School and grades
Final Grade Calculator
The score you need on the final to pass or reach your goal
This final grade calculator tells you what you need on the final exam. Enter your current grade, how much the final is worth and the grade you want, all in percent, and you get the score you need right away.
The key idea
Keeping your grade is not about scoring the same on the final: it depends on its weight
If the final is worth 25% and you have an 88%, you need a 96% on the final to finish with a 90%. To keep at least an 80%, a 56% is enough. The formula is (goal − (1 − weight) × current grade) / weight: the more the final is worth, the less your current grade protects you.
How it is calculated
Your final grade is a weighted average of your current grade and the final exam. If the final is worth a share w of the course:
Final grade = (1 − w) × current grade + w × final exam score
Solving for the final exam score:
Final exam score = (goal − (1 − w) × current grade) / w
Use percentages for everything. Each teacher sets how grades are weighted, whether they round and what counts as passing: check your syllabus.
Worked example
You have an 88%, the final is worth 25% and you want a 90%:
(90 − 0.75 × 88) / 0.25 = (90 − 66) / 0.25 = 24 / 0.25 = 96%
To keep at least an 80%, you would only need (80 − 66) / 0.25 = 56%.
Typical cases
What you need on your final exam
The score you need on a final worth 25% of your grade, by your current grade and the grade you want. "Out of reach" means even a 100% will not get you there; 0% means you already have it.
| Current grade | To finish with 70% | To finish with 80% | To finish with 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70% | 70.00% | Out of reach | Out of reach |
| 75% | 55.00% | 95.00% | Out of reach |
| 80% | 40.00% | 80.00% | Out of reach |
| 85% | 25.00% | 65.00% | Out of reach |
| 88% | 16.00% | 56.00% | 96.00% |
| 90% | 10.00% | 50.00% | 90.00% |
| 92% | 4.00% | 44.00% | 84.00% |
| 95% | 0.00% | 35.00% | 75.00% |
Save or share this table as an image Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the score I need on the final?
Subtract what your current grade already contributes from the grade you want, then divide by the weight of the final. As a formula: (goal − (1 − weight) × current grade) / weight.
What do I need on the final if I have an 88% and it is worth 25%?
You need a 96% to finish with a 90% and a 56% to keep an 80%. Your current grade contributes 0.75 × 88 = 66 points, and the rest has to come from the final.
What if the final has a minimum score?
Then you need at least that score, even if the calculator says less. Some courses require you to pass the final to pass the class: check your syllabus or ask your teacher.
What do I enter as my current grade if I have several categories?
Enter the weighted average of everything except the final, as a percent. Most online gradebooks show it; a common mistake is to enter total points instead of a percent.
What does it mean when even a 100% will not get me there?
It means the grade you want is out of reach with your current grade: even with a perfect final, your course grade stays below it. In that case we show you the highest grade you can still reach.
Does it work with letter grades?
Yes, if you turn the letters into percentages first: for example, if your class uses 90% for an A, enter 90 as your goal. Scales vary by school, so check yours; the letter grade calculator shows a typical one.
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