Enter your CGPA and units from before the failed course, the units of the course and the grade you expect on the retake. The page shows your CGPA after the fail and after the retake, for schools where both attempts count and for schools where the retake replaces the fail. A third mode checks whether your remaining units fit in the time you have left.
Pick a question and enter the numbers
Everything is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Your answer
Your answer shows up here once you fill in the boxes.
What to enter
- Your CGPA and units before the failed course
- The CGPA and total units (TNU) from before the semester in which you failed. If your latest slip already includes the fail, work backwards or use the figures from the slip before it.
- Units of the failed course
- The credit units of the course you failed, such as 2 or 3.
- Grade point on the retake
- The grade you expect when you retake it, as points: A is 5, B is 4, C is 3, D is 2 and E is 1.
- Units you still need, semesters left and unit load
- Only for the run-out-of-time mode. Your school sets the maximum duration of the programme and the most units you can take in a semester.
Worked examples
A fail where both attempts count
A student has a CGPA of 4.00 over 60 units, then fails a 3 unit course. They retake it and expect a C.
- Your quality points before the course: 4.00 × 60 = 240.00.
- A failed course adds 3 units and 0 points, so the CGPA becomes 240.00 ÷ 63 = 3.81. That is a drop of 0.19.
- If both attempts count, the failed attempt stays in. Add the retake: (240.00 + 3 × 3.00) ÷ 66 = 3.77.
The fail takes the CGPA from 4.00 to 3.81. A C on the retake is below that average, so the CGPA slips again to 3.77. The failed attempt stays in the total and the retake adds more units, so a pass at C does not bring it back.
The same fail where the retake replaces it
Same student, but their school removes the failed attempt when the retake is passed.
- Your quality points before the course: 4.00 × 60 = 240.00.
- A failed course adds 3 units and 0 points, so the CGPA becomes 240.00 ÷ 63 = 3.81. That is a drop of 0.19.
- If the retake replaces the fail, the failed attempt is taken out. Add the retake: (240.00 + 3 × 3.00) ÷ 63 = 3.95.
Now the CGPA after the retake is 3.95. It is higher than before, because the 3 units are only counted once, at the C.
Running out of time
A student needs 40 more units, has 2 semesters left before the maximum duration, and can take at most 18 units a semester.
- Multiply the semesters left by the most units you can take: 2 × 18 = 36.
- Compare with the units you need: 36 – 40 = -4.
- The fewest semesters you need is 40 ÷ 18, rounded up: 3.
Two semesters give 36 units, which is 4 short. They would need 3 semesters.
Both attempts count, or the retake replaces the fail?
Schools differ. At some, the failed attempt stays on your record and in your CGPA even after you pass the retake, so both attempts count. At others, the retake replaces the fail once you pass. The first gives a lower CGPA than the second, and your handbook or department says which one you are under. If you are unsure, ask your course adviser before you plan around either number.
Probation and withdrawal
Many schools place a student on probation when their CGPA falls below a set level, and withdraw a student who stays below it. The level, and the number of semesters before withdrawal, vary by school. This page does not guess them. Check your handbook for the exact figure, then use the CGPA after the fail from this page to see where you stand.
What spillover means
Spillover is when your remaining units do not fit in the time you have left before the maximum duration of your programme. Carryovers add units, so they are a common cause. The third mode checks the arithmetic. It cannot tell you what your school does when time runs out, so ask your department.
How it is calculated
- Multiply your CGPA by your units to get your credit points before the failed course.
- A failed course adds its units but 0 points, so divide the same credit points by the larger number of units. That is the CGPA after the fail.
- If both attempts count, the retake adds its units again with its grade points, and the failed attempt stays in the total units.
- If the retake replaces the fail, the failed attempt comes out, so the course is counted once, at the retake grade.
- For spillover, multiply the semesters left by the most units you can take, and compare it with the units you need.
CGPA after a fail = credit points before ÷ (units before + units of the failed course)
CGPA after the retake, both attempts count = (credit points before + retake units × grade point) ÷ (units before + 2 × units of the course)
CGPA after the retake, retake replaces = (credit points before + retake units × grade point) ÷ (units before + units of the course)
Assumptions to keep in mind
- The page works on one failed course at a time. For more than one, run it again with the CGPA and units it gives you.
- The retake grade is the grade you expect, not a promise. Try a few grades to see the range.
- Some schools cap the grade you can earn on a retake. If yours does, enter the capped grade point.
- The spillover mode uses the maximum duration and unit load you give it. Your school sets both, and they differ between schools and programmes.
- Probation and withdrawal levels are left out because they vary.
Mistakes that give the wrong answer
Using the CGPA after the fail as the starting point
The calculator needs your CGPA and units from before the failed course, because it adds the fail itself.
Forgetting the failed units still count
A failed course is 0 points, but its units go into the total. That is what lowers the CGPA.
Assuming the retake wipes the fail
It does at some schools and not at others. Check the rule before you count on a higher CGPA.
Leaving carryovers out of the units you still need
They are part of what you have to finish. Include them, or the spillover check will look better than it is.
Questions students ask
How much does a carryover reduce my CGPA?
It depends on your CGPA, your total units and the units of the course. A 3 unit fail on a 4.00 CGPA over 60 units takes the CGPA down to 3.81. The calculator shows the drop for your numbers.
Does passing the retake bring my CGPA back?
It helps, but whether it gets you back depends on your school. If both attempts count, the failed attempt stays in and your CGPA can stay lower than before. If the retake replaces the fail, it recovers more.
What is the pass mark for a retake?
It depends on your school. Some use the same pass mark as the first attempt, and some cap the grade on a retake. Check your handbook.
What is spillover?
It is when you cannot finish the units you need within the maximum duration of your programme. The third mode on this page checks whether your units fit.
What CGPA puts me on probation?
It varies by school, so this page does not guess it. Check your handbook, then use the CGPA after the fail from this page to compare.
Can I still get a good class with a carryover?
Often yes. The class of degree target calculator shows which classes are still open, and what average you would need.
