Grade Calculator

Enter each item with its grade (letter, %, or fraction like 45/50) and its weight (%) towards the course.

Weighted Grade

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Calculated from entered weights.

Total Weight Entered

Aim for 100% total. It’s okay if you’re still adding items.

Status

Waiting for input…

Final Grade Planning (Optional)

Final Grade Goal (%)

Weight of Remaining Tasks (%)

Required Average on Remaining

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Uses your current weighted grade and remaining weight.

Final Exam Needed

Your current grade (%)

Desired overall grade (%)

Final is worth (%)

Score Needed on Final

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Based on current grade, desired course grade, and final weight.

Tip: Grade accepts letters (A-, B+), percentages (87%), or fractions (45/50).

🔹 How Grade Calculation Works

Most courses use a weighted average: each category (homework, project, midterm, final, etc.) contributes a certain percentage to the final mark. Our calculator accepts percentages (e.g., 88), letter grades (e.g., B+), or fractions (e.g., 45/50) and converts everything into a consistent percentage.

Weighted grade formula: Final% = (Σ Grade_i × Weight_i) / Σ Weight_i

🔹 What You Can Enter

Percent: 87 or 87% → 87%.
Letter: A-, B+, etc. → mapped to a typical percentage range midpoint (see table).
Fraction: 45/50 → 90% (earned/possible × 100).

Illustration of weighted grade categories for a course

Example categories and weights in a typical syllabus.

🔹 Typical Letter → Percent Mapping

This mid-range mapping is commonly used in North America. Your school may differ—always check your syllabus.

Letter	Approx. % (midpoint)	Range Reference
A+	98.5%	97–100%
A	95%	93–96%
A-	91%	90–92%
B+	88%	87–89%
B	85%	83–86%
B-	81%	80–82%
C+	78%	77–79%
C	75%	73–76%
C-	71%	70–72%
D+	68%	67–69%
D	65%	63–66%
D-	61%	60–62%
F	50%	0–59%

🔹 Worked Example

Given: Homework 1 = 90 (5%), Project = B (20%), Midterm = 88 (20%).

Convert letters/fractions to percent → B ≈ 85%.

Item	Grade (%)	Weight (%)	Grade × Weight
Homework 1	90	5	450
Project	85	20	1700
Midterm	88	20	1760
Totals	—	45	3910

Weighted average so far: 3910 ÷ 45 = 86.89%

🔹 Quick Tips

Weights should ideally sum to 100% across the course.
If your syllabus uses points (e.g., 200 points total), enter each as a fraction (earned/possible).
Use the “Final Exam Needed” panel to plan the score required on your final to reach a target overall grade.

🔹 Final Exam Needed Formula

If your final exam counts for w% of the course, your current pre-final average is C, and your target overall course grade is T, the score required on the final is:

Final Needed = ( T − C × (1 − w) ) ÷ w

Use decimal form for w in the equation: e.g., a 40% final → w = 0.40.

🔹 Example: What Do I Need on the Final?

Given: Current grade C = 88%, Target T = 90%, Final weight w = 0.40.

Final Needed = (90 − 88 × 0.60) ÷ 0.40 = (90 − 52.8) ÷ 0.40 = 37.2 ÷ 0.40 = 93%

You’d need about 93% on the final to finish the course at 90% overall.

Chart showing current grade, final weight, and target to compute final exam needed

Visualizing the relationship between current grade, final weight, and the target.

🔹 Average Needed on Remaining Work

When you haven’t entered all assessments yet, you can estimate the average needed across the remaining items. Let W_done be the total weight already graded, W_rem the remaining weight, and C the current weighted average of completed items.

Required on Remaining = ( T − C × (W_done/100) ) ÷ ( W_rem/100 )

🔹 Example: Remaining Work

Given: Current weighted C = 86.89% (from earlier example), total done weight W_done = 45%, remaining weight W_rem = 55%, and you want T = 90%.

Step	Calculation	Result
Convert weights to decimals	W_done/100 = 0.45, W_rem/100 = 0.55	0.45, 0.55
Plug into formula	(90 − 86.89 × 0.45) ÷ 0.55	≈ (90 − 39.10) ÷ 0.55
Compute	50.90 ÷ 0.55	92.55%

You need roughly 92.6% on average across the remaining 55% of assessments to finish at 90% overall.

🔹 Planning Tips

Start from your syllabus weights; enter graded items first, then use the “Remaining” and “Final” planners.
Results above 100% mean the goal is not reachable under current assumptions—adjust targets or look for bonus points.
When grades are given in points, use fractions (earned/possible) for exact conversions.

Related: If you track terms by GPA as well, try our GPA Calculator to convert course grades into GPA points.

🔹 Dropping the Lowest Score

Many syllabi drop your lowest quiz/homework before computing the category average. To mirror this in the calculator, combine all dropped-eligible items into one line as a fraction after removing the lowest score.

Example: Quizzes: 8 total, each out of 10. Scores = 10, 9, 9, 8, 8, 7, 7, 6 → drop the 6.
New fraction input: 58 / 70 = 82.86% (sum remaining / sum possible).

🔹 Extra Credit

Extra credit may be added as points or percentage. If it is points inside a category, increase the earned side of the fraction; if it is a separate weighted item, enter it as another row with its own weight.

Type	How to Enter	Example
Points inside category	Increase earned in the fraction	Homework total 180/200 + 10 EC → 190/200
Separate weighted item	Add a new row with its weight	“Participation (EC)” grade 100, weight 2%

🔹 Curving Methods

Instructors sometimes apply a curve. Two common, simple curves you can simulate:

Add-Points Curve: Add k points to each raw score → enter adjusted percent in the calculator.
Adjusted% = min(100, Raw% + k)
Scale-to-Top Curve: Scale so the highest score becomes 100%.
Adjusted% = Raw% × (100 / Best%)

Raw%	Best%	Add+5 Curve	Scale-to-Top Curve
84	92	89	84 × (100/92) = 91.30
76	92	81	76 × (100/92) = 82.61
92	92	97	92 × (100/92) = 100.00

🔹 Common Pitfalls

Weights not summing to 100%: If your syllabus splits by terms (e.g., midterm term + final term), ensure you model all parts or use the “Remaining Work” planner.
Mixing points and percentages: Convert points to fractions (earned/possible) to keep everything consistent.
Letter scales differ: Our letter mapping uses common midpoints; check your instructor’s scale if results differ slightly.

🔹 Study Strategy by Weight

Time is limited. Focus first on categories with the highest weight, then on areas where your current averages are lowest. A small improvement on a high-weight component often beats a big improvement on a low-weight one.

Scenario	What to Do	Why It Works
Final worth 40%	Prioritize targeted revision and past papers for the final.	Large weight drives overall grade; improvements multiply.
Project at 25%, sitting at 72%	Plan a revision sprint on rubric criteria you’re missing.	Raising a weak, high-weight area yields big gains.
Quizzes 10%, already 95%	Maintain with light review; shift time elsewhere.	Diminishing returns on low-weight, high-score buckets.

🔹 Weekly Planning Checklist

1Enter new grades and verify weights sum toward 100%.
2Check “Final Exam Needed” to ensure your target remains realistic.
3Use fractions for point-based tasks to avoid conversion mistakes.
4If a curve or drop-lowest rule applies, model it before planning study time.

🔹 Real-Life Applications

Scholarships/Programs: Verify if you’re on track to meet GPA/grade thresholds.
Course Load Decisions: Forecast outcomes before adding/dropping a module.
Group Projects: Estimate the required final deliverable score to hit a team goal.

Related: Need quick percent changes for assignments marked in points? Try our Percentage Calculator.

🔹 Common Letter Boundaries (Reference)

Grading boundaries vary by school. The calculator uses typical midpoint mappings for letters, but always defer to the exact cutoffs in your syllabus. Use the table below as a general reference when checking whether your current average sits safely above a boundary.

Letter	Typical Range (%)	Midpoint (%)	Notes
A+	97–100	98.5	Sometimes reserved for exceptional work or totals ≥ 97%
A	93–96	95	Standard excellence band
A-	90–92	91	Common scholarship threshold cutoff
B+	87–89	88	Upper second-tier band
B	83–86	85	Solid performance
B-	80–82	81	Lower boundary for many progression rules
C+	77–79	78	Often acceptable for prerequisites (varies)
C	73–76	75	Typical “satisfactory” band
C-	70–72	71	May not count for certain major requirements
D	60–69	65	Minimum passing in some systems
F	0–59	50	Fail band

🔹 Rounding & Borderline Cases

How instructors round can change a letter outcome. Clarify the policy early to avoid surprises:

Standard rounding 89.5% → 90%; 89.49% → 89%
Floor only Truncation without rounding (e.g., 89.9% stays 89%)
Banker’s rounding Rare in grading; halves round to even

Strategy: If your syllabus uses standard rounding and your current average is near a boundary, track what margin you need to secure the next band (e.g., keep ≥ 89.50% for an A- cutoff at 90%).

🔹 Weights vs. Points (Consistency Check)

Mixing weights and raw points can cause confusion. Convert points to percents using: Percent = ( Earned / Possible ) × 100. Enter that percent in the calculator with the category’s weight so that all components are consistent.

Component	Earned / Possible	Percent	Category Weight (%)
Homework total	180 / 200	90%	15
Quizzes total	72 / 80	90%	10
Midterm	–	88%	25
Project	–	85%	20

🔹 Policy Reminders

Drop rules: Confirm which assessments are eligible and how many are dropped.
Curves: Ask whether curves are applied per assessment or at the end of term.
Late penalties: Account for deductions before entering a score.
Participation/bonus: Check if these are separate weighted items or folded into a category.

🔹 Step-by-Step Workflow

1Collect weights from your syllabus. List each category and its percentage.
2Normalize points to percents. Use Percent = (Earned / Possible) × 100.
3Enter graded items first. Keep weights aligned with the syllabus and verify the running total.
4Apply rules. If the course drops the lowest quiz or uses a curve, adjust before entering.
5Plan forward. Use “Required on Remaining” or “Final Exam Needed” to set weekly study targets.

🔹 Quick Syllabus Template

Use this as a starter. Replace with your actual categories and weights.

Category	Typical Contents	Weight (%)	Notes
Homework / Assignments	Weekly problem sets, labs	15–25	Often many small items; consider drop-lowest rules
Quizzes	Short checks, online quizzes	5–15	May be curved or auto-graded
Project	Report, presentation, capstone	15–30	Check rubric; partial credit is common
Midterm(s)	One or two exams	20–35	Sometimes scaled to the top
Final Exam	Cumulative or unit-based	25–50	Verify if replacement policy applies

🔹 Pre-Submission Audit Checks

Weights sum to 100%: Your entered weights across all items equal 100%.
Consistent units: Everything entered as percents—no raw points mixed in.
Rules applied: Drop-lowest, curve, late penalties reflected in the entered value.
Target margin: If you need 90%, aim for ≥ 90.5% when standard rounding applies.

Related: For workloads that use category means with weights, try our Weighted Average Calculator for quick checks.

🔹 Frequently Asked Questions

▼Do my weights need to add up to exactly 100%?

For a final course result, yes—weights should total 100%. While building your plan mid-term, it’s okay if the entered weights are below 100%; use the “Remaining Work” panel to plan the rest.

▼How do I enter point-based grades?

Use fractions like earned/possible (e.g., 45/50). The calculator converts them to a percentage and applies your chosen weight.

▼Can I enter letter grades like B+?

Yes. Letters are converted to typical midpoint percentages (e.g., B+ → ~88%). If your school uses a different scale, convert to a percent first and enter that value.

▼How do I model “drop the lowest” rules?

Remove the lowest score from the set, then sum the remaining points and divide by the remaining possible points. Enter that as a single fraction for the category.

▼What if my instructor applies a curve?

Adjust the raw scores first (e.g., add points or scale to top), then enter the adjusted percentages into the calculator so all components remain consistent.

▼Does the calculator round my final grade?

No rounding policy is enforced here. We display exact decimals. Ask your instructor how rounding is handled (standard, floor/truncate, or other) and keep a safe margin above boundaries.

▼How can I find what I need on the final exam?

Use the “Final Exam Needed” panel in the calculator. Enter your current average, desired overall grade, and the final’s weight. You’ll get the minimum score needed to hit your target.

▼Why does the required percentage exceed 100%?

If the required number is above 100%, the current target isn’t achievable under existing weights and results. Consider adjusting expectations, seeking extra credit, or improving other remaining items.

🔹 References & Sources

Source	What We Used	Link
Weighted Arithmetic Mean (overview)	Foundational formula for weighted averages used in the calculator.	wikipedia.org/wiki/Weighted_arithmetic_mean
Academic Grading in the United States	Typical letter grade ranges and interpretation context.	wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_grading_in_the_United_States
Grade (Education)	General background on grading systems and terminology.	wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_(education)
Calculator.net – Grade Calculator (competitor)	Feature/UX comparison when designing this tool.	calculator.net/grade-calculator.html
Rounding Policies (varies by institution)	Context for rounding/borderline practices—confirm in local syllabus.	wikipedia.org/wiki/Rounding