How to Use the Final Grade Calculator

Follow our step-by-step guide to calculate exactly what grade you need on your final exam or assignment.

1

Enter Your Current Grade

Input your current grade percentage in the course. This should be your grade before taking the final exam or completing the final assignment.

Example:

If you have an 85% average from all your assignments, quizzes, and midterms combined, enter 85 in the "Current Grade" field.

Tips:

  • Check your student portal or gradebook for your current percentage
  • If you only see letter grades, convert them to percentages (A = 90-100%, B = 80-89%, etc.)
  • Make sure this reflects your grade BEFORE the final exam
  • Round to one decimal place for accuracy
2

Set Your Target Final Grade

Enter the final grade you want to achieve in the course. This is your goal grade that will appear on your transcript.

Example:

If you want to finish the course with a 90% (A- grade), enter 90 in the "Desired Final Grade" field.

Common Target Grades:

  • A (90-100%): Excellent performance
  • B (80-89%): Good performance
  • C (70-79%): Satisfactory performance
  • Pass (60-70%): Minimum passing grade
3

Enter Final Exam Weight

Input what percentage of your total course grade the final exam or assignment represents. This information is usually found in your course syllabus.

Example:

If your syllabus states "Final Exam: 30% of total grade," enter 30 in the "Weight of Final Exam" field.

Where to Find This Information:

  • Course syllabus (most common location)
  • Course website or learning management system
  • Ask your instructor directly
  • Check previous assignments for grading breakdown
4

Calculate and Interpret Results

Click the "Calculate Required Grade" button to see what score you need on your final exam. The result will show different colors based on achievability.

Green Result (0-85%): Achievable with good preparation. You're in a great position!
Yellow Result (85-100%): Challenging but possible. Focus your study efforts and aim high.
Red Result (>100%): Not mathematically possible. Consider adjusting your target grade.

Next Steps:

  • Share your result with study partners
  • Download a copy for your records
  • Create a study plan based on your required score
  • Consider office hours if you need >100%

Understanding the Math Behind It

The Formula

Our calculator uses this weighted average formula:

Required Grade = (Target Grade - Current Grade × (100 - Final Weight)) ÷ Final Weight

This formula calculates exactly what you need to achieve your desired final grade.

Step-by-Step Example

Given:

  • Current Grade: 85%
  • Target Grade: 90%
  • Final Weight: 30%
Required = (90 - 85 × (100 - 30)) ÷ 30
Required = (90 - 85 × 70) ÷ 30
Required = (90 - 59.5) ÷ 30
Required = 30.5 ÷ 30
Required = 101.7%

In this example, you'd need 101.7% on your final, which isn't possible. You might want to adjust your target to 88% instead.

Pro Tips for Success

Before Using the Calculator

  • Double-check your current grade calculation
  • Verify the final exam weight in your syllabus
  • Consider any extra credit opportunities
  • Account for any dropped assignments

Interpreting Results

  • Green results (0-85%): You're in good shape!
  • Yellow results (85-100%): Challenging but doable
  • Red results (>100%): Time to reassess your goals
  • Consider the difficulty of your final exam

Study Strategy

  • Create a study schedule based on your required score
  • Focus on high-weight topics from the final
  • Form study groups with classmates
  • Attend review sessions and office hours

If You Need >100%

  • Talk to your professor about extra credit
  • Check if any assignments can be retaken
  • Consider adjusting your target grade
  • Focus on doing your absolute best

Ready to Calculate Your Grade?

Now that you know how to use our calculator, try it out with your course information.

Use Calculator Now