Education
Grade Calculator
Work out your course grade two ways. In weighted categories mode, list each component — homework, quizzes, the midterm, the final — with the score you earned and how much it counts toward your grade, and the tool blends them into a single percentage. In "what do I need on the final" mode, enter your current grade, how much the final is worth, and the grade you're aiming for, and it tells you the exact score you need on that last exam. Both modes show the underlying math so you can see precisely where your grade stands and what it will take to move it. Everything runs in your browser and updates as you type.
Choose a mode
Enter your grades
Switch modes any time — the worksheet adapts.
How the grade calculator works
A weighted grade is a sum of each component's score multiplied by its weight, divided by the total weight. If your weights already add up to 100%, the total weight is just 1 and the formula simplifies to a plain weighted average — but the tool divides by the actual total so partial entries still work while you're filling things in.
Weighted final grade
grade = Σ(score × weight) ÷ Σ(weight)each score and weight are percentages; weights need not sum to exactly 100
The "what do I need" mode rearranges the same idea. Your current grade covers everything except the final, which is worth some fraction w of the course. To finish at your target, the final score must satisfy:
Required final score
needed = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ ww = final weight ÷ 100; current and target are percentages
Notes & assumptions
- "Current grade" should already exclude the final exam — it's your grade on everything else so far.
- If the required final score comes out above 100%, your target isn't reachable on the final alone.
- If it comes out at or below 0%, you've already locked in your target no matter what you score.
- Results are rounded for display but computed at full precision.
Worked example
Suppose your class is graded as homework 20%, quizzes 20%, midterm 25% and final 35%. So far you've earned 95% on homework, 88% on quizzes and 80% on the midterm. In weighted mode, the tool multiplies each score by its weight, adds them, and divides by the 65% of weight you've completed to show your standing before the final. Now flip to "what do I need on the final." Say your current grade (everything but the final) is 82%, the final is worth 30% of the course, and you want to finish with a 90%. The formula gives needed = (90 − 82 × 0.70) ÷ 0.30 = (90 − 57.4) ÷ 0.30 ≈ 108.7% — which tells you a 90% overall isn't possible from the final alone. Lower the target to 86% and the required score drops to a realistic 95.3%.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a weighted grade?
Multiply each component's score by its weight, add those products together, and divide by the total of the weights. For example, a 90 worth 40% and an 80 worth 60% gives (90 × 0.40 + 80 × 0.60) ÷ 1.00 = 84%. The bigger a component's weight, the more it moves your overall grade, which is why the final exam often matters more than any single homework set.
What score do I need on the final to get an A?
Use the "what do I need on the final" mode. Enter your current grade (everything except the final), the percentage of your grade the final is worth, and your target — say 90% for an A. The tool solves for the exact score you'd need. If the answer exceeds 100%, the A isn't reachable from the final alone; if it's 0% or below, you've already secured it.
Should my category weights add up to 100%?
In a finished course, yes — the syllabus weights normally total 100%. While you're still entering categories, this calculator divides by whatever the weights currently add up to, so it shows a sensible running average instead of breaking. Once all categories are in and the weights total 100, the result is your true overall grade.
Why is my required final score over 100%?
It means the target grade you chose can't be reached with the final exam alone, because the final isn't worth enough to make up the gap. You'd either need extra credit, a higher-weighted final, or a more realistic target. Try lowering the target a few points and watch the required score fall into the 0–100% range.
Does this calculator handle letter grades?
This tool works in percentages, which is the most precise way to track a course grade. To convert a percentage to a letter, most US schools use roughly 90–100 = A, 80–89 = B, 70–79 = C, 60–69 = D and below 60 = F, often with plus/minus bands. For GPA on the 4.0 scale, use our GPA Calculator.
What's the difference between a weighted and a points-based grade?
In a weighted system, each category counts for a fixed percentage of your grade regardless of how many points it contains. In a points-based system, your grade is simply total points earned divided by total points possible, so a 200-point final naturally outweighs a 20-point quiz. This calculator uses the weighted approach; for a points system, treat each assignment's point value as its weight.