Weighted Average Mark explained
What is a WAM (Weighted Average Mark)?
Answer ID 347 | Last updated on 15/11/2024 11.36 AM
Your WAM, or Weighted Average Mark, is a calculation of the average mark you achieve across the units you complete in your course. It includes all unit attempts within a course, and each course you have undertaken will have a different WAM. Your WAM is displayed on studentConnect under 'Course & Unit' and then 'Progress Status', and will appear on your Statement of Academic Record if you commenced your course from 2005 onwards.
To calculate a WAM:
Sum (unit credit point x unit mark) / sum credit points.
Awards with distinction: For postgraduate coursework courses where distinction may be awarded, the WAM displayed in studentConnect may be different to the WAM calculated to determine eligibility for award of a degree with distinction. The calculation to be awarded distinction in a course can be found course rules on the Handbook.
Advanced standing: If you transfer credit from previous studies, these units and results will not be used to calculate your course WAM. If you transfer between Bachelors courses, you may be eligible for 'duplicate credit' which means these units will count towards both the WAM for your previous Bachelors course and your new Bachelors course.
Results with no mark: Some grades you receive may not have a mark. See the table below for how they impact your WAM.
|
Grades without marks |
WAM result |
|
|
DE - Deferred Examination Granted |
N/A |
This is not a final grade, and therefore does not impact your WAM |
|
FC - Failed Component |
48 |
The mark is not visible, but 48 is used in the WAM calculation |
|
FN - Fail Due to Non Completion |
0 |
If you withdraw after the academic withdrawal date, you will receive an FN grade. |
|
FS - Failed Supplementary |
Original mark |
This mark is not visible, but the original mark you received in the unit will be used in the WAM calculation |
|
NA - Results not Available |
N/A |
This is not a final grade, and therefore does not impact your WAM |
|
NC - Not Complete |
Not used |
This is result is used for zero credit point units, which aren't used to calculate your WAM |
|
PS - Passed Supplementary |
50 |
This mark will not appear, but 50 will be used in your WAM calculation |
|
SG - Supplementary Examination Granted |
N/A |
This is not a final grade, and therefore does not impact your WAM |
|
UF - Ungraded Fail |
0 |
The mark is not visible, but 0 is used in the WAM calculation |
|
UP - Ungraded Pass |
50 |
The mark is not visible, but 50 is used in the WAM calculation |
|
WD - Withdrawn without penalty |
Not used |
If you withdraw before the Academic Penalty, or via special consideration you receive a WD. |
|
WP - Withdrawn early |
Not used |
If you withdraw early from a unit, the unit does not appear on your Transcript and is not counted. |
If you're unsure how a grade has impacted your WAM, get in touch with us.
Please use the UWA Calculator to find your WAM.
Example
First year student, Jane Smith, has completed her first year of economics. Her WAM would be calculated as follows:
| Unit | Credit Value | Mark | Grade |
| ECON1101 |
6
|
85
|
HD |
| ECON1102 |
6
|
66
|
CR |
| ACCT1101 |
6
|
72
|
D |
| MGMT1135 |
6
|
48
|
N |
| MKTG1203 |
6
|
55
|
P |
| STAT1520 |
6
|
83
|
HD |
| ANHB1101 |
6
|
-
|
WP |
| VISA1051 |
6
|
-
|
FN |
Sum (unit credits x unit mark)
= ( 6 x 85) + ( 6 x 66) + ( 6 x 72) + ( 6 x 48) + ( 6 x 55) + ( 6 x 83) + ( 6 x NA) + ( 6 x 0)
= 2453.99
Sum credit points
= ( 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6)
= 42
2453.99 divided by 42
= 58.42
Jane accidentally enrolled into ANHB1101; which she realised after the first week and quickly withdrew, which you can see from the WP. She then enrolled into VISA1051.
You'll notice the calculation for ANHB1101 is struck out; this is because Jane withdrew before the academic penalty date. However, Jane also withdrew from VISA1051, but she did this after the academic penalty date, so while there is no final mark for the unit, she did receive a ‘0’ for her mark value.
So Jane's first year WAM is 58.42