Calculate the final exam score you need to reach your desired class grade, or find your overall grade and class average from scores.
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Final Class Average Formula
The calculator runs three formulas, one per tab.
Need on final:
required = (goal - current * (1 - w)) / w
Overall grade after the final:
overall = current * (1 - w) + final * w
Average of student scores:
average = (sum of scores) / (number of scores)
- required = score you need on the final exam, in percent
- goal = desired final class grade, in percent
- current = current class grade before the final, in percent
- final = score earned on the final exam, in percent
- w = final exam weight as a decimal (25% = 0.25)
- sum of scores = total of every score entered
- number of scores = how many scores you entered
The "Need on final" tab solves for the score you must earn to hit a target. The "Overall grade" tab combines a known final score with your pre-final grade to show where you actually land. The "Average scores" tab takes a list of scores and returns the mean, with an optional max-points field that converts the raw average to a percent.
Reference Tables
Use these to interpret the result the calculator returns.
| Percent | Letter | GPA (4.0) |
|---|---|---|
| 97-100 | A+ | 4.0 |
| 93-96 | A | 4.0 |
| 90-92 | A- | 3.7 |
| 87-89 | B+ | 3.3 |
| 83-86 | B | 3.0 |
| 80-82 | B- | 2.7 |
| 77-79 | C+ | 2.3 |
| 73-76 | C | 2.0 |
| 70-72 | C- | 1.7 |
| 60-69 | D | 1.0 |
| Below 60 | F | 0.0 |
Common final exam weights by course type:
| Course type | Typical final weight |
|---|---|
| High school regular | 10-20% |
| High school AP / honors | 15-25% |
| College intro lecture | 20-30% |
| College upper division | 25-40% |
| Graduate seminar | 30-50% |
Example Problems
Example 1: How high do you need to score?
Your current grade is 84%. You want an A- (90%) and the final is worth 25%.
required = (90 − 84 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = (90 − 63) ÷ 0.25 = 108%
That target is not reachable without extra credit. Lower the goal to 88% and the required score becomes 100%.
Example 2: What will your final grade be?
You walk into the final with a 78%. The final exam is 30% of the grade and you score 91%.
overall = 78 × 0.70 + 91 × 0.30 = 54.6 + 27.3 = 81.9%
That lands at a B-.
FAQ
What if my syllabus uses points instead of weights?
Use the "Average scores" tab. Enter every score and put the total points possible per item in the max field, or enter the running point total and total points possible as a single score and max.
The required score is over 100%. Can I still pass?
Not without extra credit, a curve, or a different goal. Drop the target a few points and rerun the calculation to see what is realistic.
Why does the result change when I switch between percent and letter input?
Letter grades are converted to a midpoint of their range (B = 85, A- = 91, and so on). If you know the exact percent, enter it for a more precise result.
Does this account for dropped lowest scores or curves?
No. Apply those adjustments to your current grade first, then enter the adjusted value.