Final Grade Calculator

What if I score…

Want to know what you need on the final to keep your A, or just to pass? Enter your current grade, the grade you want and how much the final exam counts. The calculator shows the exact score you need, plus a table for an A, B, C and D, so you know where to put your study time.

Final grade calculator showing a 94% needed on the final and a table for A, B, C and D
With 82% now and a final worth 25%, you need 94% for an 85%. The table shows the score for each letter grade.

How to use it

  1. Enter your current grade in the class as a percentage. Your teacher or the online gradebook usually shows it.
  2. Enter the grade you want at the end, for example 90 for an A.
  3. Enter the final exam weight from the syllabus, for example 20 if the final is worth 20% of the grade.
  4. Read the score you need. Use the “What if I score…” box to see where a given exam score would leave you.

The formula

Score needed on final = (grade wanted − (1 − final weight) × current grade) ÷ final weight

The weight is used as a decimal, so 25% becomes 0.25.

Example

Your current grade is 82%, the final is worth 25%, and you want an 85%. The score you need is (85 − 0.75 × 82) ÷ 0.25 = (85 − 61.5) ÷ 0.25 = 94%. For a B (80%) you would only need 74%.

What if the answer is over 100%?

Then that grade is out of reach on the final alone. The calculator shows the best grade you can still finish with if you score 100%. Ask your teacher about extra credit or retakes, and set your sights on the next letter grade down.

What if it says 0% or “already secured”?

Your current grade is high enough that even a 0% on the final keeps you at that grade. Check that the final isn’t a must-pass exam before relying on that.

Frequently asked questions

What if I don’t know my current grade exactly?

Use the grade calculator to work it out from your assignments and their weights first, then come back here.

My final is worth points, not a percentage. What do I enter?

Divide the final’s points by the total points in the class. A 200-point final in a 1,000-point class is worth 20%.

Does this work for a final project instead of an exam?

Yes. Any last piece of work with a known weight works the same way.

What score do I need to pass?

Check the table under the result. The D row shows the score for 60%, the usual pass mark in the US. If your class passes at a different percentage, type it in as the grade you want.

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