How to Calculate Cut Off Points for Universities in Ghana

You may have been wondering how to figure out your cut-off points for universities. You’ve come to the right spot. This guide will teach you how to figure out the cut-off points for all Ghanaian universities.

As a rule, Ghana’s colleges and universities use the cut-off points to decide who gets into which programs. Most of these universities use the WAEC system to decide who gets into their schools.

The cut-off point is based on a student’s grade in the West African Examination Council (WAEC). Students can figure out their cut-off point by adding up the numbers that go with each grade.

What does “cut-off point” mean?

A cut-off point is a way for colleges and universities to sort students into different programs of study. Different universities have different deadlines for different courses.

In other words, in the same school, a cut-off point for biochemistry is different from a cut-off point for veterinary medicine.

A student can apply to any university in the country if their total score is 24 or less. But there are some courses that have a lower cut-off point for the overall grade.

You need to know how the WAEC grading system works in order to figure out your cut-off point aggregate.

WASSCE Grading System & Interception

WAEC Grading and Interpretation in Percentage

Universities Admission Requirements in Ghana

Before a student can get into a university, he or she must first meet the minimum requirements for the program they want to study. The requirements for getting into science classes are very different from those for other classes.

For example, someone who wants to get into a degree program must have at least credits (A1–C6 in WASSCE and A–D in SSSCE) in English, Core Mathematics, and Integrated Science (for Science-related programs) or Social Studies (for non-Science-related programs) and three elective subjects in Science (for Science or Agriculture-related programs) or three elective subjects in General Arts/Business (for non-Science-related programs).

Science applicants should also have at least a C6 on the WASSCE or a D on the SSSCE in Social Studies/Life Skills. Non-Science applicants should also have at least a C6 on the WASSCE or a D on the 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, and Integrated Science.

A candidate must also have credit passes in Chemistry and any two of Physics, Biology, and Elective Mathematics.

Having said that, applicants’ chances of getting in are higher if they do well in the core classes. For example, a person could have 6 A’s in electives and 2 B’s in core subjects and still not be accepted.

On the other hand, a candidate with 5 A’s may be much better than those with 7 A’s, depending on the subjects they took.

How to Figure Out Cut-Off Points for All Universities in Ghana Universities use the WAEC grading system and give students grades based on how well they did in their best six subjects, both core, and electives, while making sure they pass English and Math.

Having said that, let’s take a look at how cut-off points for college admission in Ghana could be found. In this guide, we’ll look at some possible examples of how to use the WAEC grading system to figure out cut-off points.

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 using 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

If you leave out Social Studies and Elective Mathematics, the cut-off point will be 8 for the best six subjects.

Also, a candidate with seven A’s and one B3 in English or Core Math will have an overall score of eight for his best six subjects.

The person with five A’s and three B2’s in the other subjects has done better than the person with seven A’s, according to WAEC standards.

The person with five A’s and three B2’s has an aggregate of seven, which depends on how well he did in English and Math. So, the person with 5 A’s and 3 B2’s might be admitted before the person with 7 A’s and 1 B3.

Also, the applicant with 5 A’s and 3 B’s is accepted as a regular, fee-free student, while the applicant with 7 A’s and 1 B is accepted as a fee-paying student for the same course.

READ ALSO: Easy Guide: How To Calculate GPA In Ghana

Universities Admission Requirements in Ghana