Enter your current grade, how much the final exam is worth and the course grade you want. The calculator shows the exact score you need on the final, the working behind it, and the score needed for every letter grade, so you can see at a glance whether an A is still possible or a B is safe.
What do I need on my final?
Required final = (85 − 84 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = 88%. To finish with 85% (B) you need 88% on a final worth 25% of the course. That is within reach.
Range: a 0% on the final leaves you at 63%; a 100% lifts you to 88%.
| Course grade you want | Score needed on the final |
|---|---|
| A (93%) | 120% (needs extra credit) |
| A- (90%) | 108% (needs extra credit) |
| B+ (87%) | 96% |
| B (83%) | 80% |
| B- (80%) | 68% |
| C+ (77%) | 56% |
| C (73%) | 40% |
| C- (70%) | 28% |
| D (63%) | Already secured |
The final grade formula
Required final score = (grade you want − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight, with the weight written as a decimal (25% = 0.25).
The part of your grade that is already earned is current grade × (1 − weight). The final has to make up the difference between that and the grade you want, and it can only move your grade by its weight.
Worked example
You have an 84% and the final is worth 25%. Your coursework is locked in at 84 × 0.75 = 63 points. To finish with an 85% you need (85 − 63) ÷ 0.25 = 88% on the final. A 0 on the final would leave you at 63%, and a perfect 100% would take you to 88%.
| Course grade you want | Score needed on a 25% final (current grade 84%) |
|---|---|
| A (93%) | 120% (not possible without extra credit) |
| A- (90%) | 108% (not possible without extra credit) |
| B+ (87%) | 96% |
| B (83%) | 80% |
| B- (80%) | 68% |
| C+ (77%) | 56% |
| C (73%) | 40% |
| C- (70%) | 28% |
| D (63%) | Already secured |
Grade scale used
The table in the result uses the common US scale, where the lowest score for each letter is:
| Letter grade | Percentage | GPA points (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100 | 4.0 |
| A | 93–96 | 4.0 |
| A- | 90–92 | 3.7 |
| B+ | 87–89 | 3.3 |
| B | 83–86 | 3.0 |
| B- | 80–82 | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79 | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76 | 2.0 |
| C- | 70–72 | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69 | 1.3 |
| D | 63–66 | 1.0 |
| D- | 60–62 | 0.7 |
| F | Below 60 | 0.0 |
If your school uses a different cut-off, type that number as the grade you want, for example 94 for an A.
Tips for using the result
- Use the grade shown in your gradebook right before the final, after all other work is graded.
- If your final is worth points rather than a percentage, divide its points by the total course points to get the weight.
- If several assignments are still ungraded, enter each with its weight in the grade calculator and use its planner instead.
- For a class split into semesters or quarters, the semester grade calculator handles the extra step.
Related calculators
- Grade Calculator: weighted and unweighted course grade.
- Final Exam Grade Calculator: more modes for the final exam.
- Weighted Final Grade Calculator: course grade from weighted categories.
- Grade Average Calculator: average a list of grades.
- Target GPA Calculator: grades needed for a GPA goal.
- All general grade calculators
Frequently asked questions
What do I need on my final to get an A?
Use 93% (or 90% for an A-) as the grade you want. With an 84% going in and a final worth 25%, you would need (93 − 84 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = 120% for an A and 108% for an A-, so without extra credit a B+ (96% needed) is the realistic ceiling.
What does it mean if the required score is over 100%?
It means the target cannot be reached with the final alone: even a perfect score leaves you short. Ask about extra credit or a curve, or lower the target to the next letter grade, which the table shows.
Where do I find the weight of my final exam?
It is in the course syllabus or gradebook, usually written as a percentage such as “final exam 25%”. If your class is points-based, divide the final’s points by the course’s total points and multiply by 100.
What happens to my grade if I get a 0 on the final?
Your grade becomes current grade × (1 − final weight). With an 84% and a 25% final, a zero leaves you at 63%, a D. The result box shows this range for your own numbers.
How do I know my current grade?
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 with that percentage.