How to Calculate Cut Off Points for Universities in Ghana
Maybe you’ve been wondering how to calculate your cut off points for university admissions. You’re at the right place. In this guide, you’ll learn how to calculate cut off points for all universities in Ghana.
As a policy, tertiary institutions in Ghana use the cut off points to offer candidates admission into various programmes. Most of these universities adopt the WAEC grading system in offering applicants admission.
The cut-off point is calculated based on the grade scored by a student in the West African Examination Council (WAEC). Different grades are assigned a numerical value which students can use to calculate their cut off point.
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What is a Cut Off Point?
A cut off point is a system adopted by tertiary institutions to grade students into the various programme of study. Different universities have their own specific cut off points for specific courses. That is to say, a cut off point for biochemistry differs from that of veterinary medicine in the same institution.
A student that scores an aggregate cut off point of 24 or lower can apply to any university in the country. However, there are some specific courses that require lower aggregate cut off point.
To calculate your cut off point aggregate, you need to understand the WAEC grading system.
WASSCE Grading System & Interception
GRADE | NUMERIC VALUE | INTERPRETATION |
A1 | 1 | EXCELLENT |
B2 | 2 | VERY GOOD |
B3 | 3 | GOOD |
C4 | 4 | CREDIT |
C5 | 5 | CREDIT |
C6 | 6 | CREDIT |
D7 | 7 | PASS |
E8 | 8 | PASS |
F9 | 9 | FAIL |
WAEC Grading and Interpretation in Percentage
Grade | Definition | Interpretation in Percentage |
A1 | Excellent | 80 – 100 |
B2 | Very Good | 70 – 79 |
B3 | Good | 65 – 69 |
C4 | Credit | 60 – 64 |
C5 | Credit | 55 – 59 |
C6 | Credit | 50 – 54 |
D7 | Pass | 49 – 45 |
E8 | Pass | 40 – 44 |
F9 | Fail | 0 – 39 |
Universities Admission Requirements in Ghana
Before a student is offered admission into the university, he/she must, first of all, meet the minimum admission requirements for a specific programme of choice. Admission requirements for science-related courses are quite different for that of non-science related courses.
For instance, an applicant for admission to a degree programme must have at least credits (A1 – C6 in WASSCE and A – D in SSSCE) in English, Core Mathematics and Integrated Science (for Science related programmes) or Social Studies (for non-Science related programmes) and three elective subjects in Science for applicants applying to Science or Agriculture related disciplines or three elective subjects in General Arts/Business for applicants applying to non-Science related disciplines, with the total aggregate not exceeding 24.
In addition, Science applicants should have at least a grade C6 in WASSCE/D in SSSCE in Social Studies/Life Skills and non-Science applicants should also have at least a grade C6 in WASSCE/D IN SSSCE in Integrated Science/Core Science.
Example:
For Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, an applicant must have credit passes in Core subjects which include English, Core Mathematics, Integrated Science.
In addition, an applicant must also have credit passes in Chemistry and any two from Physics, Biology and Elective Mathematics.
Having said that, the better the grades of applicants in the core courses, the greater their chances of getting admitted. For instance, an applicant might have 6 As in elective subjects and 2 Bs in core subjects and not be offered admission. On the other hand, an applicant who scores 5 As may be way ahead of those who score 7 As, depending on the subject combination.
How to Calculate Cut Off Points for All Universities in Ghana
Universities use the WAEC grading system and grade students based on their performance on their best six subjects from the core and elective subjects while ensuring that they pass English and Mathematics.
Having said that, let us look at the possible ways of calculating cut off points for university admission in Ghana. In this guide, we’ll be looking at some possible examples of how to calculate cut off points using the WAEC grading system.
Example 1.
An applicant for a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery has the following grades:
- English language (A1) – 1
- Core Mathematics (A1) – 1
- Integrated Science (B3) – 3
Social Studies (C5) – 5- Chemistry (A1) – 1
- Physics (A2) – 2
- Biology (A1) – 2
Elective Mathematics (B2) – 2
According to the WAEC grading system, each grade has a numerical value, and we’ll be using the values to calculate the aggregate cut-off points.
Using the admission requirements, we’ll be calculating the best six (6) subjects. Going with that, the aggregate cut-off point will be 10 excluding Social Studies and Elective Mathematics.
Example 2.
Another applicant for a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery has the following grades:
- English language (A1) – 1
- Core Mathematics (A1) – 1
- Integrated Science (A1) – 1
Social Studies (C6) – 6- Chemistry (A1) – 1
- Physics (B2) – 2
- Biology (B2) – 2
Elective Mathematics (B2) – 2
Using the best six (6) subjects, the aggregate cut-off point will be 8, excluding Social Studies and Elective Mathematics.
Furthermore, a candidate who scores 7 As and scores only one B3 in English or Core Mathematics will have an aggregate of eight (8) for his best six (6) subjects.
The one who scores five As (5 As) and three B 2s (3 B2s) in the remaining subjects, depending on his performance in English and Mathematics, can have an aggregate of seven and by WAEC standards, has performed better than the one with 7 As. As such, the candidate with 5 As and three B2s might be offered admission ahead of the one with 7 As and one B3.
Also, the applicant with 5 As and 3 Bs is admitted as a regular, non-fee-paying student and the one with 7 As and a B if admitted becomes a fee-paying student for the same course.
I had English -B2
integrated science -A1
Social studies -A1
Chemistry -B3
elective maths -C6
Biology -B3
Cmaths-b2
physics-C6
Please I had social studies A1,core mathematics C6,science c5,English c6,Geography c4,government B3,Economics c6,Elective mathematics c6 Please which course can I offer In the university
Please I had aggregate 17 can I offer physician assistance
Please I had
English B3
Core MathsA1
ScienceA 1
Social B2
Chemistry A1
Biology B3
Physics C6
Elective MathsB3
Best 6 sum up to 12,and cut off point for Optometry in UCC is 11,can I get admission?
Marketing A1
Economics c4
Civic Education B2
English B3
Further mathematics A1
Mathematics A1
Biology B2
Chemistry A1
Physics B2
What my cut off point
Can i go for medicine
I had
English and science (B3)
Mathematics (C6)
Social (B2)
Government and Ewe (B3)
French (C5)
Literature (C6)
Please will I be admitted in Legon to offer bachelor of arts
Please u had grade 24 and I want to offer Business administration(banking and finance) please is that possible
Please I had
Core math-A1
Social studies-C4
English-C5
Integrated science-B3
Biology-B3
Physics-B2
Chemistry-B2
Elective maths-B3
Can I get an admission for petroleum engineering in KNUST
Pls can I offer PA , MEDILAB OR HUMANBIOLGY at knust with grade 17
Or if possible which course can I offer . pls I need a reply cuz am a little bit confused and am a student from Nigeria
I got social studies B3,
English language C5,
Mathematics C6,
integrated science c4
crs c6,
economics d7,
geography c6,
government c6
I want to go to university will it be possible?
Yes
Here are my results ,I had a1 in science and social, b2 in math, b3 in physics, chemistry and English, c4 in emaths and biology. What is my aggregate. Can I apply for geomatic engineering
Please l had
Core maths c4
Science c4
English c6
Agric B2
E-maths B3
Animal husbandry c6
Please can apply for information technology or computer science
no,this is because you didnt reach the cut off point for that course
I had English C4, Science B2,core math B3, social studies A1, chemistry B3,physics B3 and biology C4..
Can i offer PA or medilab
Here are my results, I had b3 in social studies ,B3 in science,c4 in maths,d7 in English,c4 in government, c6 in economics, c6 in geography and d7 in emaths. With this results can I get admission to offer electrical engineering or pharmacy(those who work at polytechnic)
I’m Evans can I do applied science with aggregate 24?
I had
Social_ B3
English_C6
Science_D7
Maths_D7
French_B3
Ewe_C5
ICT_B3
Economics_E8
Please would I be able to get into any institutions to offer public administration or ICT. Please help me out
Pls can I offer nursing at knust and ucc with grade 18
Or if possible which course can I offer . pls I need a reply cuz am a little bit confused and am a student from Nigeria
I had elective math-A1
Int Science-B2
Chemistry- B3
Physics- B3
C.math B3
Social A1
English C4
Biology B3… Can i offer PA, medilab or pharm in your institution
English-B3
Social- B3
Coremaths- A1
Science- A1
French- A1
Management in living- A1
Biology- B3
Food and nutrition- C5
Please is it possible to offer general nursing in legon since the cut off point is 10. And calculating my best 6 i had 10.
Please I had grade 24 and I want to offer Economics or Geography
Please will it be possible