How the grade calculator works

GradeKind is a free grade calculator for teachers. Type in a score for a quiz, test or assignment and you get the percentage and letter grade, partial credit included. This page shows exactly how the calculator gets its numbers, so you can explain any result to a student or parent.

Quick summary

• Choose a mode: Questions is for equally weighted, whole-number answers. Points supports different point values and partial credit.
• Calculate the percentage: Earned ÷ total × 100. So 16.5 out of 20 gives 82.5%.
• Check your scale: Set thresholds to match your school's policy. Letter grades use the unrounded percentage.
• Print when ready: Choose a chart increment, then select Print chart to print or save a PDF.

Watch: How to use GradeKind

A short, silent walkthrough with on-screen instructions. Pause any time to try a step.

Open the video directly if the player does not load. The same steps are written out below too.

Shows Questions mode, partial-credit points, calculation details, custom scales, encouragement badges, chart increments, printing and Reset. No audio.

Read the video steps

1. Select Questions for equally weighted questions. Enter 20 total, select Wrong answers and enter 3. The result is 85%, a B on the default scale.
2. Select Points for partial credit. Enter 20 total and 16.5 points earned. With decimal display enabled, the result is 82.50%.
3. Open Show calculation to see earned points divided by total points, multiplied by 100.
4. Open Edit grading scale. Set thresholds to match your school's policy, then select Save scale. The percentage stays the same; the letter grade follows your thresholds.
5. Optionally enable an encouragement badge. Choose a message type or write a short message without student details.
6. In the grading chart, choose an increment such as 0.5 points. Select Print chart, then choose a printer or Save as PDF in your browser's print window.
7. Select Reset to clear the entered scores. Your saved scale stays in place; use Restore default scale or Reset saved preferences to reset it.

What the calculator does

Enter a score in Questions mode or Points mode. GradeKind gives you the percentage, the letter grade on your scale, and a chart of every possible score for that total. It all runs in your browser. There's no sign-up, and no student names or scores leave your device.

One assignment at a time. The Easy Grader handles a single quiz, test or assignment. To combine several assignments or weighted categories, use the Course Grade Calculator. For the score a student needs on a final exam, see the Final Grade Calculator.

Using Questions mode

Use Questions mode when every question is worth the same, like a typical multiple-choice quiz. Type how many questions the test had, then the number the student got right or the number they missed. GradeKind fills in the other number. Since every question counts the same here, only whole numbers work. If you type a decimal, for example to give half credit on one question, GradeKind points you to Points mode instead of rounding it.

Using Points mode

Use Points mode for partial credit, questions worth different amounts, or any decimal score. Enter the total points possible, then the points earned or the points lost. It takes up to four decimal places (12.3456, for example), so half points, quarter points and rubric scores all work.

How partial credit works

Partial credit is just a decimal in Points mode. On a 20-point assignment, a student with 16.5 points gets 82.5% whether you type "16.5 points earned" or "3.5 points lost". Both give exactly the same answer, because earned plus lost always equals the total.

How to grade a test with different point values

When questions are worth different amounts, add up points rather than counting correct answers. For example, a test has 10 multiple-choice questions worth 2 points each and 2 written questions worth 10 points each.

Example: a 40-point test with partial credit

Section	Possible points	Earned points
10 multiple-choice questions × 2 points	20	18
2 written questions × 10 points	20	12.5
Total	40	30.5

30.5 ÷ 40 × 100 = 76.25%. That's a C on the default example scale. Your school's cut-offs may be different.

1. Open the calculator and select Points.
2. Enter 40 for Total possible points.
3. Select Points earned and enter 30.5. Turn on Show decimal places to see 76.25%.

You could also pick Points lost and enter 9.5. The result is the same. Your rubric decides how much partial credit to give, and GradeKind turns those points into a percentage.

This example adds points inside one test. A course grade with weighted categories, such as homework 20% and exams 80%, works differently. Use the Course Grade Calculator for that.

How percentages are calculated

The formula is simple:

Percentage = Earned ÷ Total × 100

If you enter points or answers lost, then Earned = Total − Lost. The calculator uses exact decimal math instead of normal floating-point math, so you won't get tiny rounding errors right at a grade boundary.

How letter-grade thresholds and rounding work

Each letter grade on your scale has a minimum percentage. On the default scale, for example, a B starts at 80% and runs to just under 90%. GradeKind checks the exact percentage against those cut-offs. You can show the percentage as a whole number or with two decimals, but that only changes what you see, not the grade. A score of 89.995% is always a B when an A starts at 90%. Near a cut-off, the calculator shows extra digits so you never see a misleading "90.00%".

The default A/B/C/D/F scale is an editable example, not an official standard for any school or country. You can change every cut-off and save your own scale.

Points to letter grades at a glance

Earned points ÷ possible points × 100 gives the percent. Then check that exact percent against your school's cut-offs. For example, 36 out of 40 is 90%, an A on the example scale below.

Sample scale, not a rule: A from 90% to 100%, B from 80% up to 90%, C from 70% up to 80%, D from 60% up to 70%, and F under 60%. These are GradeKind's editable defaults. Your school may use different ones.

Earned-point ranges for common assignment totals

Total points	A	B	C	D	F
10	9–10	8 to <9	7 to <8	6 to <7	0 to <6
20	18–20	16 to <18	14 to <16	12 to <14	0 to <12
25	22.5–25	20 to <22.5	17.5 to <20	15 to <17.5	0 to <15
50	45–50	40 to <45	35 to <40	30 to <35	0 to <30

How to read the ranges: “8 to <9” includes 8 and 8.5, but not 9. On a 25-point assignment, 22.49 points is a B and 22.5 points is an A. If you only award whole points, the minimum for an A is 23 out of 25.

Full printable charts: out of 10, 20, 25, 50, 100 and more. See also the plus/minus grading scale and GPA chart.

For another total or grading policy, open the Easy Grader calculator, choose Points mode and edit your grading scale. Select a chart increment such as 0.5, then use Print chart. Follow the printing instructions to save a PDF or print a copy.

Common grading mistakes to avoid

• Counting unequal questions as equal: If questions have different point values, add their possible and earned points and use Points mode. Use Questions mode only for equally weighted, whole-number answers.
• Rounding before choosing a letter grade: Compare the exact percentage with the cutoff. Under a 90% A threshold, 89.995% is a B. GradeKind's letter grade uses the unrounded result.
• Assuming the example scale is your school's scale: Check your school's policy and edit the thresholds before grading or printing.
• Mixing up an assignment grade and a course grade: The Easy Grader scores one assignment. For a course average, use the Course Grade Calculator. For the score you need on a final, use the Final Grade Calculator. To curve a whole class, use the Grade Curve Calculator.

Print a chart or save a PDF

Enter a valid score, choose a chart increment, then select Print chart. In your browser's print window, choose your printer or Save as PDF. The printed summary includes the current result and active scale. Very large charts are capped; check the chart note for the rows included.

Add encouragement and start another score

Turn on Add an encouragement badge to include a short message on screen and in print. Choose a message type or edit the text, up to 100 characters. The message is not saved. Changing the grade or badge choice replaces it.

Reset clears entered scores. To change the saved scale or display settings back, use Restore default scale or Reset saved preferences.

Frequently asked questions

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