Marks and GradesCGPA to percentage: there is no single formula
The most important thing to know about converting CGPA to a percentage is that each board and university sets its own rule. A formula that is right for one is wrong for another.
Official formulas we have read
These are quoted from the documents of the bodies themselves, which we read on 12 November 2026. The source of each is linked on our about page.
| Body | Formula | Where it is stated |
|---|---|---|
| CBSE, classes 9 and 10 (grading with CGPA) | Overall indicative percentage = 9.5 × CGPA | CBSE Circular No. 24 of 28 May 2010; repeated in CBSE's FAQs of 2016 |
| Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), B.E./B.Tech. | Percentage = (CGPA − 0.75) × 10 | VTU regulations effective from 2021-22, clause 21OB12.2 |
| Anna University, B.E./B.Tech., affiliated institutions | Percentage = CGPA × 10 | Anna University Regulations 2021, clause 15.5.3 |
The same CGPA, three different percentages
Take a CGPA of 8.2 on a 10-point scale.
- By the CBSE rule: 8.2 × 9.5 = 77.9%.
- By the VTU rule: (8.2 − 0.75) × 10 = 74.5%. This is the very example printed in VTU's regulations.
- By the Anna University rule: 8.2 × 10 = 82%.
The difference is more than seven percentage points. Using the wrong formula on an application can put you on the wrong side of a cut-off, or lead to your form being rejected at verification.
Why the formulas differ
A grade point is not a mark. Each institution decides which range of marks earns which grade, and the ranges are not the same everywhere. An institution's conversion formula is designed to match its own grade ranges. The University Grants Commission's guidelines on the credit system recommend a 10-point scale and a way to calculate SGPA and CGPA, but they do not lay down one conversion to percentage for all universities.
How to find your own formula
- Look at the back of your mark sheet or grade card. Many print the conversion there.
- Look in your university's academic regulations or ordinances for your course and year of admission. The formula can change between schemes.
- Ask the examination section of your college. Some universities issue a conversion certificate on request.
- If the form you are filling states its own rule for candidates with CGPA, follow the form.
If no formula exists
Some institutions give none. Then quote the CGPA itself with its scale, for example "8.2 on a 10-point scale", and attach the grade card. Do not borrow another university's formula. If a form insists on a number, ask the organisation which method it accepts.
Is "multiply by 9.5" a general rule?
No. The 9.5 comes from CBSE's circular for its class 9 and 10 grading scheme, and CBSE itself called the result "indicative". It became popular on the internet and is often applied to university CGPAs, where it has no standing unless that university has adopted it.
Our converter lets you choose one of the official rules above or type your own university's formula.
Check with your board or university. The rules quoted on this site were read in the official documents on 12 November 2026. Boards and universities revise them, and yours may differ. For anything that decides an admission or a job, use the rule printed on your own mark sheet or in your institution's regulations. This is an independent site.