GPA & WAM

[Faith-PoweR]

Hey guys, what is the difference between GPA and WAM? How are they calculated?
It'd be great if someone can answer my question or post any useful links here.
Thanks in advance! 

[brenden]

Your WAM is your weighted average mark. It's the same as your average mark... except it's weighted . Eg, if you got 60, 60, 80, 80 as your first semester scores, your WAM would be 70 (...I hope). Your second and third year units have more "weight", so they count more. Eg... let's say your Year 1 average was 70, and your Year 2 average was 80, then your WAM might be >75, assuming that Year 2 was "weighted" more.

Your GPA is your grade-point average. Or, the average of your grade points. Each grade you get has a 'point value' assigned to it.

Eg.

50+ = 1
60+ = 2
70+ = 3
80+ = 4

So, if in one semester you scored a 55, 66, 74, 89, then you'd have 1+2+3+4, so your GPA would end up a little above 2. Hence, the 'average' of your grade points.

[alondouek]

Note that UoM utilises a 7-point GPA system rather than Monash's 4-point one

[brenden]

Note that UoM utilises a 7-point GPA system rather than Monash's 4-point one

Indeed, in which case the point break down runs at 5 point intervals rather than the 10 point interval exampled above. Thanks, alon!

[Russ]

There's no standard GPA at Melbourne. I have no idea about Monash but all the courses at Melbourne that care about a GPA calculate it differently and it's impossible to standardise.

WAM is the most commonly used though.

[alondouek]

^Russ knows best, here's a bit of an elaboration if anyone wants to know more: http://ask.unimelb.edu.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/5739

[Russ]

Allegedly they're moving to a standardized "MAGPA" for all courses but I'll believe that when it happens (Melbourne Adjusted GPA)

[simpak]

There is literally something called a standard GPA Russ, but you need to know whether the course you're applying to uses it or not.
SGPA: http://policy.unimelb.edu.au/MPF1053

[Russ]

Yeah but it's not used uniformly, no?

[simpak]

No, that's why I said you need to know if the course uses it.  It's the default method afaik but the 'big' postgrad courses don't use it.  Honours definitely uses it, teaching uses it, a few more probs.  But yeah JD and MD obv not.  And probably not Engineering?  Idk, it depends!

[Hancock]

Holy shit, MAGPA sounds horrible (after reading the policy referring to it).

[scribble]

does anyone know if concurrent diploma subjects contribute to the degree's WAM?