Final Grade Calculator
To find what you need on your final, take your target grade, subtract your current grade times the share of the class that is not the final, and divide by the final’s weight. Enter your numbers to see the score you need for every letter grade.
You need on the final
110%
You would need 110% on the final, which is more than full marks, so 90% is out of reach with the final alone. The best you can finish with is 88%, with 100% on the final.
| Letter | Lowest grade | Needed on the final |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97% | 145%: not possible |
| A | 93% | 125%: not possible |
| A- | 90% | 110%: not possible |
| B+ | 87% | 95% |
| B | 83% | 75% |
| B- | 80% | 60% |
| C+ | 77% | 45% |
| C | 73% | 25% |
| C- | 70% | 10% |
| D+ | 67% | Already secured |
| D | 63% | Already secured |
| D- | 60% | Already secured |
If you get 75% on the final, your grade will be 83% (B).
How do I work out what I need on my final?
Needed on the final = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w, where w is the final’s weight as a decimal (20% = 0.2).
Worked example. Your grade now is 85%, the final is worth 20% (w = 0.2) and you want 90%.
The part of the class that is not the final is worth 1 − 0.2 = 0.8. Your current grade brings 85 × 0.8 = 68 points.
You still need 90 − 68 = 22. Divide by 0.2: 110%. That is more than full marks, so a 90% is not possible. For an 80% you would need (80 − 68) ÷ 0.2 = 60%.
To check a score the other way round, the grade after the final is current × (1 − w) + final × w. A 75% on this final gives 85 × 0.8 + 75 × 0.2 = 83%.
How much can one final change my grade?
Less than most people fear, and more than some hope. Every point on the final moves your class grade by the final’s weight. With a final worth 20%, scoring 10 points higher moves your grade 2 points. With a final worth 40%, it moves 4 points. That is why a big jump, like from a C to an A, usually is not possible in the last week, while moving up one letter often is.
What if my current grade already includes some of the final?
Use the grade your teacher shows before the final is graded. Most online gradebooks scale your grade to the work graded so far, the same way our grade calculator does when your weights add up to less than 100%. If you are not sure, work out your current grade from your scores first, then come back here.
What if the final counts as a category, like “Exams 30%”?
Then the final shares its category with your other exams. Work out what the category average needs to be with the weighted grade calculator, or ask your teacher how much of the grade the final itself is worth.
Questions about your final
What do I need on my final to get an A?
It depends on your grade now and how much the final is worth. With an 85% and a final worth 20%, you need 110% for a 90% (an A-), which is more than full marks, so an A- is out of reach. The same student needs 60% for an 80% (a B-). Type your own numbers above to see every letter.
How do I calculate what I need on my final?
Needed = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w, where w is the final’s weight as a decimal (20% is 0.2). Example: (90 − 85 × 0.8) ÷ 0.2 = (90 − 68) ÷ 0.2 = 110%.
What if it says I need more than 100%?
Then that grade cannot be reached with the final alone, even with full marks. The calculator says so plainly and shows the best grade you can still finish with. Extra credit, a curve or a retake policy could change that, so ask your teacher.
What does “already secured” mean?
It means you keep that grade even with a 0% on the final, because your current grade is high enough. The number would be zero or below. You should still take the final: many schools need it to pass the class.
How much will my final exam change my grade?
Each point on the final moves your grade by the final’s weight. If the final is worth 20%, every 10 points on the final moves your grade 2 points. A final worth 40% moves it 4 points per 10.
My class uses points, not weights. What do I type?
Work out the weight as the final’s points divided by all the points in the class, including the final. A 200-point final in a class of 1,000 points is worth 20%. Your current grade is your points so far divided by the points possible so far.