Final Grade Calculator

Mid-semester, the question is always the same: what do I need on the final? Enter the scores you already have with their weights, the overall grade you want, and the weight of the final exam, and this calculator tells you the score required. If the target is out of reach, it says so and shows the best you can finish with.

How to use it

1. Enter each score so far with its weight, like "88 20" for 88 percent on something worth 20 percent.
2. Enter the overall grade you're aiming for.
3. Enter the weight of the final exam.
4. Read the score you need.

When it helps

• Deciding how hard to study for a final.
• Finding out whether a target grade is still possible.
• Checking your standing mid-semester.
• Seeing how much one exam really matters.

Good to know

• The weights of your scores and the final shouldn't add to more than 100 percent.
• Only include work that's already graded.
• If the score needed is over 100, the tool shows the highest grade you can still reach.

How the needed score is found

Each graded item contributes its score multiplied by its weight. Add those up to get the points you've earned so far. Subtract from your target to find the points still needed, then divide by the final's weight. With 56.45 points earned, a target of 85 and a final worth 35 percent, you need 28.55 more points, which is 81.6 percent on the final.

The tool also shows your average so far, which is your points earned divided by the weight completed.

Worked example: three scores

Scores of 88 (20 percent), 92 (30 percent) and 75 (15 percent) add up to 65 percent of the course and an average of 86.8. If the final is worth the remaining 35 percent and you want 85 overall, you need about 81.6 percent. To get 90 overall, you'd need 96 percent.

Trying a few targets shows you what's realistic and where to put your effort.

Weighted grades explained

A weighted grade gives different parts different importance. A final worth 40 percent matters twice as much as coursework worth 20 percent. That's why one bad exam can sink a grade that coursework had built up, and why a strong final can rescue a weak start.

Check your syllabus for the exact weights, and for rules such as dropping the lowest score.

Planning your study time

Use the result to decide how to spend your time. If you need 60 percent, steady review is probably enough. If you need 95, plan more preparation, including past papers. Talk to your teacher about the best use of your time.

Also consider extra credit and retakes, which this tool doesn't include. Add extra credit as a separate score with its weight.

Questions