Grade Calculator
Calculate your final grade, weighted grades, and what you need on your final exam.
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About This Calculator
Stressed about your final exam? The Grade Calculator answers the question every student asks: "What do I need on my final to pass?" This powerful tool calculates your current weighted grade from multiple assignments, projects, and exams, then shows exactly what score you need on remaining work to reach your target grade. Whether you're trying to maintain an A, avoid a D, or figure out if that dream GPA is mathematically possible, get instant answers.
Used by millions of students during finals season, this calculator handles any grading system: weighted categories (homework 20%, tests 50%, final 30%), point-based systems, or simple averages. It works for high school, college, and graduate courses. Enter your current grades, add the weight of your remaining assignments, set your target grade, and see exactly what you need to achieve. No more guessing or hoping—know your exact situation and plan accordingly.
Beyond calculations, this page explains grade formulas, common grading scales, strategies for borderline situations, and how to talk to your professor when you're close to a grade cutoff. Knowledge is power, especially during finals week.
How to Use the Grade Calculator
- 1Enter each completed assignment with its score (or percentage) and weight in the course.
- 2View your current weighted average calculated automatically from entered grades.
- 3Enter the weight of your final exam or remaining assignments.
- 4Set your target grade (A, B, C, or a specific percentage like 90%).
- 5See exactly what score you need on remaining work to reach your target.
- 6Use "What If" mode to experiment with different grade scenarios.
- 7For point-based courses, enter total points earned and total points possible.
- 8Export or save your calculations to track progress throughout the semester.
Weighted Grade Formula
Current Grade Calculation: Current Grade = Σ(Score × Weight) / Σ(Weights)
Step-by-Step Example:
| Assignment | Score | Weight | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homework | 92% | 20% | 18.4 |
| Midterm 1 | 85% | 20% | 17.0 |
| Midterm 2 | 78% | 20% | 15.6 |
| Project | 95% | 15% | 14.25 |
| (Final) | ??? | 25% | ??? |
Current grade (before final): (18.4 + 17 + 15.6 + 14.25) / 75% = 87.0%
What You Need on the Final:
- To keep a B (83%): Need 69.3% on final
- To get a B+ (87%): Need 85.2% on final
- To get an A- (90%): Need 97.2% on final
- To get an A (93%): Need 109.2% on final (not possible!)
The Reality Check: Many students discover their target grade requires an impossible score (over 100%). It's better to know this early and adjust expectations than to be surprised by your final grade.
Final Exam Score Calculator
The Formula for "What Do I Need on My Final":
Final Score Needed = (Target Grade - Current × (1 - Final Weight)) / Final Weight
Example Calculation:
- Current grade: 82% (on 70% of course work)
- Final exam weight: 30%
- Target: 85% (B)
Needed = (85 - 82 × 0.70) / 0.30 Needed = (85 - 57.4) / 0.30 = 27.6 / 0.30 = 92%
You need a 92% on the final to get a B.
Quick Reference Table (25% Final Weight):
| Current | Need for 70% | Need for 80% | Need for 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95% | 0%* | 35% | 75% |
| 90% | 10% | 50% | 90% |
| 85% | 25% | 65% | 105%** |
| 80% | 40% | 80% | 120%** |
| 75% | 55% | 95% | 135%** |
| 70% | 70% | 110%** | 150%** |
| 65% | 85% | 125%** | 165%** |
*Cannot score below 0% **Cannot score above 100%
Quick Reference Table (30% Final Weight):
| Current | Need for 70% | Need for 80% | Need for 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95% | 12% | 45% | 78% |
| 90% | 23% | 57% | 90% |
| 85% | 35% | 68% | 102%** |
| 80% | 47% | 80% | 113%** |
| 75% | 58% | 92% | 125%** |
Common Grading Scales
Standard 10-Point Scale (Most Common):
| Letter | Percentage | GPA Points |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97-100 | 4.0 (or 4.3) |
| A | 93-96 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90-92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 |
| B | 83-86 | 3.0 |
| B- | 80-82 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 |
| C | 73-76 | 2.0 |
| C- | 70-72 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 |
| D | 63-66 | 1.0 |
| D- | 60-62 | 0.7 |
| F | Below 60 | 0.0 |
7-Point Scale (Common at Some Schools):
| Letter | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 93-100 |
| B | 85-92 |
| C | 77-84 |
| D | 70-76 |
| F | Below 70 |
90/80/70/60 Scale:
| Letter | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 90-100 |
| B | 80-89 |
| C | 70-79 |
| D | 60-69 |
| F | Below 60 |
Always Check Your Syllabus:
- Grading scales vary by professor and institution
- Some use +/-, some don't
- Some round at 0.5, some don't
- Some curve final grades, some don't
Point-Based Grading Systems
When Your Syllabus Lists Points, Not Percentages:
Many courses use total points rather than percentages:
- Homework: 100 points
- Midterm 1: 150 points
- Midterm 2: 150 points
- Project: 200 points
- Final: 300 points
- Total: 900 points
Current Grade Calculation: Grade = (Points Earned / Points Possible) × 100
Example:
- Homework: 88/100 points
- Midterm 1: 128/150 points
- Midterm 2: 135/150 points
- Project: 180/200 points
- (Final: ???/300 points)
Current: (88 + 128 + 135 + 180) / 600 = 531/600 = 88.5%
What You Need on the Final: Total points available: 900 Points needed for 90% (A-): 810 Points earned so far: 531 Points needed on final: 810 - 531 = 279/300 (93%)
The Advantage of Point Systems: You can calculate exactly how many points you need, not just percentages. 279 points might feel more achievable than "93%."
Grade Boundaries and Rounding
The Rounding Question: "Will my professor round up my 89.4% to a 90% (A-)?"
The Honest Answer: It depends entirely on the professor.
Common Rounding Policies:
- Never round: 89.9% is a B+, period
- Round at 0.5: 89.5% becomes 90%, 89.4% stays 89%
- Discretionary: Professor considers participation, improvement, effort
- Rounding down only: 89.9% becomes 89%, never up
How to Handle Borderline Grades:
Before the Final (Proactive):
- Calculate exactly where you stand
- Attend office hours to show engagement
- Ask about extra credit opportunities
- Ask about the rounding policy directly
After Final Grades Posted (Reactive):
- Wait 24-48 hours before emailing (emotional emails hurt your case)
- Be professional and respectful
- Don't demand or threaten
- Provide specific reasons (participation, improvement, effort)
- Accept the decision gracefully
Sample Email Template:
Subject: Grade Question - [Course Name] - [Your Name]
Dear Professor [Name],
I hope you're doing well. I noticed my final grade is [X]%, which is [0.X]% below the [Letter] cutoff. I wanted to ask if there's any possibility of having my grade reconsidered.
Throughout the semester, I [specific examples: attended every class, showed improvement from midterm to final, participated actively in discussions].
I understand if the grade stands, and I appreciate your time and the knowledge I gained in your course.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Reality Check: Professors hear dozens of these requests each semester. What sets you apart is professionalism, specific examples, and graceful acceptance of their decision.
Curved Grading Systems
Understanding Curved Grades:
Some professors adjust grades based on class performance, not fixed percentages.
Common Curving Methods:
1. Fixed Distribution (Bell Curve):
- Top 10%: A
- Next 20%: B
- Middle 40%: C
- Next 20%: D
- Bottom 10%: F
2. Square Root Curve: New Grade = √(Old Grade) × 10
- 81% becomes √81 × 10 = 90%
- 64% becomes √64 × 10 = 80%
- 49% becomes √49 × 10 = 70%
3. Add Points to All: If the average is 72% and the professor wants a C (75%) average: Add 3 points to everyone's grade.
4. Drop Lowest Score: Final calculated after dropping your worst assignment/exam.
5. High Score Adjustment: If highest score is 95%, add 5 points to everyone so someone has 100%.
The Curve Reality:
- You don't know if there will be a curve until the end
- Plan as if there won't be a curve
- A curve is a bonus, not a safety net
- In competitive programs (pre-med, engineering), curves can hurt you because everyone studies hard
Calculating Your Relative Position: If the class average on an exam is 75% and you got 82%, you're 7 points above average. In a curved class, this is more meaningful than your raw score.
Strategy for Finals Week
Triage Your Finals:
Not all finals are equally important to your GPA. Use strategic prioritization:
Step 1: Calculate Current Grades and Needs
| Course | Current | Final Weight | Need for A | Need for B | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Math | 87% | 30% | 97%* | 77% | Medium |
| History | 92% | 25% | 85% | 49% | Low |
| Chem | 78% | 35% | 112%* | 83% | High |
| English | 85% | 20% | 110%* | 60% | Low |
*Impossible - adjust expectations
Step 2: Prioritize by ROI
- Chem: Must focus here - need 83% for B
- Math: Solid study - 77% is achievable for B
- History: Light review - you're safe for an A
- English: Minimal effort - B is locked in
Step 3: Allocate Study Time Total study time: 40 hours available
- Chem: 18 hours (45%)
- Math: 12 hours (30%)
- History: 6 hours (15%)
- English: 4 hours (10%)
The Math of "Good Enough": Sometimes securing a B in a tough class and an A in an easy class is better than pursuing impossible A's in both.
Calculate GPA Impact:
- Current GPA: 3.4
- Getting all B's in 15 credits: 3.0 semester, GPA drops to 3.35
- Getting 2 A's and 2 B's in 15 credits: 3.5 semester, GPA rises to 3.42
Be strategic, not emotional, about grade goals.
Extra Credit and Dropped Scores
Extra Credit Math:
How Extra Credit Works: Extra credit adds to your numerator, not your denominator.
Example:
- Base assignment: 100 points possible, you earned 85
- Extra credit: 5 points available, you earned 5
- Your score: (85 + 5) / 100 = 90%
The Catch: Extra credit is usually capped at 100% per assignment or 3-5% of total course grade.
Dropped Scores:
How Dropping Works: If your syllabus says "lowest quiz dropped," your grade is calculated without that quiz.
Example: Quiz scores: 80, 85, 90, 95, 60 (lowest)
- With all 5: (80+85+90+95+60)/5 = 82%
- Drop lowest: (80+85+90+95)/4 = 87.5%
Strategic Implications:
- If you've already had a bad quiz, you have a "free" missed quiz
- Don't skip intentionally - you might do worse on another
- Calculate your grade both ways to know where you stand
- Extra credit can be more valuable than dropped scores if you're consistent
The Combined Effect: Many professors offer BOTH extra credit AND dropped scores. Calculate the optimal strategy:
- If you have a 60% that will be dropped, don't do extra credit on that assignment
- If you're consistent, extra credit adds to your already-good average
Pro Tips
- 💡Know your syllabus weights—calculate your exact grade situation before finals, not after.
- 💡Do the math early so you can adjust study strategies and set realistic expectations.
- 💡Focus study time on courses where improvement is both possible and impactful.
- 💡Talk to your professor if you're borderline—office hours and engagement can help.
- 💡Never assume rounding or curves—earn every point as if the cutoff is exact.
- 💡For point-based courses, calculate exact points needed rather than thinking in percentages.
- 💡If your target requires over 100%, adjust your goal and study for what's achievable.
- 💡Extra credit early in the semester is better than scrambling at the end.
- 💡Understand the dropped-score policy before intentionally skipping assignments.
- 💡Keep records of all your grades—professor gradebooks can have errors.
- 💡If you're consistently 0.5% below grade boundaries, review your study and test-taking strategies.
- 💡Remember that a B in a tough class often looks better than an A in an easy one for grad school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let's calculate it. With a 75% (C) on 70% of course work and a 30% final: To reach 80% (B), you need (80 - 75×0.70)/0.30 = (80-52.5)/0.30 = 91.7% on the final. That's challenging but possible. To reach 70% (C), you need (70-52.5)/0.30 = 58.3% on the final. Always calculate early so you know what's realistic.
