If you’ve ever been told “your WAM matters more than your grades” and then realised nobody explained what counts in your WAM… you’re not alone. In WAM, the number looks simple (a mark out of 100), but the rules behind it can change by university, course, and even subject type.
A Weighted Average Mark (WAM) is your average university mark (out of 100), weighted by credit points. Most unis calculate it as:
Σ(mark × credit points) ÷ Σ(credit points) |
but “what counts” can vary: some exclude pass/fail subjects or exchange, some use nominal marks for grade-only results, and some apply year-level weighting.
This guide breaks down weighted average mark australia rules (including USYD WAM, UTS WAM, WAM UniMelb, UNSW WAM, Monash WAM, Deakin WAM, RMIT WAM, WAM MQ), shows how to calculate WAM, and explains WAM to GPA and GPA to WAM conversions without guessing.
WAM Meaning
WAM (your Weighted Average Mark) is the average mark you’ve achieved across a course (or a period), taking subject credit points into account.
UTS defines WAM as the average mark across completed subjects in an award course, taking different credit point weighting into account, and gives the formula
WAM = Σ(MU)/ΣU |
The University of Sydney says a weighted average mark is the average mark you’ve achieved in your award course over a period, and it may be used for honours, prizes and scholarships.
PickMyUni take: students often chase a “Good WAM” without checking if their uni’s WAM includes fails, pass/fail subjects, exchange, or old attempts. Getting the counting rules right is half the battle. |
What counts in WAM in Australia?
There isn’t one national “what counts” list. Here are real examples from major universities.
USYD WAM
USYD calculates WAM using marks × credit points, divided by total credit points attempted.
USYD says all units allocated a mark contribute, and if you fail a unit then later pass, you include marks for failed attempts and the later pass.
From Semester 1, 2025, USYD states OLE units are marked SR/FR and OLE units taken from Semester 1, 2025 onwards are not used in WAM.
UTS WAM
UTS is unusually clear about inclusions/exclusions:
Included: subjects with grade + marks (including fails), withdrawn/fail results, and subjects “credited” into your course from previous study at UTS.
Not included: pass/fail no-marks, grade-only no-marks results, and advanced standing/exemptions based on study at other institutions.
WAM UniMelb
UniMelb defines WAM as reflecting numeric marks and subject credit points, with heavier weighting for higher credit-point subjects.
UniMelb gives the WAM formula: Σ(Mark × credit points) ÷ Σ(credit points).
UniMelb states the percentage mark for a failed subject contributes to WAM.
UniMelb notes special treatment for 2020 and second half-year 2021 subjects in WAM calculations (policy-based exceptions).
UNSW WAM
UNSW calculates Term WAM and Cumulative WAM.
Only results with a numerical mark are included, and since Semester 1, 2003, the grade AF is assigned a mark of zero and included.
UNSW states marks from courses completed at other institutions (transfer credit) are not included in WAM due to differing grading systems.
UNSW also publishes nominal marks used when grade-only results are recorded (example: HD 90, DN 80, CR 70, PS 55, FL 25).
Monash WAM
Monash University uses year-level weighting:
Monash publishes a WAM formula where first-year units are weighted 0.5 and later-year units are weighted 1.0.
This means a first-year mark usually has less effect on your final Monash WAM than later-year marks.
Deakin WAM
Deakin includes details people often miss:
Deakin says not all grades are used; it lists included grades and says a “withdrawn late” isn’t considered an achievable credit point for WAM.
Deakin states only units studied at Deakin are included; cross-institutional units or units credited from elsewhere are excluded.
Deakin also notes your WAM will not appear on your academic transcript.
RMIT WAM
RMIT’s WAM is used to calculate honours level for certain bachelor honours cohorts:
RMIT says WAM is calculated for students who commenced a bachelor honours degree on or after 1 January 2016 (with different rules for one-year vs four-year honours).
RMIT gives a clear WAM formula: Σ(course marks × course credit points) ÷ Σ(course credit points).
RMIT also publishes an example WAM band mapping to honours level: 80+ (H1), 70–79 (H2A), 60–69 (H2B), 50–59 (pass).
RMIT states WAM does not replace GPA; the whole-program GPA still appears.
WAM MQ (Macquarie University)
Macquarie states that from 2020, WAM will replace GPA for measuring academic achievement.
Macquarie explains why: WAM uses actual marks (including fail marks) while GPA groups marks into grade bands, and grades without numerical marks (like S grades) are excluded from WAM.
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How to Calculate Weighted Average Mark (WAM)
Most students can calculate WAM using this structure:
The core formula
Weighted average mark = Σ(mark × credit points) ÷ Σ(credit points) |
This is exactly how UniMelb explains WAM.
USYD also describes the same method (marks × credit points, divided by total credit points attempted).
UTS explains it in the same way using Σ(MU)/ΣU.
Step-by-Step Process
List every subject that counts in your WAM (based on your uni rules).
For each subject: mark × credit points.
Add those totals.
Divide by the sum of credit points counted.
Monash note: if you’re doing Monash WAM, include year-level weighting (first-year 0.5, later-year 1.0).
Weighted Average Mark Calculator
Official calculators
Monash WAM calculator: Monash provides a calculator page and tells you to include failed or repeated units.
DIY “weighted average mark calculator” in a spreadsheet
Make three columns:
Mark
Credit points
Mark × credit points
Then sum (Mark × credit points) and divide by total credit points.
If you’re trying to plan results, you can also build a “target WAM” sheet by separating completed credit points from future credit points.
PickMyUni tip: the spreadsheet method beats random “WAM to GPA Converter” sites because you can mirror your uni’s counting rules.
WAM vs GPA
Students search WAM vs GPA because they look similar but behave differently:
WAM uses your actual marks (out of 100) and credit weighting.
GPA converts results into grade points based on grade bands (HD/D/CR/P etc), then averages those points.
Macquarie spells out the practical difference: WAM includes actual fail marks, while GPA uses grade bands and can treat fails as zero.
WAM to GPA and GPA to WAM
People want a clean WAM to GPA conversion (or GPA to WAM) for transfers, postgrad applications, and overseas forms. The catch: conversion is not universal because grading systems and WAM rules differ.
UNSW even excludes external transfer-credit marks from WAM due to differing grading systems.
A practical way to estimate “Weighted Average Mark to GPA”
If you have individual subject marks:
Convert each subject result to the uni’s grade band (HD/D/CR/P/F).
Convert the grade band to grade points (your uni’s table).
Calculate GPA as a weighted average of grade points.
Example (7-point style): ANU shows HD=7, D=6, CR=5, P=4, Fail=0.
Quick “rule-of-thumb” examples
These are estimates, not official conversions:
75 WAM to GPA (7-point): if your marks sit around the Distinction band, your GPA often lands near 6-ish on a 7-point table like ANU’s (D=6).
70 WAM to GPA (7-point): often around Distinction level on common grade bands, which maps to 6 on ANU’s table.
65 WAM to GPA (7-point): often around Credit level on common grade bands, mapping to 5 on ANU’s table.
For a 4-point system, RMIT GPA shows Distinction (70–79) maps to 3 and Credit (60–69) maps to 2.
So searches like 3.0 gpa to WAM usually point to a WAM somewhere in the 70s range in that grading scheme.
Similarly, 3.5 gpa to WAM depends on the uni (some unis don’t use 3.5 at all on their primary scale), so always check the receiving institution’s method.
What is a good WAM?
A “good WAM” depends on your goal:
Honours entry/classification
Scholarships/prizes
Course transfer or postgrad entry
Employer screening
Here are grounded ways to interpret common WAM numbers:
PickMyUni take: if your goal is specific (honours, a particular master’s, an internal transfer), ignore generic “Good WAM” posts and check the actual entry rule. If you want, PickMyUni can help you compare requirements across unis and map the quickest path.
Want help with WAM, GPA, transfers, or postgrad plans?
PickMyUni helps students compare Australian universities and course pathways, especially when admin terms like WAM, GPA, WAM to GPA, and “what counts” start affecting real decisions. If you’re planning a transfer or a postgrad move, we can help you line up requirements and avoid wasting semesters.
