How to use the grade calculator
- Choose Current grade to combine your category scores, or Score needed on final to plan for the last exam.
- For the current grade, enter each category from your syllabus (homework, quizzes, exams), its weight as a percentage of the course, and your score in it as a percentage. Leave unused rows blank.
- For the final exam, enter your current grade, the final exam weight and the grade you want in the course.
- Read the result, the letter grade and the tables of what you need for an A, B, C or D.
How a weighted grade is calculated
Each category counts in proportion to its weight. Dividing by the weights entered so far, not by 100, gives your grade on the work that's been marked. That's the number most online gradebooks show during the term. The same sum tells you how many points toward the course total you've already banked, which is what the "needed" formulas use.
Worked example
The calculator starts with four graded categories, worth 75% of the course in total:
| Category | Weight | Score | Weight × score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homework | 20% | 92% | 1,840 |
| Quizzes | 15% | 85% | 1,275 |
| Midterm exam | 25% | 78% | 1,950 |
| Project | 15% | 88% | 1,320 |
| Total | 75% | 6,385 |
- Current grade: 6,385 ÷ 75 = 85.13%, a B.
- Points banked: 6,385 ÷ 100 = 63.85 out of the 75 available so far.
- For a B (80%) overall, the remaining 25% needs an average of (8,000 − 6,385) ÷ 25 = 64.6%.
- For an A (90%), it needs (9,000 − 6,385) ÷ 25 = 104.6%, which isn't possible without extra credit.
The final exam mode starts with a current grade of 84%, a final worth 25% and a target of 85%. Your current grade counts for the other 75%, so it contributes 84 × 0.75 = 63 points. The final must supply 85 − 63 = 22 points, and 22 ÷ 0.25 = 88% on the final.
Letter grade scale
| Letter | Percentage | Letter | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97 and up | C+ | 77–79.99 |
| A | 93–96.99 | C | 73–76.99 |
| A− | 90–92.99 | C− | 70–72.99 |
| B+ | 87–89.99 | D+ | 67–69.99 |
| B | 83–86.99 | D | 63–66.99 |
| B− | 80–82.99 | D− | 60–62.99 |
| F | Below 60 |
This is a common U.S. scale, but instructors set their own cutoffs and some round up, so 89.5% may count as an A− in one class and a B+ in another. Your syllabus has the rule for your course. To turn letter grades into a grade point average, use the GPA calculator.
Common mistakes
- Averaging the scores without weights. The four scores above average 85.75%, but the weighted grade is 85.13% because the lower midterm score is worth more.
- Dividing by 100 too early. If only 75% of the course is graded, divide by 75. Dividing by 100 gives 63.85%, which treats the unmarked work as zeros.
- Mixing points and percentages. Convert each category to a percentage first. A quiz score of 17 out of 20 is 85%.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my grade with weighted categories?
Multiply each category's score by its weight, add the results, and divide by the total weight. For homework at 92% worth 20% and a midterm at 78% worth 25%: (92 × 20 + 78 × 25) ÷ 45 = 84.2%.
What do I need on my final to pass?
Use the final exam mode with your current grade, the final's weight, and the passing grade, often 60% or 70%. With 84% now and a final worth 25%, you'd finish above 60% even with a 0 on the final, but skipping it is never a good plan.
What if my weights don't add up to 100%?
That's normal mid-term: the missing part is work that hasn't been graded yet. The calculator shows your grade on what's been marked and how much is still to come. If your weights add up to more than 100%, one of them is wrong, so check the syllabus.
Can a score be over 100%?
Yes, if your instructor gives extra credit, and the calculator accepts scores up to 150%. When a target needs more than 100% on the remaining work, the calculator says so, so you know it can't be reached without extra credit.
Related calculators
- GPA Calculator — Semester and cumulative GPA on the 4.0 scale with plus and minus grades, for up to 10 courses.
- Percentage Calculator — Percent of a number, what percent one number is of another, percentage change and difference.
- Average Calculator — The mean of a list of numbers with the working shown, plus a weighted average for grades and scores.
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