The GPA System and What You Need to Know

GPA is an acronym for Grade Point Average. It is an approved method of calculating a student’s average grade over a designated period, like one term/year/semester. GPA is measured by dividing the average grade points a student obtains by the total credit hours attended by the student.

The Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB), on February 23, 2016, officially introduced the letter grading system in Nepal for SEE examinations, along with grade XI and XII.   

It was introduced partly to address high failure rates in the number grading plan and the lifelong negative brand attached to ‘failing’ the final school exams. In addition, it was brought to make the system conform with other marking systems of most foreign countries. Additionally, this system groups the students of similar classification together. 

First, the individual marks are converted into Grade Points and then the average of the Grade points is the final GPA..

First of all, the GPA shouldn’t be converted into Percentage as a percentage is the mean of the marks received in each subject, while the GPA is estimated by dividing the average grade points a student achieves by the total credit hours attended by the student. A student with a better percentage may not have a better GPA. It is a whole different system of grading.
Usually, parents and students are seen doing this which is a big no-no:

GPA – 3.5
Calculation – (3.5/4) * 100= 87.5%

The Grading System was introduced to eliminate the Percentage system. It is an irony when people again want to convert their GPA into Percentage. However, only the system of marking appears to have changed but the education system remains the same. “Letter grading system has made students inactive and careless in their studies,” said Prof. Mana Prasad Wagle, an educationist. 
Though no students were labeled as having failed the exams, but those with weaker grades feel the new system is unfair. Those with D and E grades have an option to sit for re-examination in up to two subjects to improve their grades, and if they scored well in more than two subjects they can reattend all the exams the subsequent year. But those with a D+ do not have the choice to take the re-tests, which has left many students in a dilemma.

The grade conversion chart is as follows: