Grade Calculator
Use this grade calculator to find the score you need on your final exam to earn the overall grade you want.
What Is a Grade Calculator?
A grade calculator tells you what you must score on a final exam or last assignment to reach your target course grade. Students use a grade calculator to plan their study time and to see whether a goal such as an A or a B is still within reach.
The Final Grade Formula
Needed score = (goal grade - current grade x (1 - weight)) / weight, where weight is the final exam's share of the course as a decimal. For example, if you have 87 percent, want 90 percent and the final is worth 30 percent, you need (90 - 87 x 0.70) / 0.30 = 97 percent on the final.
How to Use the Calculator
- Enter your current grade before the final.
- Enter the overall grade you want.
- Enter the weight of the final exam, found in your syllabus.
The result shows the required score and tells you if the goal is already secured or out of reach without extra credit.
Typical US Grading Scale
Many US schools use A for 90 to 100, B for 80 to 89, C for 70 to 79, D for 60 to 69 and F below 60. Some use plus and minus grades and different cutoffs, so confirm the scale in your syllabus.
Weighted Categories
Courses often weight categories such as homework, quizzes, tests and the final. Calculate your current grade first by multiplying each category average by its weight and adding them. Use that number as your current grade here.
Tips to Reach Your Goal Grade
Review the exam topics with the heaviest weight, practice with old tests, use office hours and plan sleep before the exam. If the required score looks unrealistic, ask about extra credit or choose a more achievable target.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need on my final to get an A?
Enter 90 as your goal grade, or the cutoff your class uses, and the result updates.
Can I need more than 100 percent?
Yes, and then the goal is not reachable without extra credit.
Does this work for any assignment?
Yes. Use the weight of that assignment as the final exam weight.
Assumes the final exam weight is a percent of your overall grade.