About the Final Grade Calculator
Near the end of a course, the most useful question is simple: what do I need on the final to get the grade I want? This calculator answers it. Enter your current grade, the percentage of the course grade that the final exam counts for and the grade you are aiming at, and it tells you the score you need. It also lists the score required for an A, B, C and D at the usual cut-offs, shows what you would end up with if you scored 100 percent or 0 percent, and tells you when a goal can't be reached. It works for any course that weights the final by a fixed percentage.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Final Grade Calculator
- 1Enter your current grade as a percentage.
- 2Enter how much of the course grade the final counts for.
- 3Enter the course grade you want.
- 4Read the score you need on the final.
- 5Look at the table for A, B, C and D targets.
Worked example
A student has 84 percent going into a final that counts for 30 percent. For a B (80 percent) they need about 70.7 percent. For a C (70) they need about 37 percent. For an A (90), they would need 104 percent, which isn't possible, so an A is out of reach unless there is extra credit. Scoring 100 percent on the final would lift the overall grade to 88.8 percent.
Using the answer
- Aim a little above the score you need, as a safety margin.
- Spend study time on the topics that carry the most marks.
- Check how the final is graded, such as curves or minimum scores.
- Talk to your teacher if the goal looks out of reach.
- Don't forget extra-credit options.
Making a plan
Once you know the target score, work backwards: how many topics, how many past papers, how many hours? Spread revision over several weeks rather than the last night. Practise under exam conditions and review the questions you got wrong. If you are close to a grade boundary, a few extra marks may be well worth the effort.
Related tools
The Grade Calculator tracks all of your assignments, the GPA Calculator turns grades into a grade point average, the CGPA to Percentage tool converts scores, and the Percentage Calculator handles other everyday sums.
Features
- Score needed for your target
- Table for A, B, C and D
- Overall grade at 100% and 0%
- Warns when a goal is out of reach
- Works with any weighting
- Free and private
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the grade I need on the final?
Use the formula: needed = (wanted − current × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight, with weight as a decimal. With 84 percent now, a final worth 30 percent and a goal of 80 percent, you need (80 − 58.8) ÷ 0.3 = 70.7 percent.
What if the result is over 100?
Then the goal can't be reached with the final alone. Check whether extra credit is available, or whether a lower grade target is more realistic. The table shows what each grade needs.
What if the result is negative?
You have already secured the grade, even with a score of zero on the final, as long as the weights are right. Check your syllabus to be sure, as some courses require a minimum mark on the final.
How do I find my current grade?
Add up the points you have earned and divide by the points available so far, or use the Grade Calculator on this site. Use the percentage of the grade that is counted so far, not the whole course.
Does the calculator work with letter grades?
Enter percentages. Most courses use 90, 80, 70 and 60 for A, B, C and D, but your school may differ, so type your own cut-offs as the target.
What if the final replaces my lowest test?
Then the formula changes. In that case work out your grade with and without the replaced test and compare it with the target.