Final Grade Calculator
Find out what score you need on your final exam to get the course grade you want. Put in your grade right now, the weight of the final, and the grade you are aiming for.
Enter your grades
Look for it on the syllabus or in your online gradebook.
Your course grade before the final, e.g. 85.
How much the final counts toward the course grade, e.g. 20.
Your target course grade, e.g. 90 for an A.
Score needed on the final
| Course grade | Final score needed | Status |
|---|
What if I get...
| Final score | Course grade | Letter |
|---|
Letter grades use the example scale A 90, B 80, C 70, D 60. See the grading scale guide for plus/minus cutoffs.
The math behind this calculator
Once the final is marked, your course grade blends two things: the work you have already done and the final exam score.
new grade = current grade × (1 − w) + final score × w, where w is the final weight written as a decimal.
Flip that around to get the final score, and you have the formula used on this page:
final score needed = (target − current grade × (1 − w)) ÷ w
Type the weight as a percent and it is turned into a decimal for you, so 20% becomes 0.2. The math happens on your own device, and nothing you type is stored or sent.
If your class uses points
A lot of US classes don't use weights at all. Every test, quiz and homework is just points, and the final is one more big set of points. Pick Points above and type what your gradebook shows.
Say you have 412 out of 500 points so far, the final is worth 150 points and you want an 80%. The class will have 650 points in total, and 80% of 650 is 520. You need 520 − 412 = 108 points on the final. That's 72% of the final.
The calculator does the same math. It also tells you how many final points you need, so you don't have to turn it back into a percent.
Examples
- 85% now, final counts 20%, goal 90% (A): (90 − 85 × 0.8) ÷ 0.2 = 110%. An A isn't reachable without extra credit.
- 85% now, final counts 20%, goal 80% (B): (80 − 68) ÷ 0.2 = 60%. A 60% on the final keeps a B.
- 72% now, final counts 30%, goal 70% (C): (70 − 72 × 0.7) ÷ 0.3 = 65.33%.
- 95% now, final counts 15%, goal 90% (A): (90 − 80.75) ÷ 0.15 = 61.67%.
Tips for using this calculator
- Check the syllabus for the exact final exam weight. A final worth 40% changes the result a lot compared with one worth 10%.
- If other assignments are still ungraded, your current grade can change before the final, so the result is an estimate.
- A few courses also set a minimum final exam score you must reach to pass, no matter what your average is. This calculator doesn't check that rule.
- Teachers hear "what do I need on the final?" a lot. Students can check it here themselves.
Frequently asked questions
Can I find my needed final exam score without the calculator?
Start with your target grade, subtract current grade × (1 − final weight), then divide what is left by the final weight written as a decimal. Say you have 85% now, the final is worth 20% and you want 90%: (90 − 85 × 0.8) ÷ 0.2 = 110%.
What does it mean when the answer is over 100%?
It means the target grade can't be reached with the final exam alone, unless the final allows extra credit. Try a lower target to see what is still possible, or ask your teacher about other ways to raise your grade.
What does final exam weight mean?
It is the share of the course grade that the final exam counts for, such as 20% or 30%. You can find it in the course syllabus or grading policy. The rest of the grade (for example 80%) comes from the work you have already done.
What if I need a negative or zero score?
Then you've already got that grade. Even a 0% on the final keeps you at or above the target, as long as your current grade doesn't change before the final.
Is my current grade the right number to use?
Use your current course grade before the final, as a percentage. If your teacher uses weighted categories, use the grade they report, or combine your categories first with the Course Grade Calculator.
My class uses points, not percentages. How do I work it out?
Add the final's points to the points possible so far, multiply by the grade you want, then take away the points you already have. With 412 of 500 points, a 150-point final and a target of 80%: 650 × 0.8 = 520, and 520 − 412 = 108 points (72% of the final).
If I score 70 on the final, what will my grade be?
Your new grade is your current grade × (1 − final weight) + 70 × final weight. With 85% now and a final worth 20%: 85 × 0.8 + 70 × 0.2 = 82%, still a B. The "What if I get" table shows this for every score from 50% to 100%.
Related tools
- Semester Grade Calculator: combine quarter grades, a midterm and the final into one semester grade.
- Weighted Grade Calculator: your current class grade from category weights.
- Course Grade Calculator: work out your current grade from total points or weighted categories.
- High School GPA Calculator: weighted and unweighted GPA for grades 9 to 12.
- Easy Grader: score one test and see the percent and letter grade.
- Printable grading charts for tests out of 5 to 100.