Final Exam Grade Calculator
Enter your current grade, your target grade, and how much the final is worth. Get the exact score you need.
Finals week is stressful. This calculator removes one layer of that stress. You get a clear number. You know exactly where you stand.
Enter three things: your current grade in the course, the percentage weight of your final exam, and the grade you want to finish with. The calculator tells you the minimum score you need on the final to hit your goal.
Final exams at most U.S. colleges count for 20% to 40% of the total course grade. Some courses weight the final at 50%. The higher the weight, the more one exam can move your grade in either direction.
If your target score comes out to something like 112%, the math is telling you that your goal is out of reach from your current standing in that course. In that case, use this result to reset expectations and plan your next semester with the College GPA Calculator.
| Final Score | Final Course Grade | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | 86.5% | B |
| 95% | 85.3% | B |
| 90% | 84.0% | B |
| 85% | 82.8% | B- |
| 80% | 81.5% | B- |
| 75% | 80.3% | B- |
| 70% | 79.0% | C+ |
How to Calculate the Final Exam Score You Need
The formula is straightforward. You need to know three numbers: your current grade, your target grade, and the weight of the final exam.
The formula: Required final score = (Target grade - Current grade times (1 minus Final weight)) divided by Final weight.
Example: Your current grade is 78%. You want a B (83%). The final is worth 30% of your grade.
Step 1: 83 minus (78 times 0.70) equals 83 minus 54.6 equals 28.4. Step 2: 28.4 divided by 0.30 equals 94.7.
You need a 94.7% on the final to finish with an 83%.
Not sure what grade point value an 83% maps to? Check the GPA Scale.