Grade Calculator
- Updated
- Formula shown
- Free, no sign-up
Results
Current grade 85.1% (B) from 70% of the course; 30% still to be graded.
| To finish with | Average needed |
|---|---|
| A (90%) | 101.3% (not possible without extra credit) |
| B (80%) | 68% |
| C (70%) | 34.7% |
| D (60%) | 1.3% |
| Category | Weight | Score | Points earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homework | 20% | 95% | 19 |
| Quizzes | 15% | 82% | 12.3 |
| Midterm exam | 25% | 78% | 19.5 |
| Project | 10% | 88% | 8.8 |
How to use the grade calculator
- Choose whether you want your current course grade or the score needed on the final.
- Add each graded category from the syllabus (homework, quizzes, exams, labs) with its weight and your average score in it, both as percentages.
- For the final exam mode, enter the final's weight and the course grade you are aiming for.
- Change the letter cutoffs if your course doesn't use 90 / 80 / 70 / 60. The tables update for each letter.
Weighted grade formula
Grade with final = current × (1 − f) + final score × f
Final score needed = (target − current × (1 − f)) ÷ f
Each category counts in proportion to its weight. Dividing by the weights entered so far gives your grade on the work graded to date, which is what many online gradebooks show. In the final formula, f is the final exam's weight as a decimal (30% = 0.3), current is your grade before the final and target is the course grade you want, all in percent.
Worked example
A syllabus weights homework 20%, quizzes 15%, the midterm 25%, a project 10% and the final exam 30%. A student has 95% on homework, 82% on quizzes, 78% on the midterm and 88% on the project. The weighted sum is 20 × 95 + 15 × 82 + 25 × 78 + 10 × 88 = 5,960, and dividing by the 70% graded so far gives a current grade of 85.1%, a B.
To finish with 80% (a B), they need (80 − 85.1 × 0.7) ÷ 0.3 = 68% on the final. A C (70%) needs only 34.7%, while an A (90%) would need 101.3%, which isn't possible without extra credit. Scoring 75% on the final would give a course grade of 82.1%.
Final exam score needed for a 90% (A)
How much a final can move your grade depends on its weight. Generated with the calculator's engine, this table shows the final score needed to reach 90% from different starting grades.
| Grade before the final | Final worth 15% | Final worth 20% | Final worth 25% | Final worth 30% | Final worth 40% | Final worth 50% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80% | Not possible | Not possible | Not possible | Not possible | Not possible | 100% |
| 85% | Not possible | Not possible | Not possible | Not possible | 97.5% | 95% |
| 88% | Not possible | 98% | 96% | 94.7% | 93% | 92% |
| 90% | 90% | 90% | 90% | 90% | 90% | 90% |
| 92% | 78.7% | 82% | 84% | 85.3% | 87% | 88% |
| 95% | 61.7% | 70% | 75% | 78.3% | 82.5% | 85% |
Tips and common mistakes
- Average inside each category first. If quizzes are 15% of the grade, enter your quiz average, not each quiz as its own 15%.
- Points-based courses work too. If the syllabus lists points instead of weights, use each category's share of the total points as its weight.
- Check for dropped scores. Many instructors drop the lowest quiz or homework. Leave the dropped score out before you average the category.
- Cutoffs vary. 90 / 80 / 70 / 60 is common in the US, but some courses use 93 for an A or add plus and minus grades. Your syllabus decides, and some instructors round 89.5 up.
Once you know your course grades, turn them into a GPA with the GPA calculator. For a plain average of scores use the average calculator, and to convert a raw score such as 43 out of 50 into a percentage, the percentage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a weighted grade?
Multiply each category score by its weight, add the results and divide by the total weight. With homework 20% at 95%, quizzes 15% at 82%, a midterm 25% at 78% and a project 10% at 88%, the sum is 5,960, and 5,960 ÷ 70 gives a grade of 85.1% so far.
What do I need on my final to get a B?
Use (target − current × (1 − f)) ÷ f, where f is the final’s weight as a decimal. With 85.1% before a final worth 30%, an 80% course grade needs (80 − 85.1 × 0.7) ÷ 0.3, which is 68% on the final.
Why does my grade change so much after the final?
Because a heavily weighted final replaces a large share of the average. With 85.1% going into a 30% final, scoring 100% lifts the course grade to 89.6%, while scoring 0% drops it to 59.6%. A 10% final would move it far less.
What if my category weights don’t add up to 100%?
If some work isn’t graded yet, the calculator divides by the weights you entered, which gives your grade on the work so far, as gradebooks do. It also shows the average you need on the remaining weight for each letter grade.
What are the standard letter grade cutoffs?
A common US scale is A from 90%, B from 80%, C from 70% and D from 60%, with anything lower an F. Many schools and instructors use different cutoffs, such as 93% for an A, so the calculator lets you change them.