KNUST grading system: Learn how to calculate your GPA/CWA
In Ghana, the KNUST grading system calculates a student's average mark. Grading is categorising something on a scale according to its quality, rank, size, or progression. Exams are no exception, as they are also classified based on the number of points earned.

Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- The KNUST Ghana grading system is a one-of-a-kind marking system used at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
- It is one of the few colleges in Ghana that uses the Cumulative Weighted Average, or CWA, as a grading system.
- GPA is calculated per semester and reflects performance for that term, while CWA is a cumulative score representing the weighted average of all courses taken throughout a program.
KNUST grading system
The KNUST grading system evaluates students' marks using the Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA). The system bases a student's weighted average grades, from which the final grade can be calculated and expressed as a percentage.
What is the grading scale of KNUST?
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology employs the Cumulative Weighted Averages Grading System. The institution previously used the GPA (Grade Point Average) to evaluate students' grades.
The new Weighted Averages (WA) system considers a student's assessment scores, which grade it out of 100%.
How does the CWA KNUST grading system work?
The CWA for a first-year and first-semester student divides the total cumulative weighted marks by the cumulative credits. Then, multiply the score/marks percentage by the course credit hours.
What is a credit hour?
It is a unit of measurement for how much credit a student receives for attending a course. The credit should correspond to the hours per week spent in that course.
For example, if a student enrolls in a class that meets for one hour on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, that course is worth three credit hours.

Source: UGC
How do you calculate your CWA?
If you are wondering how to calculate your CWA, then the sample calculation 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.
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.
The 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 below, according to KNB.
Grade classifications | Comments |
A1 | Excellent |
B2 | Very Good |
B3 | Good |
C4, C5, C6 | Credit |
D7, D8 | Pass |
F9 | Fail |
KNUST grading system for master's
The KNUST grading system percentage for a master's degree incorporates the universal grading system. Universally, a typical master's degree is graded using the following credits.
- Distinction: 70% or above
- Merit: 60-69%
- Pass: 50-59%
- Borderline pass/fail: 40-49%
KNUST grading system for undergraduate students
If you are an undergraduate student wondering how your grades are assessed, then worry not. Below is an explanation of the KNUST undergraduate grading system.
- First Class: CWA of 70.00 and above.
- Second Class Upper: CWA of 60.00 to 69.99.
- KNUST Second Class Lower: CWA of 50.00 to 59.00.
- Pass: CWA of 40.00 to 49.99.
So, what is the highest CWA in KNUST? The highest accreditation at the University is the first class, which is a CWA of 70 and above.

Source: UGC
KNUST grading system for diploma
Diploma programmes are quick programmes of study that frequently result in credentials at the undergraduate, graduate, and vocational levels. Here is how the programme is graded in general.
- 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)
What is GPA?
GPA is a grading system in which the average result of all your grades is calculated based on a 4-point grading system. The basic formula for calculating GPA is to divide the total points earned in a programme by the total number of credits attempted. The resulting figure is the GPA for that programme.
What is KNUST's grading system for first class?
A First Class Honours degree is awarded to students who achieve a Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) of 70.00% or above upon completion of their undergraduate program.
Below is a table illustrating GPA according to the GPA Calculator.
Grade | Marks (%) | GPA scale |
A | 80-100 | 4.0/Excellent |
B+ | 75-79 | 3.5/Very Good |
B | 70-74 | 3.0/Good |
C+ | 65-69 | 2.5/Very Fair |
C | 60-64 | 2.0/Fair |
D+ | 55-59 | 1.5/Satisfactory |
D | 50-54 | 1.0/Barely Satisfactory |
E | 0-49 | 0/Unsatisfactory |
What is KNUST's grading system for Second Class Upper?
A second-class upper GPA is between 3.00 and 3.59.
Distinction | Grade |
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 grade is 70% at University?
According to Imperial College London, attaining 70% and above is equivalent to a First Class Honours.
What is the GPA for 67 CWA?
A 67 CWA would correspond approximately to a GPA of around 3.3 to 3.4, which places the student comfortably within the Second Class Upper division.
What CWA is second class upper in KNUST?
A Second Class Upper Honours degree is awarded to undergraduate students who achieve a Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA) between 60.00 and 69.99 upon completion of their academic program.

Source: UGC
UCC grading system
According to the University of Cape Coast, the UCC grading system is used to evaluate student performance. The University uses a combination of continuous assessment (40%) and end-of-semester examination (60%).
The University assigns letter grades and numerical weightings to reflect the level of performance.
Score | Grade | Grade Point | Interpretation |
80 – 100 | A | 4.0 | Excellent |
75 – 79 | B+ | 3.5 | Very Good |
70 – 74 | B | 3.0 | Good |
65 – 69 | C+ | 2.5 | Average |
60 – 64 | C | 2.0 | Fair |
55 – 59 | D+ | 1.5 | Barely Satisfactory |
50 – 54 | D | 1.0 | Weak Pass |
Below 50 | E | 0 | Fail |
The KNUST grading system evaluates student grades using the Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA). The system is based on a student's weighted average grades, from which the final grade is calculated and expressed as a percentage.
Yen.com.gh published an article about the list of Ghanaian teacher training colleges. Knowing the available teacher training colleges will be helpful if you want to become a teacher in Ghana. Learn about the application process as well as the admission requirements.
If teaching is your passion, these top teacher training colleges will provide you with the best service available in Ghana.
Source: YEN.com.gh

Chris Ndetei (Lifestyle writer) Christopher Ndetei is a reporter writer who joined the Yen team in May 2021. He graduated from the Machakos Technical College in 2009 with a diploma in ICT. Chris has over three years of experience in content creation and more than ten working in the hospitality industry. He covers lifestyle/entertainment, focusing on biographies, life hacks, gaming and guides. In 2023, Christopher finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach him at chrisndetei@gmail.com

John Ouma (Lifestyle writer) John Ouma is a journalist with six years of experience. He has published sharply argued think pieces that live at the intersection of power, politics, and society. He was awarded the FirstGen scholarship by Biola University and a merit-based scholarship by AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts in January 2021. He has worked for The Standard and Nation Africa as an opinion columnist between 2018 and 2022. He is currently working on his first novel—a literary fiction that traces the life of a contemporary Kenyan artist. Email: gervasjohn97@gmail.com