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Drop Lowest Grade Calculator
Many syllabi drop your lowest quiz or homework score. With equal-value scores, the score to drop is simply the lowest percentage. With total-points grading it is not always that one, because a large assignment you did badly on can cost more points than a small one with a lower percent. This calculator tries every possible combination of 1, 2 or 3 drops and shows the one that leaves the highest category average.
Enter each score as points earned and points possible. Then choose whether the category is averaged by total points (earned ÷ possible) or with each score counting equally (the mean of the percentages). The result shows your average before and after, which scores were dropped, and whether dropping the lowest percentage would have been worse.
Worked example: quizzes of 18/20, 12/20, 45/50, 4/10 and 24/40 total 103/140 = 73.6%. Dropping the lowest percentage, 4/10 (40%), gives 99/130 = 76.2%. Dropping the 24/40 (60%) removes 16 lost points instead of 6 and gives 79/100 = 79.0%, so the best score to drop is not the lowest percentage.
Result and step-by-step working
Before: 73.57% · change: +5.43 points · dropped: Quiz 5
| Score | Earned / possible | Percent | Dropped? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz 1 | 18 / 20 | 90.0% | |
| Quiz 2 | 12 / 20 | 60.0% | |
| Quiz 3 | 45 / 50 | 90.0% | |
| Quiz 4 | 4 / 10 | 40.0% | |
| Quiz 5 | 24 / 40 | 60.0% | dropped |
- Average with every scoreTotal earned ÷ total possible = 73.57%.
- Try every way to drop 1The calculator checks each combination and keeps the one that leaves the highest average: Quiz 5.
- ResultNew average = 79.00%. Note: dropping the lowest percentage instead would give only 76.15%, because with total points a big low-scoring assignment can hurt more than a small one.
Frequently asked questions
- Does my teacher drop the lowest percentage or the lowest points?
- It depends on the course. Many learning systems (Canvas, Blackboard) can drop the score that helps you most or the lowest percentage. Check the syllabus or ask; this calculator shows both outcomes.
- How much does dropping one grade help?
- With n equal scores, dropping one removes 1/n of the weight. The fewer scores and the lower the dropped one, the bigger the jump. The result line shows the change in percentage points.
- Does the dropped score still count toward my final grade?
- No. A dropped score is removed from the category, and the category’s weight is then applied to the new average.
- Can I drop a zero for a missing assignment?
- Usually yes, if the policy is “drop the lowest”. Some teachers exclude missing work from being dropped. Enter it as 0 out of its points to see the effect.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026. Calculations run in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.