The GWA Formula in the Philippines
The exact formula universities in the Philippines use to compute the General Weighted Average — written for students, not statisticians.
The formula
GWA = ( Σ Gᵢ × Uᵢ ) ÷ ( Σ Uᵢ )
Where Gᵢ is the grade of subject i and Uᵢ is the number of units of subject i. The capital sigma (Σ) just means “sum across all subjects.”
In plain language
- Multiply each grade by its number of units.
- Add all of those products together.
- Divide that total by the sum of the units.
Why it’s weighted
A 5-unit course represents about five hours of class time per week, while a 1-unit course represents about one hour. The weighted average reflects that time and credit. Subjects with more units pull the average toward their grade more strongly than smaller subjects.
Worked example
| Subject | Grade (G) | Units (U) | G × U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject A | 1.50 | 3 | 4.50 |
| Subject B | 2.00 | 5 | 10.00 |
| Subject C | 1.25 | 3 | 3.75 |
| Σ | 11 | 18.25 |
GWA = 18.25 ÷ 11 = 1.6591.
Edge cases
- Dropped subjects (DRP): not counted in either the numerator or denominator.
- Incomplete (INC): typically excluded until completed. Once completed, the final grade is included retroactively.
- Non-credit subjects: excluded.
- Failed subjects (5.00): included with grade 5.00 unless replaced under the school’s retake rules.