How grading works at SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Engineering)
SRM's College of Engineering and Technology uses an absolute grading system for B.Tech and M.Tech (Integrated) programmes: your letter grade is set by fixed percentage cut-offs published in the university's Regulations — there is no curve, and your result depends only on your own combined marks from continuous assessments and the end-semester examination.
The scale runs from O (Outstanding) down to F across seven graded bands. To pass a course, a student must score at least 50% of the total normalized marks across continuous assessments and the end-semester examination — below that is an F. Two further outcomes, Ab (absent from the exam) and I (incomplete, from insufficient attendance), also count as non-completion but are not part of the graded marks bands; both stay on a student's record until the course is later passed.
Source: Academic Regulations 2021 §R8.1, §R8.2, §R8.3 — verified Jul 2026
How SRM calculates SGPA and CGPA
SRM reports a Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) and a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), both credit-weighted:
- SGPA = the sum, across a semester's courses, of (Credits × Grade Point), divided by the total credits taken that semester — including any course in which an F grade was earned.
- CGPA = the sum, across every semester so far, of (Semester Credits × SGPA), divided by the total credits taken across all semesters.
Both are rounded to two decimal places on the transcript.
SRM also publishes a general CGPA-to-percentage equivalence formula: Equivalent Percentage of Marks = CGPA × 10.
Source: Academic Regulations 2021 §R8.6, §R8.7 — verified Jul 2026
Class, Distinction, Honors, and Minor eligibility at SRM (Engineering)
SRM classifies a completed B.Tech/M.Tech (Integrated) degree by final CGPA (for students completing within the normal semester count):
| CGPA | Class / Distinction |
|---|---|
| 5.0 to below 6.0 | Second Class |
| 6.0 to below 8.0 | First Class |
| 8.0 and above, with no Ab/F/I or temporary withdrawal in any semester | First Class with Distinction |
| 8.0 and above, with an Ab/F/I in some semester later cleared | First Class |
Students who take longer than the normal duration to complete their degree are classified under separate, slightly adjusted CGPA bands (see the Regulations, §R8.8, for the exact figures).
Beyond the base degree, SRM offers two CGPA-gated additional credentials for B.Tech/Integrated M.Tech students:
- Minor certification: requires a CGPA of at least 7.0 up to Semester V, no standing arrears or backlogs, and no outstanding fee dues — earns 18–20 extra credits and a Minor certificate alongside the main degree.
- B.Tech Honors Degree: requires consistently maintaining a CGPA of 8.5 or above with no history of arrears, from Semester IV onwards — earns 12 extra credits from electives, research, or co-curricular work. Not available to students who exit early with a Diploma.
Source: Academic Regulations 2021 §R8.8, §R8.13, §R8.14 — verified Jul 2026
Frequently asked questions
What grading scheme does SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) use?
Where does this SRMIST grade scale come from?
What is the minimum passing grade at SRM Institute of Science and Technology?
A student must score at least 50% of the combined continuous-assessment and end-semester marks to pass a course. Below 50% earns an F, worth 0 grade points — the lowest graded band on SRM Engineering's scale.
Source: Academic Regulations 2021 §R8.1, §R8.2 — verified Jul 2026
How does SRM convert CGPA to a percentage?
SRM's College of Engineering and Technology publishes a direct formula: Equivalent Percentage of Marks = CGPA × 10. For example, a CGPA of 8.00 corresponds to 80%.
Source: Academic Regulations 2021 §R8.7 — verified Jul 2026
What CGPA do you need for a Minor or Honors Degree at SRM?
A Minor certification requires a CGPA of at least 7.0 up to Semester V, with no standing arrears/backlogs and no outstanding fee dues. A B.Tech Honors Degree requires consistently maintaining a CGPA of at least 8.5 from Semester IV onwards, with no history of arrears.
Source: Academic Regulations 2021 §R8.13, §R8.14 — verified Jul 2026
Does SRM use relative (curved) grading?
No. SRM's College of Engineering and Technology uses absolute grading — fixed percentage cut-offs set by the university, applied directly to a student's own marks, with no adjustment for how the class performed.
Source: Academic Regulations 2021 §R8.1 — verified Jul 2026
What CGPA do you need to graduate with First Class or Distinction from SRM?
A CGPA of 6.0 to below 8.0 earns First Class; 8.0 or above with no Ab/F/I or temporary withdrawal in any semester earns First Class with Distinction. A CGPA of 5.0 to below 6.0 earns Second Class. (Students who take longer than the normal duration to finish are classified under separate, slightly adjusted bands.)
Source: Academic Regulations 2021 §R8.8 — verified Jul 2026
