Final Grade Calculator
Find the score you need on your final exam to reach the course grade you want, or see what grade a final score will give you.
Results
This is the result for your previous entries. Finish entering your numbers to update it.
Enter your numbers to see the answer.
Score needed on the final
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With 100% on the final
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With 0% on the final
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Already earned
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Score needed for each letter grade
| Course grade | Final score needed | Reachable? |
|---|
Course grade for every final score
The line shows your course grade for each final score; the dashed line is your target.
How it's worked out
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How to use the final grade calculator
- Enter your current grade in the class as a percentage.
- Enter how much the final exam counts toward the course grade, for example 30%.
- Enter the course grade you want, or tap a letter grade.
- Read the score you need. The table shows the score needed for an A, B, C and D at the same time.
Already know your final score, or want to try "what if" scores? Switch to "Grade from a final score".
The final grade formula
Your course grade is a weighted average of the work before the final and the final itself:
Course grade = current grade × (1 − final weight) + final score × final weight
Rearranging it gives the score you need:
Final score needed = (target − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight
Weights are used as decimals, so a final worth 30% is 0.30.
Worked example
Maya has 85% in chemistry. The final is worth 30%, and she wants at least a B+ (87%).
- Points already earned: 85 × (1 − 0.30) = 59.5 out of the 70 available before the final.
- Points still needed: 87 − 59.5 = 27.5.
- Score needed: 27.5 ÷ 0.30 = 91.7% on the final.
- An A (90%) would need (90 − 59.5) ÷ 0.30 = 101.7%, so it is out of reach without extra credit.
- Even with 0% on the final she would finish with 59.5%.
Finding your current grade from weighted categories
If your class is graded by category, work out your current grade from the categories that are already finished. Say homework is worth 20%, quizzes 20% and tests 30%, with the final worth the remaining 30%, and your averages are 95%, 80% and 82%:
- Weighted points so far: 95 × 0.20 + 80 × 0.20 + 82 × 0.30 = 19 + 16 + 24.6 = 59.6.
- Weight completed so far: 0.20 + 0.20 + 0.30 = 0.70.
- Current grade: 59.6 ÷ 0.70 = 85.1%. Enter this with a final weight of 30%.
Common US letter grade scale
| Letter | Percentage | Letter | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 90–100% | C | 70–79% |
| B | 80–89% | D | 60–69% |
| F: below 60% | Plus and minus grades vary by school | ||
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate what I need on my final exam?
Subtract the part of the course grade you have already earned from the grade you want, then divide by the weight of the final. With 85% so far, a final worth 30% and a target of 90%, you have 85 × 0.70 = 59.5 points, need 90 − 59.5 = 30.5 more, and 30.5 ÷ 0.30 = 101.7% on the final.
What does it mean if I need more than 100%?
It means the target grade can’t be reached with the final alone, unless there is extra credit or your teacher curves the grades. The calculator shows the highest course grade you can still reach, which is what you would get with 100% on the final.
What if my final exam is worth 20%, 25% or 40%?
Enter that percentage in "Final exam weight". The lighter the final, the harder it is to move your grade: a final worth 20% can shift your course grade by at most 20 points, while one worth 40% can shift it by 40.
My class uses points, not percentages. Can I still use this?
Yes. Divide your points so far by the points possible so far to get your current percentage, and divide the points the final is worth by the total points in the course to get its weight. For example, 170 of 200 points is 85%, and a 150-point final in a 500-point course is worth 30%.
Why is my teacher’s grade different?
Teachers may round grades, drop the lowest score, weight categories such as homework and tests differently, or use different letter cut-offs. The calculator assumes your current grade already reflects everything except the final. Your syllabus has the exact rules.