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Out of 20 Grade Calculator
Enter your points and this calculator turns a score out of 20 into a percentage and a letter grade. It also shows how many more points you needed for the next letter. The formula is score ÷ 20 × 100. For example, 17 out of 20 is 17 ÷ 20 = 0.85, and 0.85 × 100 = 85%, which is a B on the College Board style scale and a B on a plain 10-point scale.
A score out of 20 is also the standard marking scale in France and several other countries, where 10/20 is the usual pass. That system is not the same as US letter grades, so the letters here apply to US-style classes only. Each point out of 20 is worth exactly 5%.
On a plain 10-point scale you need 18/20 for an A (90%), 16 for a B, 14 for a C and 12 for a D. The College Board style scale adds plus and minus grades and moves the D cut-off to 65%, which is 13/20. Schools set their own scales, so use the one in your syllabus if it differs. If your test had a different total, for example extra-credit questions, change the ‘Out of’ box and the calculator still works.
Result and step-by-step working
Letter grade: B on the College Board style (A+ 97, A 93, A− 90 … D 65) scale
- Divide the score by the total17 ÷ 20 = 0.85.
- Multiply by 1000.85 × 100 = 85% (3 points lost, 15% of the total).
- Look up the letter85% is a B. The next letter, B+, starts at 87%, which is 17.4 out of 20 (0.4 more points).
| Letter | Starts at | Minimum score out of 20 |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97% | 19.4 |
| A | 93% | 18.6 |
| A− | 90% | 18 |
| B+ | 87% | 17.4 |
| B | 83% | 16.6 |
| B− | 80% | 16 |
| C+ | 77% | 15.4 |
| C | 73% | 14.6 |
| C− | 70% | 14 |
| D+ | 67% | 13.4 |
| D | 65% | 13 |
Out of 20 grade chart
Every score (in half points) from 20 down to 0, with the percentage and the letter grade on two common US scales. College Board style: A+ 97, A 93, A− 90, B+ 87, B 83, B− 80, C+ 77, C 73, C− 70, D+ 67, D 65, F below 65. Plain 10-point: A 90, B 80, C 70, D 60, F below 60.
| Score | Percent | Letter (College Board style) | Letter (plain 10-point) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/20 | 100% | A+ | A |
| 19.5/20 | 97.5% | A+ | A |
| 19/20 | 95% | A | A |
| 18.5/20 | 92.5% | A− | A |
| 18/20 | 90% | A− | A |
| 17.5/20 | 87.5% | B+ | B |
| 17/20 | 85% | B | B |
| 16.5/20 | 82.5% | B− | B |
| 16/20 | 80% | B− | B |
| 15.5/20 | 77.5% | C+ | C |
| 15/20 | 75% | C | C |
| 14.5/20 | 72.5% | C− | C |
| 14/20 | 70% | C− | C |
| 13.5/20 | 67.5% | D+ | D |
| 13/20 | 65% | D | D |
| 12.5/20 | 62.5% | F | D |
| 12/20 | 60% | F | D |
| 11.5/20 | 57.5% | F | F |
| 11/20 | 55% | F | F |
| 10.5/20 | 52.5% | F | F |
| 10/20 | 50% | F | F |
| 9.5/20 | 47.5% | F | F |
| 9/20 | 45% | F | F |
| 8.5/20 | 42.5% | F | F |
| 8/20 | 40% | F | F |
| 7.5/20 | 37.5% | F | F |
| 7/20 | 35% | F | F |
| 6.5/20 | 32.5% | F | F |
| 6/20 | 30% | F | F |
| 5.5/20 | 27.5% | F | F |
| 5/20 | 25% | F | F |
| 4.5/20 | 22.5% | F | F |
| 4/20 | 20% | F | F |
| 3.5/20 | 17.5% | F | F |
| 3/20 | 15% | F | F |
| 2.5/20 | 12.5% | F | F |
| 2/20 | 10% | F | F |
| 1.5/20 | 7.5% | F | F |
| 1/20 | 5% | F | F |
| 0.5/20 | 2.5% | F | F |
| 0/20 | 0% | F | F |
Frequently asked questions
- What is 16 out of 20 as a percentage?
- 16 ÷ 20 × 100 = 80%. That is a B− on the College Board style scale and a B on a plain 10-point scale.
- What is 15 out of 20 as a percentage?
- 15 ÷ 20 × 100 = 75%. That is a C on the College Board style scale and a C on a plain 10-point scale.
- What is 14 out of 20 as a percentage?
- 14 ÷ 20 × 100 = 70%. That is a C− on the College Board style scale and a C on a plain 10-point scale.
- How many points can I lose out of 20 and still get an A?
- An A starts at 90% on a plain 10-point scale, which is 18/20. With whole-point marking you can lose 2 points. On the College Board style scale an A (not A−) starts at 93%, which is 18.6/20.
- What is a passing score out of 20?
- With a 60% pass mark you need 12/20. With a 65% pass mark, as on the College Board style scale, you need 13/20. Some courses pass at 50% (10/20); check your syllabus.
Last reviewed: October 9, 2026. Calculations run in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.