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Enter your current grade.
The average of everything graded so far, before the final. Most syllabi or your course portal show this percentage.
Free grade calculator · What you need on the final
Final Grade Calculator: Find Your Needed Final Exam Score
Find the score you need on your final exam to land the grade you want — or enter a possible final exam score to estimate your finished course grade. Instant, in your browser, with nothing uploaded.
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What you need on the final.
With an 88% going into a final worth 30%, you need 94.7% on the final to finish with a 90% (A-). To pass with a 60%, a 0% would still leave you at 61.6%.
The result comes from a weighted average. Your current grade keeps the weight already earned. Your final exam score supplies the remaining weighted portion.
How weighted grades work.
A final exam grade calculator uses one equation: course grade equals current grade times (1 minus w) plus final score times w. Here, w is the final's weight as a decimal. If the final exam is worth 30%, w equals 0.30.
To solve for the score you need, use this version: needed score equals (target grade minus current grade times (1 minus w)) divided by w. This gives the minimum final exam score required for your target course grade. Weighted average reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weighted_arithmetic_mean
How to use the final grade calculator.
Enter your current grade (your average before the final), the final's weight, and your target grade. Then read the minimum score you need on the final, or switch to "My grade if I score" to test a specific exam score.
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Enter the final's weight.
How much the final exam counts toward the course — typically 20–40%. If several assignments remain, use their combined weight.
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Read what you need.
The big number is the minimum score you need on the final. Flip to "My grade if I score…" to check a specific score instead.
The grade-needed table.
For the default 88% current grade and 30% final, the grade-needed table shows the final exam score needed for common targets. Change the numbers in the tool and the table updates instantly.
| Target course grade | Need on the final | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| Pass | 61.6% → already passing at 0% | D- |
| 70% | 28.0% | C- |
| 80% | 61.3% | B- |
| 90% | 94.7% | A- |
| 97% | Not reachable | A+ |
The formula, worked out.
Course grade = current grade × (1 − w) + final score × w. Score you need = (target − current grade × (1 − w)) ÷ w. Example: (90 − 88 × 0.70) ÷ 0.30 = (90 − 61.6) ÷ 0.30 = 94.7%.
- Course grade = current × (1 − w) + final × w, where w is the final's weight as a decimal (30% → 0.30).
- Score you need = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w. Example: (90 − 88 × 0.70) ÷ 0.30 = (90 − 61.6) ÷ 0.30 = 94.7%.
- Best case (perfect final) = current × (1 − w) + 100 × w. With 88% and a 30% final: 61.6 + 30 = 91.6%.
- Worst case (zero final) = current × (1 − w). With 88% and a 30% final: 61.6%.
- Several items left? If the weight covers N equal assignments, the average you need on each is the same "need on final" number — score that on each to hit the target.
Best case with a perfect final = current grade × (1 − w) + 100 × w. With 88% and a 30% final, the best case is 91.6%. Worst case with a zero final = current grade × (1 − w). With 88% and a 30% final, the worst case is 61.6%. If several items remain, treat them as one combined remaining weight. The average you need on each item is the same score the calculator gives for the final.
Worked examples.
Here are four common scenarios students ask about. Plug the same numbers into the tool to verify each answer.
1. What do I need on the final to get an A (90%)?
Current 88%, final worth 30%: (90 − 88 × 0.70) ÷ 0.30 = 94.7%. It is demanding, but possible.
2. What do I need on the final to pass (60%)?
Current 88%, final worth 30%: (60 − 61.6) ÷ 0.30 is negative. You are already passing. Even a 0% leaves you at 61.6%.
3. My grade if I score 95% on the final.
88 × 0.70 + 95 × 0.30 = 61.6 + 28.5 = 90.1% (A-). Use "My grade if I score" to test other scores.
4. Several assignments left, not just a final.
If 30% of the grade is split across three equal projects, enter 30 as the remaining weight and 3 as the number of items. Needing 94.7% overall means you need a 94.7% average across those projects.
Common final grade scenarios.
If the needed score is below 0%, you have already reached the target before the final. If the needed score is above 100%, the target is not attainable under the current grading structure. Check the best-case course grade and aim for the next realistic target.
If your school uses letter grades, convert the target to the percentage in your syllabus. An A may start at 90%, while passing may start at 60% or 70%.
Final grade — FAQ.
How do I calculate what I need on my final?
Use this formula: needed final = (target − current grade × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight. For a current 88%, a final worth 30%, and a target of 90%, you need 94.7% on the final.
What grade do I need on the final to pass?
Set your target to the passing grade and read the needed final score. If the result is 0 or negative, you are already passing. If it is above 100%, passing is not possible with that final weight.
What if the number I need is over 100%?
It means the target grade is not reachable. Even a perfect final will not raise your course grade enough. Use the best-case result to see the highest grade still possible.
How do I find my final grade if I already know my final score?
Switch to "My grade if I score" and enter the final exam score. Your course grade equals current grade times (1 − weight) plus final score times weight.
Does it work for a class with several remaining assignments?
Yes. Treat everything left as one combined weight, then enter how many items remain. The calculator tells you the average score you need on each item.
Does this calculator store my grades?
No. Every calculation runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, saved, or sent to a server.
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