When it comes to the KNUST grading system , it’s important to have a good understanding of how it works.
In this article, you’ll learn about the KNUST’s grading system, including the scale used and how grades are calculated, what constitute the KNUST grading system ect.
Welcome to the institution where the enigma of knowledge is unlocked solely by the discerning.
You must feel a sense of accomplishment having secured admission to the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Your dedication and fervor have indeed borne fruit, but your journey of diligence is far from over. Now that you have been granted entry, it’s natural to harbor inquiries about the institution, particularly with regard to The KNUST Grading System.
The KNUST Grading System is formally referred to as the Cumulative Weighted Average (CWA).
CWA, in essence, is a system of evaluation determined by computing a student’s mean performance across all subjects within a given course.
Typically, KNUST assessments allocate 70% of the grade to examinations, while the remaining 30% is derived from a student’s participation in school-related activities, encompassing practical work, mid-semester evaluations, assignments, research projects, punctuality, group collaborations, and other factors contingent on the specific course and the lecturer’s discretion in evaluating performance.
This summation results in a total of 100%.
The computation of CWA hinges on the marks assigned and the credit weighting they carry.
Initially, students begin their first semester with a CWA of 100.00.
Subsequently, as they progress through the semester’s examination schedule, their weighted average is recalculated to ascertain their cumulative score. The KNUST Grading System adheres to the following scale:
| CLASS | CWA |
| First-class | 70 and above |
| Second class-upper | 69.99 – 60.00 |
| Second class-upper | 59.00 -50.00 |
| Third class | 49.00 40.00 |
| GRADE | MARKS/SCORE | GRADE COMMENTS |
| A | 70.00 – 100 | Excellent |
| B | 60.00 – 69.99 | Very-Good |
| C | 50.00 – 59.99 | Good |
| D | 40.00 – 49.99 | Pass |
| F | 0.00- 49.00 | Fail |
| I |
| Incomplete (medical reason) |
| I* |
| Incomplete ( mark not available) |
| I’ |
| Incomplete ( prevented from writing the examination) |
| DF |
| could not register or attend lectures for a class |
| DF* |
| attended lectures but could not write examinations due to work schedule |
Discussing the importance of achieving good grades is a frequent topic among students. However, there’s a distinction between putting in effort to earn those grades and merely daydreaming about them.
The KNUST Grading System is designed in a way that discourages laxity, compelling students to remain diligent. This constant need to excel is a driving force behind students’ commitment to their studies.
To clarify, KNUST permits students to enroll in anywhere from 3 to 10 courses within their academic program each year.
The specific number of courses required varies depending on the program, with some students being obligated to register for 11, 12, or even 13 courses.
Remarkably, whether a student is taking three courses per semester or eleven, their total credit hours should fall within the range of 16 to 21—no more, no less.
Now let us use a more practical example:
Suppose a first-year student of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in the Department of Sociology and Social work has registered for the following courses.
| Course No. | Credit Hours |
| SOC 153 | 3 |
| SOWK 155 | 3 |
| SOWK 157 | 3 |
| CSM 183 | 2 |
| ENGL 157 | 2 |
| MATH 153 | 2 |
| SOC 151 | 3 |
| AFS 171 | 1 |
| Cumulative Credit total | 19 |
| Course No. | Credit Hours | Marks (100%) | Cumulative marks | Grade |
| SOC 153 | 3 | 68 | 204 | B |
| SOWK 155 | 3 | 71 | 213 | A |
| SOWK 157 | 3 | 76 | 228 | A |
| CSM 183 | 2 | 63 | 126 | B |
| ENGL 157 | 2 | 67 | 134 | B |
| MATH 153 | 2 | 71 | 142 | A |
| SOC 151 | 3 | 85 | 255 | A |
| AFS 171 | 1 | 76 | 76 | A |
| TOTAL | 19 |
| 1378 |
|
To get the CWA for a first-year first semester the total cumulative weighted marks is divided by the cumulative credits. To get your cumulated marks, multiply your score/marks percentage by the course credit hour.
Cumulative weighted marks
Eg: for SOWK 157
76*2= 152
Cumulative weighted average
1378/19 =72.53
CWA for the first semester is 72.53, First class
We find from the table above that the student was fortunate enough to obtain the first class in their first year at the university. This mark can either increase or reduce as time goes on, based on how well they perform.
Hence, it does not matter your class for a particular semester or your overall cumulative average or class, you can still trail if you don’t put in much effort.
Lucky for you the school will allow you to resit for the particular course you trailed until you get at least a pass. Therefore, students are implored to take each course seriously.
for more information visit Knust.edu.gh
The KNUST grading system has been ordered in such a way that if a student trails it means that they were unable to obtain a pass mark which is between a 50 -59; a student can also trail under the conditions of incomplete grade (I, I* and I’) or the conditions of deferment of a course ( Df, Df*).
Students who fall under these conditions are allowed to rewrite their exams
NOTE: students tagged as (Df) are not considered eligible to take part in the rewriting of exams.
Grades under the GPA system is basically the same as that of the CWA system.
It runs from letters A through to F; it has a weighted scale that goes up to 5 when you convert the CWA to GPA, unlike the traditional GPA that goes up to 4.
A typical GPA looks like this:
| GRADE | GPA |
| A | 4.00 |
| B | 3.00 |
| C | 2.00 |
| D | 1.00 |
| F | 0.00 |
To convert CWA to GPA,
Multiply your CWA by 4, and divide it by 100.
For the example we gave above the student’s weighted average was 72.53, so then
GPA = (CWA x 4) / 100
= (72.53 x 4) / 100 = 2.90
This is for a CWA of 100% which is equivalent to a GPA of 4.00
There are a lot of contractions based on the country’s GPA system or the range you choose to use.
Good luck and congratulations! on getting into KNUST.
You might just take a slightly different path to get your perfect CWA; don’t give up or be disheartened. The KNUST grading system reflects your performance in school, and not your ability to succeed or fail in life.
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View Comments
What I want to know is about the CWA for colleges of education affiliated to KNUST. What is the benchmark of CWA that is equivalent to first class.
I also plead to know how the CWA is calculated given the marks a student will accrue at end of the semester in the various courses he/she undertook.
Thank you.