NUS Cumulative Average Point Calculator
| Module | MCs | Grade | Remove |
|---|
NUS CAP Grade Scale Reference
| Grade | CAP Points | Mark Range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 5.00 | 95 to 100 | Exceptional |
| A | 5.00 | 90 to 94 | Excellent |
| A- | 4.50 | 85 to 89 | Very Good |
| B+ | 4.00 | 80 to 84 | Good |
| B | 3.50 | 75 to 79 | Above Average |
| B- | 3.00 | 70 to 74 | Average |
| C+ | 2.50 | 65 to 69 | Below Average |
| C | 2.00 | 60 to 64 | Pass |
| D+ | 1.50 | 55 to 59 | Marginal Pass |
| D | 1.00 | 50 to 54 | Minimum Pass |
| F | 0.00 | Below 50 | Fail |
NUS GPA: How the CAP System Works
The National University of Singapore calculates academic performance using the Cumulative Average Point (CAP), a credit-weighted average on a 5.0 scale. Each module contributes quality points equal to its grade point value multiplied by its Modular Credit (MC) count. Divide the total quality points by total MCs attempted and you have the CAP.
- Grade Points: A+/A = 5.00, A- = 4.50, B+ = 4.00, B = 3.50, B- = 3.00, C+ = 2.50, C = 2.00, D+ = 1.50, D = 1.00, F = 0.00
- Modular Credits (MCs): the credit weight assigned to each module (most NUS modules are 4 MCs)
- Only letter-graded modules count. S/U modules, W, IC, IP, and E grades are excluded from both numerator and denominator.
The US GPA equivalent follows a simple linear conversion: US GPA = (CAP / 5.0) x 4.0. A CAP of 4.25 converts to 3.40 on the US scale. Most US graduate programs and credential evaluation services including World Education Services (WES) apply this formula when assessing NUS transcripts. For cumulative calculations across multiple semesters, use our cumulative GPA calculator alongside this tool.
- NUS CAP: your Cumulative Average Point on the 5.0 scale
- Result: US-equivalent GPA on the 4.0 scale (capped at 4.00)
NUS Honours Classification by CAP
NUS awards Honours degrees to students who complete the four-year Bachelor with Honours programme, which requires additional coursework and a research component beyond the three-year pass degree. Your final cumulative CAP determines the Honours class printed on your degree certificate. Some faculties set their own minimum thresholds for the Honours track, which may differ slightly from the university-wide defaults below.
| Honours Classification | CAP Range | US GPA Equiv. | UK Class Approx. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honours (Highest Distinction) | 4.50 to 5.00 | 3.60 to 4.00 | First Class |
| Honours (Distinction) | 4.00 to 4.49 | 3.20 to 3.59 | Upper Second (2:1) |
| Honours (Merit) | 3.50 to 3.99 | 2.80 to 3.19 | Lower Second (2:2) |
| Honours (Pass) | 3.00 to 3.49 | 2.40 to 2.79 | Third Class |
| Pass degree (no Honours) | 2.00 to 2.99 | 1.60 to 2.39 | Pass |
| Below minimum standing | Below 2.00 | Below 1.60 | Fail / Probation |
The NUS Registry uses the terms "First Class Honours," "Second Class Upper," "Second Class Lower," and "Third Class" in informal communications, but the official degree certificate prints the full descriptors above. International applications that ask for "degree classification" should use the official form.
NUS GPA System Versus Other Singapore Universities
Singapore has four autonomous universities, and their grading scales differ enough to create confusion when comparing transcripts or applying to graduate programmes. The table below covers the key differences so you know which conversion formula to use.
| University | Scale | Top Grade Points | US 4.0 Conversion | Honours Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUS (National University of Singapore) | 5.0 CAP | A+ = 5.00, A = 5.00 | CAP / 5.0 x 4.0 | 4-tier: Highest Distinction to Pass |
| NTU (Nanyang Technological University) | 5.0 CAP | A+ = 5.00, A = 5.00 | CAP / 5.0 x 4.0 | Same 4-tier as NUS |
| SMU (Singapore Management University) | 4.3 GPA | A+ = 4.30, A = 4.00 | GPA / 4.3 x 4.0 | Dean's List per semester |
| SUTD (Singapore University of Technology and Design) | 5.0 GPA | A = 5.00 | GPA / 5.0 x 4.0 | Distinction, Merit, Pass |
NUS and NTU transcripts convert identically because both use the same 5.0 scale with the same grade points. A CAP of 4.0 at NUS and a CAP of 4.0 at NTU represent exactly the same academic standing. SMU's 4.3 scale is less intuitive for US graduate applications because A+ = 4.3, which is above the US 4.0 ceiling. Dividing by 4.3 rather than 4.0 produces the correct proportional conversion.
What the NUS CAP System Means in Practice
Most NUS modules carry 4 MCs. A typical semester is 20 MCs across five modules, and most undergraduate programmes require 160 MCs to graduate. That means roughly 40 module grades shape your final CAP.
The S/U option (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading) lets students convert a letter grade to an S or U after seeing results. S modules count toward graduation MCs but add nothing to the CAP numerator or denominator. Students on the Honours track should use S/U strategically: taking an S on a borderline C or D can protect CAP, but Graduate Admissions Officers at competitive programmes scrutinise transcripts with many S grades. The convention at most NUS schools is to S/U at most a handful of elective modules.
Dean's List recognition at NUS requires a semester CAP of 4.50 or above and a minimum of 20 MCs of letter-graded modules taken in that semester. It is a per-semester award, so students can earn it in some semesters without meeting the threshold in others. The Dean's List designation appears on the transcript but does not change the cumulative CAP calculation.
Using Your NUS CAP for International Graduate Applications
US doctoral programmes in engineering and computing at schools like MIT, Stanford, and Carnegie Mellon typically treat NUS CAP 4.00 (Honours Distinction) as roughly equivalent to a 3.20 US GPA. Because NUS ranks among the top universities in Asia, many admissions committees apply a contextual adjustment: an NUS graduate with CAP 3.80 is often evaluated more favourably than the raw 3.04 US conversion might suggest.
For WES evaluations, NUS transcripts are assessed under the Singapore framework. WES Canada uses a four-point conversion table rather than the linear formula, so the result can differ slightly from the calculator's output. If you need a precise WES credential evaluation for Canadian immigration, request the official evaluation rather than relying on this tool.
UK universities typically map NUS Honours classifications directly: Highest Distinction aligns with First Class, Distinction with Upper Second, and Merit with Lower Second. Most UK postgraduate programmes require at least Honours Distinction (CAP 4.00) for competitive courses. Use our GPA converter for additional scale conversions including ECTS, or our CGPA calculator if you are applying to Indian or South Asian graduate programmes that report results on a 10-point CGPA scale.
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Last verified: 2026-05-26. Grade scale and Honours thresholds sourced from NUS Office of the Registrar and World Education Services (WES) Singapore profile. Official CAP thresholds may vary by faculty; confirm with your registrar for degree audit purposes.