5 Ways to show your GPA on CV even it’s low

Introduction

Are you worried about how to present your GPA on CV or during interview when it’s not something to brag about? Don’t worry, you are not alone. In this article, we’ll discuss five effective ways to show your GPA on your CV when it’s low, so you can confidently showcase your skills and qualifications to potential employers. Let’s get started.

First and foremost, it’s crucial to acknowledge that falsifying information on your resume, particularly your GPA, is not only unethical but also potentially consequential, leading to the withdrawal of a job offer if discovered.

While you may be tempted to embellish your internship experience, it is far easier for interviewers to verify your academic record by requesting your university transcripts. Therefore, it’s essential to be honest when presenting your GPA on your CV.

1. Honors class

If you have already graduated and obtained a degree classification, it may not be necessary to display your GPA on your resume. For example, in the case of business students who achieve a GPA of 3.0, this is typically classified as a second-class upper honors or second-class honors (upper division) or second-class honors (2:1).

However, the range for a second-class upper honor can vary from 3.0 to 3.59, or typically 60–69%. So, unless someone asks for more information, no one will know your exact grade.

Additionally, if your GPA does not fall within the range for a second-class upper honor, you may still consider listing your degree classification as second-class honors.

• Bachelor of Business Administration (Upper second-class honors)

• Bachelor of Law (2nd class honors)

2. Major GPA

Some universities distinguish between cumulative GPA and major GPA, which is calculated by considering only the grades earned in courses relevant to your major. If your major GPA is significantly higher than your cumulative GPA, it is recommended to include your major GPA on your CV instead.

If your university does not provide this information separately, you may calculate it yourself. However, it is crucial to ensure that you do not manipulate the calculation or provide false information. Simply remove the grades from non-major courses to calculate your major GPA and honestly represent it on your CV.

• Bachelor of Journalism (Major GPA: 3.46)

• Bachelor of Economics and Finance
  (Economics Major GPA: 3.52 | Finance Major GPA: 3.36)

3. Relevant courses and their grades

If you are hesitant to include your cumulative GPA or major GPA on your CV, there are other options available. Instead, consider selecting relevant courses that you excelled in.

However, it’s important to avoid choosing introductory courses and focus on advanced courses or those that align with the job you are applying for. Additionally, if you completed a thesis or capstone project and achieved a solid grade, it’s worth mentioning on your CV as well.

• Bachelor of Social Science
  Relevant coursework: Classical social theory (A) and Economic sociology (A-)
  Thesis: Impact of migration on Chinese economy (A-)

4. Latest semester GPA

It’s not uncommon for some individuals to have a rough start in terms of their GPA, but gradually improve as they approach graduation and realize the significance of a strong GPA when it comes to job hunting.

In such instances, their GPA in the recent semesters could be substantially higher than their previous ones. In this case, it’s worthwhile to only showcase the GPA of the latest semester or academic year.

• Bachelor of Information Engineering
  (2023/24 first semester GPA: 3.86)

• Bachelor of Computer Science
  (highest semester GPA: 3.91)

5. Do not write GPA

One way to address the issue of a low GPA on your resume is to simply avoid mentioning it altogether. However, this strategy is only viable if you have already graduated or if you have other academic achievements that are more impressive, such as a Master’s degree with a higher GPA.

In such cases, it makes sense to emphasize those achievements instead of dwelling on your low GPA. However, if you don’t have any other academic accomplishments to highlight, omitting your GPA on your resume could send a message that you have poor grades.

• Master of Computer Science with Distinction
  (CGPA: 3.93)

• Bachelor of Computer Engineering