Final Grade Calculator
Enter your current grade, the course grade you want and how much the final exam is worth, and get the exact score you need on the final — or a clear answer that the target is already secured or out of reach. A table shows the score needed for a 90, 80, 70 and 60. Free, no sign-up.
105.0%
Required final exam score
25%
Final exam weight
This target is not possible with the final exam alone — it would require a score above 100%. Consider a lower target or ask about extra credit.
Required Scores for Common Targets
Based on your current grade of 85% and a final worth 25% of the course.
| Target grade | Required final score |
|---|---|
| 90% | Not possible |
| 80% | 65.0% |
| 70% | 25.0% |
| 60% | Already secured |
How to Use the Final Grade Calculator
- 1. Enter your current grade. This is your percentage on everything graded before the final. Your online gradebook may show it, or you can compute it with the Weighted Grade Calculator by leaving the final blank.
- 2. Enter the grade you want. Type the course percentage you are aiming for, such as 90 for an A-.
- 3. Enter the final's weight. Use the percentage of the course grade that the final is worth (1–100), as printed in the syllabus.
- 4. Read the answer. You get the minimum final score, rounded to one decimal, or a message that the target is already secured or not possible. The table underneath repeats the calculation for 90, 80, 70 and 60 using your current grade and weight.
The Formula
The course grade is a weighted mix of your current grade and the final: target = current × (1 − w) + final × w, where w is the final's weight written as a decimal (25% is 0.25). Solving for the final gives required = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w.
Current grade 82%, final worth 30%
To finish on 85: (85 − 82 × 0.70) ÷ 0.30 = (85 − 57.4) ÷ 0.30 = 92.0% on the final
For a 90: (90 − 57.4) ÷ 0.30 = 108.7%, which is not possible without extra credit
For an 80: (80 − 57.4) ÷ 0.30 = 75.3%
For a 70: (70 − 57.4) ÷ 0.30 = 42.0%
For a 60: (60 − 57.4) ÷ 0.30 = 8.7%
These five lines are exactly what the calculator shows for those inputs. Two edge cases are handled for you: a required score of zero or below means even a 0 on the final would not drop you under the target, and a score above 100 means the target cannot be reached with the final alone.
What Counts as the Current Grade
- Only the work before the final. If the final is 30% of the course, your current grade is your average on the other 70%, expressed as a percentage of that 70%. The calculator then gives that part a weight of 1 − 0.30.
- Not the grade so far with the final counted as zero. A gradebook that shows 57.4 out of 100 because the final is empty is not the number to enter; the figure to enter is 82.
- Extra credit. The current grade box accepts values up to 150, so a grade above 100 from extra credit can be entered.
- Rounding is your instructor's call. Some round 89.5 up to 90, some do not. Aim a little above the cut-off if the margin matters.
Which Grade Tool Do You Need?
| You want to know | Use |
|---|---|
| The final score for a target course grade | This Final Grade Calculator |
| Your current grade from weighted categories | Weighted Grade Calculator |
| The score needed on the next test to raise an equal-weight test average | Test Average Calculator |
| The letter grade for a given percentage | Letter Grade Calculator |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I calculate what I need on my final?
- Use required = (target − current × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight, with the weight as a decimal. With an 82 current grade, a 30% final and an 85 target, that is (85 − 57.4) ÷ 0.30 = 92.0. The calculator applies it as you type.
- What if the required score is over 100%?
- The target cannot be reached with the final exam alone. Choose a lower target, ask your instructor whether extra credit or a replacement policy applies, or check whether other graded work is still to come that you could raise.
- What if the required score is zero or negative?
- Your target is already secured: even a 0 on the final would leave your course grade at or above it. That is only true if the weight and current grade you entered match your syllabus.
- How much is a final exam usually worth?
- It varies widely by course and school. Some finals are 10% to 20% of the grade, others 30% to 40%, and a few courses are decided mostly by one exam. Always take the weight from your syllabus.
- What do I need on my final to pass?
- Type your school's passing percentage, often 60 or 70, as the target. With a current grade of 82 and a 30% final, passing at 60 needs only 8.7%. If you do not know the cut-off, ask your instructor or check the syllabus.
- Where do I find my current grade?
- Check the online gradebook for a grade that excludes the final, or compute it from your category scores and weights with the Weighted Grade Calculator, leaving the final blank. Enter that result here.