How to use
- Enter your current grade: your weighted grade on everything before the final.
- Enter the grade you want for the whole course.
- Enter the final exam weight: how much of the course grade it is worth.
- See the score you need, plus a table for an A, B, C and D.
Formula
Needed on final = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w
Here w is the final’s weight as a decimal, so 25% is 0.25. It comes from the weighted average: course grade = current × (1 − w) + final × w.
- Over 100%: the target is out of reach without extra credit.
- 0% or less: you have already secured it.
Examples
- Current 88%, target 90%, final worth 25%: (90 − 88 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = 96%.
- Current 85%, target 90%, final worth 30%: you would need 101.67%, so 90% isn’t possible. A perfect final gives 89.5%.
- Current 92%, target 80%, final worth 20%: you need just 32%.
Score needed on the final for 90%
| Current grade | Final worth 20% | Final worth 30% | Final worth 40% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80% | 130% (not possible) | 113.33% (not possible) | 105% (not possible) |
| 85% | 110% (not possible) | 101.67% (not possible) | 97.5% |
| 88% | 98% | 94.67% | 93% |
| 95% | 70% | 78.33% | 82.5% |
The bigger the final’s weight, the more it can rescue (or sink) your grade.
If your class uses points instead of weights
Treat the final as its share of all points. If the final is 200 of 800 points, it is worth 25%. Your current grade is the points you’ve earned so far ÷ the points available so far × 100.
Letter cut-offs vary by school: the table uses the common 90 / 80 / 70 / 60 scale.
Don’t know your current grade yet? Work it out from your scores with the grade calculator.