Final Grade Calculator
Enter your current grade, how much the final exam counts and the grade you are aiming for. You get the exact score you need — and a table for the A, B, C and D cut-offs.
🔒 Runs in your browser — the numbers you enter are not uploaded or stored. Results are estimates; your school’s own rules decide. Last reviewed: October 2026.
How to use the Final Grade Calculator
- Enter your current grade in the course as a percentage — before the final exam.
- Enter the weight of the final exam (for example 30 if it is worth 30% of the course) and the grade you want.
- Read the score you need on the final. If extra credit exists, raise “Highest possible score” above 100.
The formula
Your course grade is your current grade (counting for the rest of the course) plus the final (counting for its weight). Solve for the final and you get:
Needed score = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w
where w is the final’s weight as a decimal (30% = 0.30). Example: you have 84%, the final is worth 30% and you want 85%:
(85 − 84 × 0.70) ÷ 0.30 = (85 − 58.8) ÷ 0.30 = 87.33% on the final.
How the weight of the final changes the answer
The heavier the final, the more room you have to move your grade — in both directions. Here is what you would need with a current grade of 84%:
| Final exam weight | To finish with 85% | To finish with 90% | To finish with 80% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | 94% | not possible (144%) | 44% |
| 20% | 89% | not possible (114%) | 64% |
| 30% | 87.3% | not possible (104%) | 70.7% |
| 40% | 86.5% | 99% | 74% |
“Not possible” means the score needed is above 100%. In that case look at the next grade down, or ask whether extra credit is available (then increase “Highest possible score”).
What the calculator assumes
- Your current grade is a percentage of the work graded so far. If your school posts points instead, divide points earned by points possible first — the grade calculator does it for you.
- The final exam weight is the share of the whole course, not of the points left.
- No curve or drop rules. A curve, a dropped lowest score or a replacement policy (“final replaces midterm if higher”) changes the real answer; enter the effective weights if you know them.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need on my final to get an A?
Set the target to your school’s A cut-off (usually 90 or 93) and read the result. The table also shows the score needed for each of A, B, C and D at once.
What does “not possible” mean?
Even a perfect final would leave you below your target. Choose a lower target, or enter extra-credit points in “Highest possible score” if your instructor offers them.
How do I find the weight of the final?
It is in your syllabus, usually in a table of grading categories. If it says the final is worth 25%, enter 25.
Does the calculator work for any exam or assignment?
Yes. Treat it as “the last piece of the grade”, enter its weight and your current grade, and it works for a final project or a last paper too.
Is my information stored?
No — the calculation runs entirely in your browser.