Short answer on WAM vs GPA: a WAM (weighted average mark) averages your marks out of 100. A GPA (grade point average) averages grade points, out of 7 at UQ, ANU and Adelaide University and out of 4 at RMIT. Both weight each course by its credit points, and no single formula links them.
Which universities use a WAM, and which a GPA
- UNSW and the University of Sydney use a WAM and say they do not use a GPA.
- The University of Melbourne uses a WAM. Its assessment policy defines no GPA.
- UQ and ANU use a 7-point GPA. RMIT uses a 4-point GPA.
- Adelaide University uses both, and truncates each to 2 decimals.
How a WAM is calculated
Multiply each mark by the course's credit points, add these up, then divide by the total credit points.
WAM = sum of (mark × credit points) ÷ sum of credit points
So a 6-point course counts twice as much as a 3-point one. UNSW calls credit points units of credit (UOC), and Adelaide calls them units.
Worked example: UNSW
UNSW counts a grade with no mark at a nominal mark: PS 55, CR 70, DN 80, HD 90 and FL 25.
| UOC | Mark | Mark × UOC |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 78 | 468 |
| 6 | 91 | 546 |
| 6 | 64 | 384 |
| 3 | 55 | 165 |
| 3 | CR with no mark: 70 | 210 |
| 24 | Total | 1773 |
1773 ÷ 24 = 73.875. UNSW gives no rounding rule, so this is left as it is.
Sydney's level weight, and the universities without one
The University of Sydney adds a level weight to each unit of study:
WAM = sum of (mark × credit points × level weight) ÷ sum of (credit points × level weight)
The level weight is generally 1, and then the formula is the same as UNSW's and Melbourne's. Some faculties use other weights, for example for the Engineering Integrated Honours WAM. A weight above 1 makes that unit count as if it had more credit points. GradeCat has not checked any faculty's weights, so ask yours.
Sydney also counts a failed attempt and the passing retake. An 82, a fail at 45 and its retake at 68, each over 6 credit points, and a 74 over 12 credit points give (492 + 270 + 408 + 888) ÷ 30 = 2058 ÷ 30 = 68.6.
UNSW, Melbourne and Adelaide weight by credit points (or units) alone. At Melbourne, a 77 and an 84 over 12.5 credit points each and a 61 over 25 credit points give 3537.5 ÷ 50 = 70.75. Melbourne records an NH as 49.
How a 7-point GPA is calculated
A GPA swaps each grade for its points, weighted by units:
GPA = sum of (grade points × units) ÷ sum of units
| University | Grade points | Rounding |
|---|---|---|
| UQ | 7 HD, 6 D, 5 C, 4 P, 3 marginal fail, 2 fail, 1 low fail | None stated |
| ANU | HD 7, D 6, CR 5, P 4, N 0 | 3 decimals |
| Adelaide | HD 7, D 6, C 5, P 4, F 1.5 | Truncated to 2 decimals |
| RMIT (4-point) | HD 4, DI 3, CR 2, PA 1, NN 0 | 1 decimal |
At ANU, an HD and a D over 6 units each, a CR over 12 units and an N over 6 units give (42 + 36 + 60 + 0) ÷ 30 = 4.600. At UQ, a 6 and a 4 over 2 units each, a 7 over 1 unit and an X over 1 unit give (12 + 8 + 7 + 0) ÷ 6 = 4.5, because UQ counts an X as 0. At RMIT, an HD, a CR and a PA over 12 credit points each give 84 ÷ 36 = 2.333, which RMIT rounds to 2.3 out of 4.
HD, D, CR, P and F: the mark bands
Grades run from HD (high distinction) through D, DN or DI (distinction), CR or C (credit) and P or PS (pass) to a fail, and Melbourne uses H1 to H3. The pass mark is 50 at each university below, but the other cut-offs differ:
| University | Bands (marks) |
|---|---|
| UNSW | HD 85 to 100, DN 75 to 84, CR 65 to 74, PS 50 to 64, FL 0 to 49 |
| Sydney | HD 85 to 100, DI 75 to 84, CR 65 to 74, PS 50 to 64, FA or AF 0 to 49 |
| Melbourne | H1 80 to 100, H2A 75 to 79, H2B 70 to 74, H3 65 to 69, P 50 to 64, N 0 to 49 |
| Adelaide | HD 85 to 100, D 75 to 84, C 65 to 74, P 50 to 64, F below 50 |
| ANU | HD 80 to 100, D 70 to 79, CR 60 to 69, P 50 to 59, N 0 to 49 |
| RMIT | HD 80 to 100, DI 70 to 79, CR 60 to 69, PA 50 to 59, NN 0 to 49 |
So the same 78 is a DN at UNSW, a DI at Sydney, an H2A at Melbourne, a D at Adelaide and ANU, and a DI at RMIT. UQ's policy gives no percentage cut-offs for its grades 1 to 7. The University Grading Scale in Australia looks up any mark.
One set of marks, a WAM and a GPA
Adelaide University works out both from the same courses. An 88 and a 72 over 6 units each, and a 55 and a 40 over 3 units each, give a WAM of 1245 ÷ 18 = 69.1666, which Adelaide truncates to 69.16, not 69.17. As grades they are an HD (7), a C (5), a P (4) and an F (1.5), so the GPA is (42 + 30 + 12 + 4.5) ÷ 18 = 4.9166, truncated to 4.91. An F is worth 1.5 at Adelaide, not 0.
Turning a WAM into a GPA
There is no national WAM to GPA formula, and GradeCat found no source for dividing a WAM by a fixed number. When you apply with university study through UAC, it turns each subject's grade into a value on a 7-point scale: HD 7, D 6, Cr 5, P 4, conceded pass 3 and fail 0. Fails always count, and there is no level weighting.
HD over 6 credit points, Cr over 6, P over 12 and a fail over 6 give (42 + 30 + 48 + 0) ÷ 30 = 4.00 on UAC's scale. UAC's table also shows 6.5 for a D in some grading systems. Which systems use it is not verified, so 6 is used here.
Why you cannot calculate your own ATAR
The ATAR is a rank from 0.00 to 99.95, not a mark. It comes from scaled marks set from each year's results, and UAC's page How your ATAR is calculated says students are not given their scaled marks. In NSW the ATAR is calculated by the Technical Committee on Scaling, using the best 2 units of English and the best 8 other units.
For an estimate, use UAC's ATAR Compass for the NSW HSC, which uses the past five years of scaling data and is a guide only, or QTAC's ATAR Navigator, which is based on previous years. A GPA to ATAR conversion is not possible either: UAC and QTAC do not publish how a GPA becomes a selection rank.
What is not verified yet
- Monash, Macquarie and Deakin: their sites refused our reader on 4 November 2026, so their rules are not checked.
- UTS, UWA, Newcastle, QUT, Griffith and other universities: their own rules were not opened.
- Faculty level weights at Sydney, honours WAMs, and how UNSW counts an FL that has a mark.
WAM vs GPA FAQ
Is a WAM the same as a GPA?
No. A WAM averages marks out of 100, and a GPA averages grade points out of 7 or 4. The Adelaide marks above give a WAM of 69.16 and a GPA of 4.91.
How do I convert my WAM to a GPA?
There is no single formula, so ask the body you are applying to which scale it uses. UAC converts each grade to its 7-point value, as shown above.
What mark is an HD?
85 or more at UNSW, Sydney and Adelaide, and 80 or more at ANU and RMIT. Melbourne's top grade is an H1, from 80.
Does a fail count in my WAM or GPA?
At the universities GradeCat checked, mostly yes. Sydney counts a failed attempt and its retake, Melbourne counts failed subjects that have a mark, ANU counts an N as 0, Adelaide counts an F as 1.5 and UAC always counts a fail at 0. How UNSW counts an FL is not settled by its guide.
Can I work out my ATAR from my GPA?
No. UAC and QTAC do not publish how a GPA becomes a selection rank, and the ATAR itself comes from scaled marks students are not given.
Related tools and guides
- WAM Calculator: your WAM on UNSW's, Sydney's, Melbourne's or Adelaide's rules.
- University GPA Calculator: your GPA at UQ, ANU, Adelaide or RMIT, or UAC's 7-point admission GPA.
- University Grading Scale in Australia: the grade a mark gets at each university.
- All tools for Australia
Sources
- UNSW Sydney: Guide to UNSW grades (opened 4 November 2026)
- The University of Sydney: How to find my WAM (opened 4 November 2026)
- The University of Sydney: Weighted Average Mark (WAM) (opened 4 November 2026)
- The University of Sydney: Guide to grades (opened 4 November 2026)
- The University of Melbourne: Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326), version 29 (opened 4 November 2026)
- Adelaide University: Grading Procedure (opened 4 November 2026)
- The University of Queensland (my.UQ): Final grades (opened 4 November 2026)
- The University of Queensland: Assessment Procedure (opened 4 November 2026)
- The Australian National University: Grade Point Average (GPA) (opened 4 November 2026)
- The Australian National University: Grading scale (opened 4 November 2026)
- RMIT University: Grade Point Average (GPA) (opened 4 November 2026)
- UAC: How your tertiary qualifications are assessed (opened 4 November 2026)
- QTAC: Selection Rank (opened 4 November 2026)
- UAC: How your ATAR is calculated (opened 4 November 2026)
- UAC: ATAR Compass (opened 4 November 2026)
- QTAC: QTAC ATAR Navigator (opened 4 November 2026)
Every average here is an estimate, not an official result. Your university's rules come first. Tools for other countries are on the GradeCat home page. Found a mistake? Tell us.