Grade Calculator
It does the two things students actually need: your weighted grade from the work marked so far, and the exact score you need on the final to reach the grade you want.
Your grade on the work marked so far
85.17%
Current grade
85.17%
Letter
B
Weight graded
60%
Weight remaining
40%
Items counted
3
Course complete
No
What it calculates
It does the two things students actually need: your weighted grade from the work marked so far, and the exact score you need on the final to reach the grade you want.
Why it matters
Course grades are weighted, so a 20% homework score and a 40% final are not comparable. Knowing what the final actually requires turns panic into a plan.
Who it's for
Students at any level tracking a course, and anyone working out whether a target grade is still reachable.
Formula
- wᵢ
- Weight of each graded item
- sᵢ
- Score on that item
- w
- Weight of the final exam
- T
- Target overall grade
Worked example
85% going in, final worth 30%, targeting 90% overall
- 1Everything but the final contributes 85 × 0.70 = 59.5
- 2The final must supply 90 − 59.5 = 30.5
- 3Required = 30.5 ÷ 0.30
101.7% — not reachable, so the target has to move
How the grade calculator works
The current grade is a weighted average over the work marked so far, dividing by the weight used rather than by 100 — scoring 90% on the 40% graded is a 90, not a 36. For the final, solving target = current × (1 − w) + final × w gives the score needed. A result above 100 means the target is out of reach; below 0 means it is already locked in whatever happens on the exam.
The current grade is a weighted average over the work marked so far, dividing by the weight used rather than by 100 — scoring 90% on the 40% graded is a 90, not a 36.
For the exam, solving target = current × (1 − w) + final × w gives the score you need. Above 100 means the target is out of reach; below 0 means it is already secured.
Common mistakes
- Averaging scores without weighting, which flatters a good mark on a small assignment.
- Dividing by 100 mid-semester and panicking at an artificially low number.
- Forgetting that some courses drop the lowest score, which changes the weights.
Tips and best practice
- Check your syllabus for dropped scores or extra credit before trusting any figure.
- If the required final score is above about 95%, plan for the grade below and treat the target as a stretch.
- The minimum possible grade is worth knowing too — it shows what you keep even in the worst case.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need on my final exam?
Solve target = current × (1 − final weight) + final score × final weight. With 85% going in and a final worth 30%, reaching 90% overall needs 101.7% — out of reach.
How do I calculate my current grade?
Multiply each score by its weight, add them up, and divide by the total weight used so far — not by 100. That gives your standing on the work actually marked.
What if the score I need is over 100?
The target is no longer reachable through the final alone. Check for extra credit, and recalculate against the next grade down.
What if the required score is negative?
The grade is already secured. Even scoring zero on the final leaves you at or above your target.
Does this handle dropped lowest scores?
Not automatically. Leave the dropped item out of your entries and the weights will reflect what actually counts.
Related calculators
Methodology & trust
- Formula source
- Standard weighted-average grading arithmetic.
- Last updated
- 2026-07-28
- Privacy
- Every calculation runs in your browser. No inputs are sent to a server or stored.
- Accessibility
- Keyboard navigable, labeled inputs and WCAG AA color contrast.