How to use the grade calculator
- On the Course grade tab, type each Assignment, its Score (%) and its Weight (%) from your syllabus. Leave Score empty for work that is not graded yet.
- Read Grade so far, the letter grade and the 4.0 GPA points.
- Type a Target course grade to see the average you need on the ungraded work.
- Only need the final exam number? Open Final exam needed and enter your Current grade, Desired grade and Final exam weight.
How the grade is calculated
Grade = Σ (score × weight) ÷ Σ weight
Only rows with a score count toward Grade so far, so unfinished work does not drag your grade down. This is a standard weighted arithmetic mean. The final exam answer is (desired × 100 - current × (100 - weight)) ÷ weight, rounded up to the next hundredth of a percent so the score you see is enough. Letters use the common US plus and minus scale (listed under the calculator), which varies by school.
Worked example
The tool opens with Homework 92 (weight 20), Quizzes 85 (15), Midterm 1 78 (15), Midterm 2 81 (20) and an ungraded Final exam (30). The products add up to 1,840 + 1,275 + 1,170 + 1,620 = 5,905, and the graded weight is 70, so Grade so far is 5,905 ÷ 70 = 84.36%, a B worth 3.0 GPA points. For a target of 85%, you need (8,500 - 5,905) ÷ 30 = 86.5% on the final. On the Final exam needed tab, the starting values (82% current, 85% desired, 30% weight) give (8,500 - 82 × 70) ÷ 30 = 92%.
Limits and edge cases
- Letters compare your exact percentage with the cutoffs, so 89.99 is a B+. If your instructor rounds, curves or uses different cutoffs, follow the syllabus.
- Dropped lowest scores, curves and extra credit beyond 150% are not modeled. Enter the scores that will count.
- Weights that do not total 100 are scaled to your total, and the page tells you.
- Your GPA across several classes needs credit hours, so use the GPA calculator. For a weighted average of any numbers, try the average calculator, and to turn points into a percent use the percentage calculator.
Grade calculator FAQ
How do I calculate a weighted grade?
Multiply each score by its weight, add the products, and divide by the total of the weights you used. With the starting rows, 92 × 20 + 85 × 15 + 78 × 15 + 81 × 20 = 5,905, and 5,905 ÷ 70 is 84.36%.
What do I need on my final exam to get the grade I want?
Use (desired grade × 100 - current grade × (100 - final weight)) ÷ final weight. If you have 88% going in, the final is worth 30%, and you want 90%, you need (9,000 - 88 × 70) ÷ 30 = 94.67% on the final.
Do the weights have to add up to 100?
No. The calculator divides by the weights you enter, so any total works. If your rows cover the whole course and total 100, the result is your course grade. If they cover only part of it, the result is your grade on that work, and the page warns you when the total is not 100.
What if my class uses points instead of percentages?
Divide the points you earned by the points possible and multiply by 100 to get each score. If everything counts by points, use each item's point value as its weight. The calculator divides by the total weight, so 50-point and 200-point items work as they are.
What if the calculator says I need more than 100% on the final?
Then the target is out of reach unless your instructor offers extra credit. The calculator also shows what a perfect final would give you, so you can pick a target you can reach, such as the next letter grade down.
Sources: Weighted arithmetic mean; Academic grading in the United States. Your school's published scale always wins.