WAM Calculator

The WAM formula

WAM is your average mark weighted by credit points. Multiply each mark by its unit's credit points, add those up, and divide by the total credit points. Say you scored 70, 58 and 88 in units worth 6, 6 and 12 credit points: (420 + 348 + 1056) ÷ 24 = 76.0.

Most universities include failed units at the mark you actually got. At the University of Wollongong, for example, a technical fail is counted as 49.

WAM compared with GPA

WAM works from your percentage marks; GPA turns each grade into points, usually on a 7-point scale, before averaging. Many Australian universities report both, and honours panels, scholarship committees and employers often prefer WAM because it's more precise.

Typical bands are High Distinction at 85 and above, Distinction 75 to 84, Credit 65 to 74 and Pass 50 to 64. Some universities set other cut-offs or weight units by year level, so check your own rules.

Reaching a target WAM

Honours entry often needs a minimum WAM, usually somewhere between 65 and 75 depending on the course. The planning box shows the average your remaining credit points need for you to get there.

If the target looks hard, put your effort into the units worth the most credit points. Our guide to managing university deadlines has ideas for handling busy semesters.

Example: the average you need for a target WAM

Imagine you've finished 72 credit points with a WAM of 64, there are 72 credit points to go, and you want a WAM of 70. Over 144 credit points that means weighted marks of 70 × 144 = 10,080. You have 64 × 72 = 4,608 so far, leaving 5,472 ÷ 72 = an average of 76 for the rest of your degree.

That's a Distinction average for every unit left. Seeing the number now helps you choose where to focus, or prompts a conversation with your course coordinator about honours entry.

How universities count credit points

Each university has its own credit-point scale, but the WAM formula is the same. A typical unit is 12.5 points at the University of Melbourne, 6 units of credit at UNSW, and 6 credit points at both Monash University and the University of Sydney. Copy the figures from your transcript and the result will be correct.

Units usually left out of WAM

Each university sets its own rules, but these exclusions are common:

• A unit dropped before the census date normally isn't counted.
• Pass/fail units with no numeric mark (often shown as satisfactory or unsatisfactory) are excluded.
• Advanced standing from earlier study generally has no mark, so it isn't included.
• An honours WAM may use only later-year units or weight them more heavily.