KNUST grading system: Learn how to calculate your GPA/CWA
Few things confuse Ghanaian students more than figuring out where their marks place them on a degree classification scale. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) grades students differently from other universities in Ghana. Instead of the 4.0-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale, the KNUST grading system uses a percentage-based Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA). A First Class degree at KNUST requires a CWA of at least 70.00.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- KNUST grading system
- KNUST grading system percentage
- How does the CWA KNUST grading system work?
- KNUST grading system for undergraduate students
- KNUST grading system for first class
- KNUST grading system for second class lower
- KNUST grading system for master's
- KNUST grading system for diploma
- KNUST grading system for affiliated colleges
- KNUST grading system for WASSCE
- What is GPA, and how does it compare to CWA?
- What is the grading scale of KNUST?
- What is first class KNUST?
- What class is 2.8 GPA in Ghana?
- What is a CWA of 70 in GPA?
- What is the pass mark at KNUST?
- Does KNUST use GPA or CWA?
Key takeaways
- In the KNUST grading system, each course is scored out of 100%, made up of 70% from end-of-semester examinations and 30% from continuous assessment, then weighted by the course's credit hours.
- A First Class degree at KNUST requires a CWA of 70.00 or above, while a Second Class Upper is 60.00 - 69.99. A Second Class Lower is 50.00 - 59.99.
- KNUST rolled out a unified transcript and harmonised grading system for its affiliated Ministry of Health training colleges.
- KNUST Students must maintain a minimum CWA of 45.00 to remain in good academic standing. A CWA between 40.00 and 44.99 places a student on probation.
KNUST grading system
The KNUST grading system in 2026 evaluates students' marks using the Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA). Rather than converting scores into grade points on a 4.0 scale, the system bases a student's performance on a weighted average of their raw percentage scores, from which the final grade and degree classification are calculated.
KNUST grading system percentage
The KNUST grading system percentage works course by course: each course is scored out of 100%, made up of 70% from the end-of-semester examination and 30% from continuous assessment, such as quizzes, assignments, and mid-semester tests.
That percentage score is then weighted by the course's credit hours to produce the semester and cumulative averages.
Source: UGC
How does the CWA KNUST grading system work?
The CWA for a first-year, first-semester student is calculated by dividing the total cumulative weighted marks by the cumulative credits. To find the weighted marks, each course's percentage score is multiplied by its credit hours.
What is a credit hour?
A credit hour is a unit of measurement for how much credit a student receives for attending a course, and should correspond to the hours per week spent in that course.
For example, if a student enrols in a class that meets for one hour on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, that course is worth three credit hours.
How do you calculate your CWA?
If you are wondering how to calculate your CWA , the worked example below should guide you.
- Formula: [Sum (Unit Credit Hours × Mark%)] ÷ [Sum (Unit Credit Hours)]
Unit | Credit Hours | Mark (%) |
Unit 1 | 25 | 75 |
Unit 2 | 12.5 | 68 |
Unit 3 | 25 | 64 |
Unit 4 | 12.5 | 70 |
First: Multiply the credit hours by the marks
- 25 * 75 = 1875
- 12.5 * 68 = 850
- 25 * 64 = 1600
- 12.5 * 70 = 875
Therefore: [Sum (Unit Credit Hours × Mark %)] / [Sum (Unit Credit Hours)] =
- 1875+850+1600+875 / 25+12.5+25+12.5 = 5200 / 75 = 69.33
The calculated CWA in this example is 69.33, which falls just short of the First Class threshold.
KNUST grading system for undergraduate students
If you are an undergraduate student wondering how your grades are assessed, here is how KNUST classifies undergraduate degrees based on final CWA.
Classification | CWA range |
First Class | 70.00 and above |
Second Class Upper | 60.00 to 69.99 |
Second Class Lower | 50.00 to 59.99 |
Pass | 45.00 to 49.99 |
KNUST grading system for first class
A First Class Honours degree at KNUST is awarded to students who achieve a Cumulative Weighted Average of 70.00% or above upon completion of their undergraduate programme. It is the highest degree classification the university awards.
KNUST grading system for second class lower
KNUST's Second Class Lower classification is awarded to undergraduate students who complete their programme with a CWA between 50.00 and 59.99. It sits between a Second Class Upper of between 60.00 and 69.99, and a Pass of between 45.00 and 49.99.
To remain in good academic standing, students must also achieve a minimum pass mark of 40% in any individual course and maintain an overall CWA of at least 45.00 at the end of each academic year.
A CWA between 40.00 and 44.99 places a student on academic probation, while a CWA below 40.00 can result in repetition for continuing students or withdrawal for first-year students.
KNUST grading system for master's
The KNUST grading system percentage for a master's degree follows a broadly universal postgraduate grading structure:
- Distinction: 70% or above
- Merit: 60 - 69%
- Pass: 50 - 59%
- Borderline pass/fail: 40 - 49%
Source: UGC
KNUST grading system for diploma
Diploma programmes are shorter courses of study that result in credentials at the undergraduate, graduate, and vocational levels. Here is how diploma programmes are generally graded at KNUST.
- Pass with distinction: Grade 1 (80–100) and Grade 2 (75–79)
- Pass with credit: Grade 3 (70–74) and Grade 4 (60–69)
- Pass: Grade 5 (50–59) and Grade 6 (40–49)
- Fail: Grade 7 (0–39)
KNUST grading system for affiliated colleges
KNUST's grading system does not apply only to its colleges. It also extends to institutions affiliated with the university. In December 2025, KNUST rolled out a unified transcript and harmonised grading system for its affiliated Ministry of Health (MoH) training institutions.
The measure is designed to eliminate discrepancies in student records, strengthen international verification of results, and raise academic standards as these colleges prepare to transition into fully degree-awarding institutions.
KNUST grading system for WASSCE
The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is a standardised test. Students who pass the exam receive a certificate proving their completion of secondary school.
Students who pass can apply for positions in colleges or universities like KNUST. To qualify for admission, applicants must get grades between A and C6. Unfortunately, applicants with grades of D7, E8, or F9 are not accepted. Here is the KNUST grading system for WASSCE.
Grade classifications | Comments |
A1 | Excellent |
B2 | Very Good |
B3 | Good |
C4, C5, C6 | Credit |
D7, D8 | Pass |
F9 | Fail |
What is GPA, and how does it compare to CWA?
GPA is a grading system in which the average result of all your grades is calculated on a 4-point scale. The basic formula for calculating GPA is to divide the total grade points earned in a programme by the total number of credits attempted.
Because KNUST uses CWA rather than GPA, converting between the two requires approximation. A CWA of 70 roughly corresponds to a GPA between 3.6 and 4.0, broadly aligning with First Class Honours on most Ghanaian GPA scales.
Classification | GPA range (typical Ghanaian scale) |
First Class | 3.60 - 4.00 |
Second Class (Upper Division) | 3.00 - 3.59 |
Second Class (Lower Division) | 2.00 - 2.99 |
Third Class | 1.50 - 1.99 |
Pass | 1.00 - 1.49 |
Fail (No award) | 0.00 - 0.99 |
What is the grading scale of KNUST?
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology employs the Cumulative Weighted Average grading system. The institution previously used a GPA-based approach, but the current Weighted Average system grades students out of 100%, based on their assessment scores across all registered courses.
What is first class KNUST?
First Class at KNUST is awarded to undergraduate students who achieve a Cumulative Weighted Average of 70.00% or above by the end of their programme.
What class is 2.8 GPA in Ghana?
On the typical Ghanaian GPA scale, a 2.8 GPA falls within the Second Class (Lower Division) range of 2.00 to 2.99.
What is a CWA of 70 in GPA?
A CWA of 70 at KNUST roughly corresponds to a GPA of between 3.6 and 4.0 on most Ghanaian university scales, placing it within the First Class range.
What is the pass mark at KNUST?
Students must achieve a minimum pass mark of 40% in any individual course and maintain an overall CWA of at least 45.00 at the end of each academic year to remain in good standing.
Does KNUST use GPA or CWA?
KNUST uses CWA (Cumulative Weighted Average), a percentage-based system, rather than GPA. It is one of the few Ghanaian universities, alongside the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), that grades students this way.
The KNUST grading system may look unfamiliar next to the GPA scales used elsewhere in Ghana, but once you understand that it is simply a weighted percentage average, the underlying logic is straightforward. The formula and classification bands above should give you a clear, up-to-date picture as of 2026.
Yen.com.gh recently published a list of all KNUST courses and their cut-off points. KNUST is one of Ghana's top-ranking universities and a leading institution in West Africa for science and technology education.
The university offers various undergraduate and postgraduate courses across disciplines like engineering, medicine, arts, law, and business. Admission to KNUST is highly competitive, with specific cut-off points varying by course and programme.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Chris Ndetei (Lifestyle writer) Christopher Ndetei is a writer who joined the Yen team in May 2021. He graduated from Machakos Technical College in 2009 with a Diploma in ICT and has over four years of experience in SEO writing. Christopher specialises in lifestyle and entertainment coverage, with a focus on biographies, life hacks, gaming, and guides. He has completed the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques (2023) and earned the Google News Initiative Certificate (2024). In recognition of his work, he was named Yen Writer of the Year in 2024. You can connect with him via email at chrisndetei@gmail.com.
Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over seven years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University (graduated in 2017). Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Cyprine received the 2023 and 2025 Writer of the Year awards. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
