Grade Calculator

Weighted course grades — and the exact score you need on the final to hit your target

Grade Calculation

Quick summary

Weighted mode multiplies each category's score by its weight and divides by the total weight — homework 92% at 20%, midterm 78% at 30%, and final 85% at 50% give 84.3% (B). Final-exam mode answers the classic question: required final = (desired − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w, where w is the final's weight. If the answer is over 100%, the target isn't reachable, so try a lower one.

Reviewed by Simple Calculators TeamLast reviewed July 12, 2026

How to use this calculator

Choose a mode from the menu: "Weighted course grade" or "What do I need on the final?".
For a weighted grade, fill in each row's Category name, Score %, and Weight % from your syllabus. Use Add Category for more rows. Leave Score % empty for anything not graded yet — the sample Final row starts empty, so it isn't counted until you enter a score.
For the final-exam question, enter your Current Grade (%) on everything except the final, your Desired Grade (%) for the course, and the Final Exam Weight (%).
Read Your Course Grade with its letter, or the score You need on the final.
If the required score is over 100%, the target can't be reached with that final weight — lower the Desired Grade (%) until the result is achievable.

Grade Calculation Formulas

Weighted Course Grade

G = \frac{\sum (s_i \times w_i)}{\sum w_i}

s_i: Score % earned in category i
w_i: Weight % of category i from the syllabus
G: Weighted course grade (%)

Worked example

Homework 92% (20%), Midterm 78% (30%), Final 85% (50%)

Given: Homework = 92% × 20
Midterm = 78% × 30
Final = 85% × 50
Calculation: $G = \frac{92 \times 20 + 78 \times 30 + 85 \times 50}{20 + 30 + 50} = \frac{8430}{100}$
Result: G = 84.3% (B)

Score Needed on the Final

F = \frac{D - C \times (1 - w)}{w}

F: Score needed on the final exam (%)
D: Desired course grade (%)
C: Current grade on everything except the final (%)
w: Final exam weight as a decimal (30% = 0.30)

Worked example

Current grade 82%, desired grade 85%, final worth 30%

Given: C = 82
D = 85
w = 0.30
Calculation: $F = \frac{85 - 82 \times 0.70}{0.30} = \frac{85 - 57.4}{0.30}$
Result: F = 92%

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my weighted grade?

Multiply each category's percentage by its weight, add the results, and divide by the total weight. Homework at 92% (20% weight), a midterm at 78% (30%), and a final at 85% (50%) give (18.4 + 23.4 + 42.5) ÷ 100 = 84.3%. Enter each category as a row and the calculator does the math and assigns the letter grade.

What do I need on my final to get the grade I want?

Required final = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w, where w is the final's weight as a decimal. With an 82% current grade and a 30% final, an 85% target needs (85 − 57.4) ÷ 0.3 = 92% on the final. A 90% target would need 108.67%, which isn't possible; even a perfect final tops out at 87.4%.

Can I still pass if I fail the final?

Find your grade floor: current grade × (1 − final weight) is what you keep with a 0% final. At 82% current with a 30% final, scoring zero still leaves 57.4%. Whether that passes depends on your course's cutoff — and some syllabi require a minimum score on the final itself, so check those rules too.

What letter grade is 84.3%?

84.3% is a B on the standard US scale this calculator uses, where B covers 83% up to just under 87% and B+ starts at 87%. Cutoffs vary by school — some use 85% for a B+ or drop plus and minus grades entirely — so treat the letter as the common convention and check your syllabus.

What if my category weights don't add up to 100%?

The calculator divides by the total weight of the categories that have a score, so it gives your grade on the work graded so far. For example, homework 90% (20%), quizzes 85% (20%), and a midterm at 82% (25%) total 65% of the weight and work out to 85.38%. A note under the result tells you when weights don't total 100% or when some categories have no score yet.

How do I handle a final or category I haven't taken yet?

Leave its Score % empty. Empty categories are left out of the current grade, so with the sample rows — homework 90% (20%), quizzes 85% (20%), midterm 82% (25%), and an empty final (35%) — you see 85.38% (B) on the 65% graded so far, not a failing grade. Typing 0 is different: a 0 counts as a zero score. To see what you need on the final, switch to "What do I need on the final?".

Can I enter extra credit or scores above 100%?

Yes. Each Score % and the Current Grade (%) accept values up to 120% so you can include extra credit. Weights must be greater than 0 and no more than 100% per category, and the final exam weight must be between 1% and 99%. You can list up to 20 categories in weighted mode.

Key terms

Weighted Average: Each category counts proportionally to its syllabus weight — a 50% final moves your grade five times as much as a 10% quiz category.
Grade Floor: Your guaranteed course grade if you score 0 on remaining work: current × (1 − remaining weight).
Standard US Scale: A ≥ 93, A− ≥ 90, B+ ≥ 87, B ≥ 83, B− ≥ 80, and so on in 3–4 point steps down to F below 60.

Methodology, sources & limitations

This page shows the formula, assumptions, and limitations used for this estimate. Rates, thresholds, and other time-sensitive inputs can change, so verify them against the relevant official source before relying on a result.

For our review approach and the primary sources we consult, see the methodology and source policy. If you spot an outdated figure or formula, please contact us with a correction.

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