Final Grade Calculator
Use this final grade calculator to find out what score you need on your final exam to achieve your desired course grade. Enter your current grade, the percentage of your course grade already completed, and your target overall grade to calculate the score required on your remaining assessment.
How to Use the Final Grade Calculator
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Enter your current grade as a percentage.
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Enter the percentage of your total course grade that is already completed.
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Enter your desired overall course grade.
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Calculate the minimum score required on the remaining assessment.
Use the grading weights from your course syllabus. Your current grade should represent the average earned on the completed portion of the course, not an overall grade that already includes uncompleted assessments as zeros.
How to Calculate the Grade Needed on Your Final Exam
To calculate the score required on your final exam, you need three values: your current grade, the proportion of your course grade already completed, and your desired overall grade.
Final Exam Grade Formula
Required Final Exam Grade = (Desired Grade − Current Grade × Completed Weight) ÷ Remaining Weight
Enter the completed and remaining weights as decimals. For example, 70% becomes 0.70 and 30% becomes 0.30.
This formula assumes that the remaining course weight is the final exam and that the completed and remaining weights total 100%.
Final Grade Calculation Example
Suppose your current grade is 82%, 70% of your course grade is completed, and your final exam accounts for the remaining 30%. You want to finish the course with an 85%.
Using the formula:
Required Final Exam Grade = (85 − 82 × 0.70) ÷ 0.30
Required Final Exam Grade = (85 − 57.4) ÷ 0.30
Required Final Exam Grade = 27.6 ÷ 0.30
Required final exam score = 92%
You need to score 92% on your final exam to achieve an overall course grade of 85%, assuming the stated grades and weights are correct.
Grading Scale
This calculator uses the following default grading scale to convert percentages into letter grades:
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90%–100% | A |
| 80%–89.99% | B |
| 70%–79.99% | C |
| 60%–69.99% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Note: This calculator uses a default grading scale. Actual grade boundaries may vary by school, college, or university. Check your institution’s grading policy for official results.
What If the Required Grade Is Over 100%?
If the calculator returns a required score above 100%, your target is mathematically unattainable under the stated grading weights and a maximum possible score of 100%. Extra credit or other grading adjustments could change the outcome.
If the required score is 0% or less, you have already reached your target based on the completed work, even if you score zero on the remaining assessment. This assumes there are no additional grading requirements or penalties.
Current Grade vs. Final Grade
Your current grade represents your performance on the coursework included in your current average. Your final grade represents your overall result after the remaining assessments have been included according to their weights.
For example, an 82% current grade does not automatically mean you will finish with 82%. Your final result depends on the weight of the remaining assessments and the scores you earn on them.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate what I need on my final exam?
Subtract the weighted contribution of your completed coursework from your target grade, then divide the result by the final exam's weight. Enter weights as decimals when using this formula.
What grade do I need to get an A?
Enter the percentage required for an A under your school's grading scale as your desired overall grade. The calculator will estimate the score needed on your final exam to reach that target.
Can I pass the class if I fail the final exam?
That depends on your current grade, the final exam's weight, and the minimum overall grade required to pass. Enter your target passing grade to calculate the score you need. To check whether a zero on the final would still leave you passing, set the remaining assessment score to zero in the course-grade calculation.
Does this calculator work for college and high school?
Yes. You can use it for high school, college, and university courses that calculate grades using weighted percentages. Enter the grading weights specified by your instructor.
What if I have more than one assignment left?
The formula can be applied to multiple remaining assessments if you know their combined weight and can treat them as one remaining component with a single average score. If the assessments have different weights or separate scoring requirements, calculate the required weighted average for the remaining work or evaluate the assessments individually.
What is the difference between a final grade calculator and a weighted grade calculator?
A final grade calculator determines the score you need on remaining coursework to reach a target overall grade. A weighted grade calculator combines grades and their assigned weights to calculate a weighted average.
Note: Results are mathematical estimates based on the grades, target, and weights entered. Your instructor's grading policy, rounding rules, extra credit, and other course-specific adjustments may affect your official final grade.