts read CAP, new ones read GPA — same number.
NUS and NTU: the same 5.0 scale
Both use identical grade points (A/A+ = 5.0, A- = 4.5, …), credit-weighted, out of 5.0. The differences are mostly wording — credits are Units at NUS and AU at NTU — plus slightly different names for the honours classes.
SMU runs on 4.0 — don't mix them up
Singapore Management University (SMU) uses a US-style 4.0 scale (A+ = 4.3, A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, …), out of 4.0 rather than 5.0, so the 5.0 math on this page doesn't apply to an SMU transcript. If you see a GPA in the 4.x range, check whether it's SMU.
Which GPA earns which honours class
Singapore undergrad follows the British honours system, and your final class is set by cumulative GPA. Here are the common NUS/NTU thresholds on the 5.0 scale — 4.50 is the First Class cutoff.
Some newer programs use Highest Distinction / Distinction / Merit / Honours instead; the thresholds line up closely (≥4.50 / ≥4.00 / ≥3.50 / ≥3.00). Go by your own school's rules for your cohort.
Note: this table treats 3.00 as the honours line (Third Class 3.00–3.49), but some NUS frameworks (e.g. the School of Computing) set the Third Class floor at 3.20 — below 3.20 is a Pass degree rather than honours. It varies by faculty and cohort, so go by your school’s rules for your year.
| Honours class | Cumulative GPA (5.0 scale) |
|---|---|
| First Class Honours | 4.50 – 5.00 |
| Second Upper (2:1) | 4.00 – 4.49 |
| Second Lower (2:2) | 3.50 – 3.99 |
| Third Class Honours | 3.00 – 3.49 |
| Pass | < 3.00 |
What your 5.0 GPA means when you apply
Read on Singapore's own 5.0 scale: the higher your GPA and the better your honours class, the less your academics will hold you back.
4.50 – 5.00 (First Class range)
The top band on the 5.0 scale — competitive for top schools and popular programs. Your GPA won't be the weak spot, so put your energy into essays, research, and recommendations.
3.50 – 4.49 (Second Class range)
A solid band, with most schools within reach. Lean on test scores, internships, and projects to stand out, and build a balanced school list.
Below 3.00
On the low side — the very top programs get hard, but it's not hopeless. Offset with the GRE/GMAT, research, or work experience, spread your school list, and address it head-on in your essays.
Submitting your Singapore 5.0 GPA to US schools? Most of them go by a WES or ECE re-evaluation done course by course, not the 5.0 number printed on your transcript — to see how US grade points line up, check the full US 4.0 conversion table.
Four things people get wrong about Singapore GPA
"Singapore GPA is out of 4.0"
Not at NUS or NTU — they're on 5.0. Only SMU uses 4.0. A number above 4.x isn't a mistake; just confirm which maximum applies.
"My transcript says CAP, not GPA — does it still count?"
CAP is just NUS's old name for the same number. It was renamed GPA in 2023 with identical math. Older transcripts say CAP, newer ones say GPA — treat them the same.
"5.0 means 100%"
No. Singapore grades on a class curve, so the marks behind an A / 5.0 vary by course — there's no fixed percentage-to-letter conversion. The percentage column here is only an approximation.
"First Class means a 5.0 GPA"
First Class starts at 4.50, not 5.0 — anything from 4.50 to 5.00 counts. A 4.6 is a comfortable First Class.
Want to know which schools your Singapore GPA can reach?
Generate an AI study-abroad reportRelated tools and conversions
Open the calculator, switch to Manual mode and pick Singapore to weight every course on the 5.0 scale, or see how other systems are calculated.
Open the GPA calculatorFrequently asked questions
Is Singapore GPA out of 5.0?
At NUS and NTU, yes — both use the 5.0 scale, with A/A+ maxing out at 5.0. SMU is the exception and uses 4.0. A 5.0 isn't a miscalculation.
How is Singapore GPA calculated?
First convert each course's letter grade to a 5.0 grade point (A/A+ = 5.0, A- = 4.5, B+ = 4.0, …), then take the credit-weighted average: GPA = Σ(grade point × units) ÷ total units. Higher-credit courses count more — it isn't a plain average.
What is CAP at NUS?
CAP stands for Cumulative Average Point, NUS's old name for the cumulative GPA. NUS renamed it GPA in August 2023 — still the 5.0 scale, same math. Old transcripts say CAP, new ones say GPA; it's the same number.
How do Singapore honours classes work?
They're set by cumulative GPA: First Class ≥4.50, Second Upper (2:1) 4.00–4.49, Second Lower (2:2) 3.50–3.99, Third Class 3.00–3.49, Pass <3.00. Some programs use Highest Distinction and similar names with comparable cutoffs.
Do NUS, NTU, and SMU use the same GPA?
NUS and NTU are both on the 5.0 scale with identical grade points (only the wording differs — Units at NUS, AU at NTU). SMU is different: it uses a US-style 4.0 scale, so don't compare the three GPAs side by side.
Does 90% mean a 5.0 in Singapore?
Not necessarily. Singapore grades letters on a class curve, not a fixed percentage line. The percentage column on this page is only an approximation for transcripts that show marks only — go by the letter grade you actually received.
Where these numbers come from
- National University of Singapore (NUS) Registrar transcript grade legend / FASS FAQ — the 5.0 grade points, the CAP→GPA rename in Aug 2023, and honours classification thresholds
- Nanyang Technological University (NTU) academic regulations — the same 5.0 grade points, AU-weighted GPA, and honours cutoffs
- Singapore Management University (SMU) grading notes — its 4.0 scale (distinct from the NUS/NTU 5.0)
School policies can change; go by your own institution's official grading notes for your cohort. When applying abroad, defer to the credential evaluator your target school specifies.