Grade Calculator
Your weighted course grade so far, and exactly what you need on what's left.
In short
Each component contributes score × weight. To find what you need on a final, use (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w, where w is the final's weight as a decimal. A result above 100% means the target is unreachable.
Last reviewed
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Weighted grades, and why averages mislead
Most courses weight components differently. Each contributes
score × weight to your total.
| Component | Score | Weight | Contributes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homework | 95% | 15% | 14.25 |
| Quizzes | 88% | 15% | 13.20 |
| Midterm | 74% | 25% | 18.50 |
| Final | 80% | 35% | 28.00 |
| Participation | 100% | 10% | 10.00 |
| Total | — | 100% | 83.95% |
The plain average of those five scores is 87.4%. The weighted grade is 83.95%. The difference is entirely down to the midterm being worth more than the things you did well on. And the weighted figure is the one that goes on your transcript.
Where your effort actually pays
This is the practical use of the arithmetic. Ten extra percentage points on a component worth 10% of the course moves your final grade by one point. The same ten points on something worth 40% moves it by four.
So before spending a weekend perfecting a low-weight assignment, check what it's worth. Syllabi publish the weights precisely so you can make that call, and almost nobody reads them.
The final-exam question
The formula everyone wants:
Needed = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w
where w = the final's weight as a decimal
With 78% going in, wanting 85%, and a final worth 30%: you'd need
(85 − 78 × 0.7) ÷ 0.3 = 101.3%. Which is to say: not happening without
extra credit.
That's worth knowing early rather than late. A target that requires more than 100% is out of reach, and the honest move is to redirect the effort, to another course, or to whatever grade is still achievable.
Common US letter boundaries
| Grade | % | Grade | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 93–100 | C | 73–76 |
| A− | 90–92 | C− | 70–72 |
| B+ | 87–89 | D+ | 67–69 |
| B | 83–86 | D | 63–66 |
| B− | 80–82 | D− | 60–62 |
| C+ | 77–79 | F | Below 60 |
These vary. Some institutions set an A at 90 flat, some use no plus/minus, and UK, Indian and European systems work on entirely different scales. A UK first-class degree starts at 70%, which under US boundaries would be a C−. Always check your own syllabus.
Reading a syllabus properly, once
- The weights. Where the marks actually are.
- Dropped scores. Many courses drop the lowest quiz. Which changes the arithmetic and means one bad week may not matter.
- Rounding. Does 89.5% become an A−, or is the boundary hard? It decides whether half a point is worth chasing.
- Late penalties. Often a fixed percentage per day, which compounds fast.
- Curves. If the course is curved, the raw percentage is not the final word.
- Minimum requirements. Some courses require a passing grade on the final regardless of your overall total.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need on the final to pass?
Use the "what do I need" mode. Enter your current grade, what the final is worth, and the grade you want. It solves for the mark required. And tells you plainly when the target is out of reach, which is more useful than a hopeful number.
How does weighting work?
Each component contributes its percentage of the total. If homework is 20% and you scored 90%, that contributes 18 points. Add every component's contribution to get the course grade. A 90% on something worth 10% moves your grade far less than a 70% on something worth 40%.
Do the weights have to total 100%?
Ideally yes. If they don't, because you have only entered some components so far. The tool shows your grade on the portion completed, which tells you how you are doing rather than what you will finish with. Both figures are displayed.
Why is my average different from my weighted grade?
A plain average treats every score equally. Weighted grading does not. Scoring 100% on five small quizzes and 50% on a final worth half the course gives a plain average of 91% but a weighted grade of 75%. The weighted figure is the one on your transcript.
Does this match my school's grade boundaries?
The letter boundaries used here are the common US convention (A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80 and so on). Many institutions differ, and UK, Indian and European systems differ entirely. The percentage is universal, check the letter against your syllabus.