Final grade calculator
This final grade calculator shows the score you need on your final exam to finish the class with the grade you want. Enter your current grade, how much the final is worth and your goal.
- The final exam score you need, written out step by step
- A table of the score needed for an A, B, C and D
- See your course grade if you score a given amount
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How to use the final grade calculator
- Enter your current grade in the class as a percent. Your gradebook or learning portal usually shows it.
- Enter how much the final exam is worth, from your syllabus. A final worth a quarter of the grade is 25%.
- Enter the course grade you want, such as 90 for an A or 80 for a B.
- Read the score you need on the final, plus the table for each letter grade. Try a score in the last box to see where you would end up.
The final grade formula
Your course grade is a weighted average: the grade you have now counts for everything except the final, and the final counts for its own weight. Solve that average for the final exam score.
final exam score needed = (grade you want − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight
Write the weight as a decimal: 25% is 0.25. If the answer is above 100%, the goal is out of reach unless there is extra credit. If it is 0 or below, you already have that grade locked in, even with a zero on the final.
Worked example
You have an 84% in the class, the final is worth 25% and you want an 87% (a B+ on many scales).
- The work before the final counts for 75%, so it is worth 84 × 0.75 = 63 points of the course grade.
- You need 87 − 63 = 24 more points from the final.
- The final is worth 0.25, so you need 24 ÷ 0.25 = 96% on it.
With the same 84%, an A (90%) would take 108%, which is out of reach, a B (80%) takes 68% and a C (70%) takes 28%. If you score 90% on the final, your course grade is 63 + 90 × 0.25 = 85.5%.
How much can a final exam change my grade?
A final worth 20% can move your course grade by up to 20 points, and in practice it moves it by the gap between your final score and your current grade times the weight. With an 85% and a 20% final, scoring 95% lifts you to 87%, and scoring 65% drops you to 81%. The heavier the final, the bigger the swing.
| Current grade 84% | Final worth 10% | Final worth 25% | Final worth 40% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score needed for 90% (A) | 144% | 108% | 99% |
| Score needed for 80% (B) | 44% | 68% | 74% |
| Score needed for 70% (C) | Already secured | 28% | 49% |
| Grade with 0% on the final | 75.6% | 63% | 50.4% |
The last row is worth checking before you skip a final: a zero on a 40% final takes an 84% down to 50.4%.
What if my class uses points instead of percents?
Turn points into percents first: your current grade is points earned so far divided by points possible so far, and the final weight is the final's points divided by the course total. With 340 of 400 points earned and a 100-point final in a 500-point course, your current grade is 85% and the final weight is 20%.
If your teacher drops the lowest quiz, curves the final or uses category weights, start with the weighted grade calculator to get your true current grade, then come back here. It links straight to this page with your grade filled in.
Letter grade cutoffs
The table in the calculator uses the common 10-point scale. Many schools add plus and minus grades inside each band, and some set their own cutoffs, so check your syllabus.
| Letter | Usual cutoff | With plus and minus |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90% | A 93 to 100, A− 90 to 92 |
| B | 80% | B+ 87 to 89, B 83 to 86, B− 80 to 82 |
| C | 70% | C+ 77 to 79, C 73 to 76, C− 70 to 72 |
| D | 60% | D+ 67 to 69, D 63 to 66, D− 60 to 62 |
| F | below 60% | F |
When your final grade is in, the cumulative GPA calculator shows what the semester does to your overall GPA.
Common questions
What do I need on my final to get an A?
Take 90, subtract your current grade times (1 minus the final weight), then divide by the final weight. With an 88% and a 30% final: (90 − 88 × 0.7) ÷ 0.3 = (90 − 61.6) ÷ 0.3 = 94.7%.
What happens if I get a 0 on my final?
Your grade becomes your current grade times (1 minus the final weight). An 84% with a 25% final drops to 84 × 0.75 = 63%, a D on most scales.
How do I find how much my final is worth?
Check the grading section of your syllabus. If it lists points, divide the final exam points by the total course points: a 150-point final in a 600-point course is worth 25%.
Why does it say I need more than 100%?
Your goal is out of reach with the grade you have now and the final weight given. With an 84% and a 25% final, the best possible course grade is 84 × 0.75 + 100 × 0.25 = 88%.
Does this work for a high school semester exam?
Yes. A semester exam is the same weighted average. If the exam is 20% of the semester grade and you have an 82%, you need (80 − 82 × 0.8) ÷ 0.2 = 72% to keep a B.