Final Grade Calculator
Find out what you need to score on your final exam to finish the class with the grade you want. You also get the score needed for every letter grade and the grade you would end up with for any exam score.
The formula
needed = (wanted − current × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight
The weight is written as a decimal, so a final worth 25% uses 0.25. Your current grade covers the other 75% of the course, which is why it is multiplied by (1 − weight).
Example: you have an 84%, want a 90%, and the final counts for 25%. Then needed = (90 − 84 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = (90 − 63) ÷ 0.25 = 108%. That is not reachable without extra credit, so a lower target such as 87% may be more realistic: (87 − 63) ÷ 0.25 = 96%.
How the final affects your grade
The heavier the final, the more it can change your result. With a final worth 10% a bad exam can only move your grade a few points, while a final worth 40% can move it a full letter grade. The table in your results shows what each score on the final means for your course grade.
| Final weight | Max swing on your grade |
|---|---|
| 10% | Up to 10 points between a 0 and a 100 on the final |
| 20% | Up to 20 points |
| 30% | Up to 30 points |
| 40% | Up to 40 points |
Where to find your numbers
- Final exam weight: the grading breakdown in your syllabus or your school's online gradebook.
- Current grade: your gradebook percentage before the final. If your gradebook includes the final as a zero, use the grade for the other categories only.
- Points possible: enter it if your final is scored in points, to see the exact points you need.
Study planning tips
- Try a few target grades to see which ones are within reach before you plan your study time.
- If your goal needs a very high score, compare it with the next letter grade down.
- Ask your instructor whether the lowest score is dropped or the final can replace a weaker exam.
- Ask how rounding works. Some instructors round 89.5 up to an A, and some do not.
Frequently asked questions
What if the result is over 100%?
It means the grade you want cannot be reached by the final alone. Ask whether extra credit is available, or choose a lower target grade from the table.
Where do I find the final exam weight?
Look at the grading breakdown in your syllabus or your school's online gradebook.
Can I use points instead of percentages?
Yes. Enter your grade and goal as percentages, then type the points possible on the final to see the points you need.
Does the calculator round the result?
The needed score is shown to one decimal place. Instructors round differently, so be careful with a result close to a grade boundary.
What if my class has a weighted category system?
Use your gradebook's current overall percentage. Most gradebooks already apply the category weights for you.
What if I skip the final?
A missing final counts as a zero in most classes. The last table shows what that would do to your grade.