CGPA: The Average of All Averages

The other day, Echoes told you 'The Average Story of the Average'. Today, Echoes talks about a special average, the CGPA.  Even if you don't know that CGPA stands for Cumulative Grade Point Average, you know the average very well. It's the average you chase. It's the average that chases you all the time.

To keep things simple, there are two people. One is you. The other is the outside world. Let's assume: you finished your undergraduate with a CGPA of 3.80/4. This is high by any standard.

Your CGPA of 3.80 is cumulative. It's the combined average of all the grade point averages (GPA) of all the courses you took. In some courses you scored less than 3.80, while in others you scored more than 3.80. When the outside world reads your CGPA they come to two conclusions. First: this student has been good in most of the courses he took. Second: since he was good in most of the courses he took, he could be good in other tasks too. This flow of reasoning by the outside world is logical.

When the outside world assesses you, it needs a benchmark to judge how good you and others are because there's an information gap. The outside world doesn't know you and others. Therefore, to draw attention, everybody wants to shout their abilities to the outside world. So, each sends a signal. The problem is: the signal has to be credible. The outside world has to believe it with sound logic. If the signal makes sense, the outside world can use it as a benchmark to assess you and others with the above logic. That signal, so far, has been the CGPA.

Let's now assume: you've applied to two workplaces. Workplace 1 is a factory where you will sew buttons on dresses. People work in groups. The task is simple, but monotonous. Workplace 2 is the academia. You will teach students and publish articles in journals. There's good news. You get the opportunity to choose between both jobs. Let's see how misleading your CGPA can become, although you worked so hard for it.

Here's the CGPA logic once more: You were good in most of your courses. Therefore, you'll be good in other tasks too.

Workplace 1: Just because your CGPA is 3.8, it doesn't guarantee you'll be good at sewing buttons and also working in a group.  Both are skills your CGPA may not be able to reflect well. Workplace 2: the same logic applies. Teaching is a skill that isn't well reflected in a high CGPA. You either have the skill or you don't. Your ability to publish in journals may be reflected by your undergrad CGPA, but in this day and age, publishing also requires a skill of how good you are at presenting yourself.

Does this mean that the CGPA isn't a good benchmark? No. The CGPA is the best known benchmark for students and employers. The problem arises when we get blinded by the CGPA because a CGPA gives a general idea, not a specific one.

Those who kill themselves for a high CGPA for the sake of getting one, sacrifice time that could be used to develop other faculties of talent and skill they possess during their most productive time in life: their youth. Employers often fail to realise: a CGPA reflects performance in courses at university. These courses may not have relevance in the real world. Therefore, it doesn't necessarily imply: because the student was good in most courses, therefore the student will be good in other tasks too.

Is there a meaningful signal for students and employers? Yes, there is. It's called apprenticeship. This was an institution in a time gone by. It needs to be re-born because every individual is different from the other.

Asrar Chowdhury teaches economic theory and game theory in the classroom. Outside he listens to music and BBC Radio; follows Test Cricket; and plays the flute. He can be reached at:

asrar.chowdhury@facebook.com