Final Grade Calculator
Find out what you need on your final exam, and what your course grade will be for any score.
Course grade: 85.2% (B)
Score needed for each letter grade
| Letter | Course grade | Final score needed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97% | 127.33% | Out of reach |
| A | 93% | 114% | Out of reach |
| A- | 90% | 104% | Out of reach |
| B+ | 87% | 94% | Needs 90% or more |
| B | 83% | 80.67% | Reachable |
| B- | 80% | 70.67% | Reachable |
| C+ | 77% | 60.67% | Reachable |
| C | 73% | 47.33% | Reachable |
| C- | 70% | 37.33% | Reachable |
| D+ | 67% | 27.33% | Reachable |
| D | 63% | 14% | Reachable |
| D- | 60% | 4% | Reachable |
Common US plus/minus cut-offs. Your school's scale may differ.
Don't know your current grade? Work it out from your assignments with the grade calculator.
How the final exam changes your grade
Your course grade after the final is a weighted average of two numbers: the grade you have now and your final exam score. If the final is worth 30%, everything else is worth 70%, so the course grade is current × 0.7 + final × 0.3. Rearranging that for the final gives the score you need: (target − current × 0.7) ÷ 0.3.
The weight matters more than people expect. With an 84% and a target of 90%, a final worth 30% needs 104%, which is out of reach. If the same final were worth 50%, you would need 96%. A heavy final makes both rescue and collapse possible; a light one mostly locks in the grade you already have.
The calculation assumes your current grade already reflects everything except the final. If more assignments are still to come, enter them in the grade calculator first, or treat the answer as a rough guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate what I need on my final?
Required score = (target grade − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight, with the weight as a decimal. With an 84% now, a final worth 30%, and a target of 90%: (90 − 84 × 0.7) ÷ 0.3 = (90 − 58.8) ÷ 0.3 = 104%. Above 100% means the target cannot be reached without extra credit.
What does "current grade" mean here?
Your grade in the course right now, from everything except the final, as a percentage. Most online gradebooks show it. If yours does not, work it out from your assignment scores and weights with the grade calculator, then come back.
What if my final is worth points instead of a percentage?
Convert it: the final's weight is its points divided by the total points in the course. A 150-point final in a 500-point course is worth 30%. Your current grade is the points you have earned divided by the points available so far.
What happens if I fail the final?
Type your expected score into "If I score this on the final" to see your course grade. With an 84% and a final worth 30%, a 50 on the final gives 84 × 0.7 + 50 × 0.3 = 73.8%. Some courses also require passing the final to pass the class, whatever your average, so check your syllabus.
Which letter grade scale does the table use?
A common US plus/minus scale: A+ from 97, A from 93, A− from 90, and so on down to D− from 60. Schools and instructors set their own cut-offs, so check your syllabus and type your exact target into the calculator if yours differs.