Grade Calculator

How to use this calculator

Enter your current grade in the course as a percentage, the overall grade you want to finish with, and the share of your total grade that the final exam is worth. Press the button and the tool tells you the exact score you need on that final. If the number comes back above 100%, the target is out of reach with the final alone; if it comes back at or below zero, you have already secured your target no matter how the final goes. It is the quickest way to know what is actually on the line before an exam.

The formula explained

Your final grade is a weighted blend of work so far and the final exam:

required = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w

Here w is the final's weight written as a decimal (30% becomes 0.30). The part of your grade already locked in is your current grade times everything that is not the final, which is (1 − w). Subtracting that from your target leaves how much the final must contribute, and dividing by the final's weight converts it into the score you need on that one exam.

A worked example

Say your current grade is 85%, you want 90%, and the final is worth 30%. The locked-in part is 85 × 0.70 = 59.5. You need 90 − 59.5 = 30.5 from the final, and 30.5 ÷ 0.30 = 101.7%. Since that is above 100%, a 90% overall is not possible from the final alone — you would need extra credit or to aim a little lower. The calculator flags cases like this automatically.

Frequently asked questions

What grade do I need on my final?

Subtract your current grade's locked-in contribution from your target, then divide by the final's weight. This tool does it instantly.

What if it says over 100%?

Your target is not reachable with the final alone; you would need extra credit or a lower target.

How does the weight work?

It is the share of your overall grade the final is worth — say 30%. The remaining 70% is your current grade.