Final Grade Calculator
Enter your current grade, the grade you want and how much the final counts to see the score you need on the final exam.
Last updated November 2, 2026
Result
You need 96% on the final.
Assumes your current grade covers everything except the final.
Show the work
- Current grade counts for 75% of the course.
- The final counts for 25%.
- (target - current × (1 - w)) / w = (90 - 88 × 0.75) / 0.25 = 96%
How the score needed on the final is calculated
needed = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w, where w is the weight of the final as a fraction
Your current grade covers everything except the final, so it carries a weight of 1 − w, and the final carries w. To finish on your target, the final has to make up the difference: the target minus the current grade’s share, divided by w.
If the result is above 100, the target cannot be reached without extra credit. If it is 0 or below, the target is already secured even with a zero on the final. Results are shown to one decimal place.
See how we calculate for the formulas, sources and review schedule behind every calculator.
How the weight of the final changes the score you need
The heavier the final, the less your current grade protects you. Keep a current grade of 88% and a target of 90% and change only the weight: a final worth 10% needs 108%, which is out of reach; at 20% it needs 98%; at 25%, 96%; at 30%, 94.7%; at 40%, 93%; and at 50%, 92%.
The pattern is that a bigger weight pulls the required score toward the target itself, because the final then decides more of the course grade. A light final leaves your current grade doing most of the work, so a small shortfall there is hard to repair.
Choosing a realistic target
Letter-grade cutoffs differ by school and by course, so take the percentage for the grade you want from the syllabus instead of assuming that 90 is an A. Some instructors round a course grade up to the nearest whole number and some do not; if yours is not stated, aim slightly above the cutoff. If your instructor drops a lowest score or curves the exam, enter the final weight and current grade as they stand after those rules are applied.
For example, with a current grade of 82%, a final worth 20% and a target of 80%, the final needs (80 − 82 × 0.8) ÷ 0.2 = (80 − 65.6) ÷ 0.2 = 72%. Raising the target to 85% would need (85 − 65.6) ÷ 0.2 = 97%, which shows how a few points on the target can change the plan.
Courses graded in points
If your course adds up points instead of weighting categories, convert first. Say you have 420 of 500 points so far, which is 84%, and the final is worth 100 of the 600 total points, a weight of about 16.67%. To finish at 85% you need 0.85 × 600 = 510 points, so 90 of the 100 on the final.
Entering 84, 85 and 16.67 gives the same answer, about 90%. Use the grade calculator for the current grade if you need to weight assignments, quizzes and exams first.
How to use the Final Grade Calculator
- Enter your current grade as a percentage.
- Enter the grade you want in the course.
- Enter how much the final exam counts, as a percentage of the course grade.
- Read the score you need on the final, then use Copy, Print or Share.
Worked example
With a current grade of 88%, a target of 90% and a final worth 25%, the final must score (90 − 88 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = (90 − 66) ÷ 0.25 = 96%.
| Current grade | Score needed on the final |
|---|---|
| 85% | 105% (not reachable without extra credit) |
| 88% | 96% |
| 90% | 90% |
| 92% | 84% |
| 95% | 75% |
| 98% | 66% |
Frequently asked questions
What if the score I need is above 100?
Then the target cannot be reached on the final alone unless your instructor gives extra credit. Consider a lower target or ask about extra credit.
What if the result is zero or negative?
Your target is already secured: even a zero on the final would still leave you at or above the grade you want.
What counts as my current grade?
The weighted grade of everything except the final. If you are unsure, work it out first with the grade calculator.
What is the final weight?
The share of the whole course grade that the final exam makes up, taken from your syllabus. A final worth a quarter of the grade is 25%.
Are my numbers stored or sent anywhere?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing you enter is saved or uploaded.