Skip to content
AZ Tools

Final Grade Calculator

Enter the grade you have in the course so far, how much the final exam is worth, and the overall grade you are aiming for. The calculator returns the score you need on the final, and tells you plainly whether that target is already locked in, still reachable, or out of range because it would take more than 100%. It also shows your best case (acing the final) and worst case (skipping it), so you can see the whole band of outcomes your grade can still land in. A reference table lists the score needed for every common letter-grade cutoff at once, so you can spot where a realistic target sits. Everything is computed locally in your browser.

Score needed on the final

89.5%

Within range — this is achievable on the final.

Best possible grade

89.2%

Worst possible grade

49.2%

Best case assumes 100% on the final; worst case assumes 0%. Your final grade will land somewhere in between.

Score needed for each target

Target gradeNeeded on final
97%119.5%
93%109.5%
90%102%
87%94.5%
83%84.5%
80%77%
77%69.5%
73%59.5%
70%52%
60%27%

Percentages only, and the final is treated as one weighted item. If your syllabus drops a lowest score, curves, or offers extra credit, the real requirement will be lower than shown. Runs locally in your browser.

How to use

  1. Enter your current grade in the course as a percentage.
  2. Enter what percentage of the course grade the final exam is worth.
  3. Enter the overall course grade you are aiming for, then read the score you need.

Frequently asked questions

What formula does this use?
Your course grade is current × (1 − weight) + final × weight, so the score you need on the final is (target − current × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight. With an 82% going in, a final worth 40% and an 85% target, you need (85 − 82 × 0.6) ÷ 0.4 = 89.5%.
It says I need more than 100% — what now?
The target is out of reach from the final alone. Check whether extra credit, a dropped lowest score or a curve applies, and use the reference table to find the highest grade that is still realistic. Your best case row shows the ceiling: the grade you would end with by scoring 100% on the final.
What is my current grade if I have not been told?
It is the weighted average of the work already graded, counted among itself — not including the final. If homework is 30% and midterms 30% of the course and you have 90% and 80% on those, your current grade is (0.3 × 90 + 0.3 × 80) ÷ 0.6 = 85%.
Does this work for letter grades or a 4.0 GPA?
It works in percentages, so convert your letter cutoffs first — the table already covers the usual ones (93 for an A, 90 for an A−, 87 for a B+ and so on), though your school's scale may differ. For grade point averages across several courses, use the GPA Calculator instead.

Related tools