What do I need on my final?
It is the question every student asks in the last week of term. The answer depends on three numbers: your grade in the course so far, how much the final exam counts, and the course grade you are aiming for. This final grade calculator puts them together and tells you the score you need, plus what you would need for 90%, 80%, 70% and 60% overall.
The second mode works the other way: type a final exam score and it shows the course grade you would end with. Teachers can use it to check a grade book, and students can use it to see how much room they have.
How to use it
- Find your current grade as a percentage. Most online grade books show it.
- Find the weight of the final exam in the syllabus, such as 20%, 25% or 30% of the course.
- Type the course grade you want, for example 90% for an A on a common scale.
- Read the score you need. Over 100% means it cannot be reached on the final alone; 0% or less means you already have it.
If your course uses points rather than percentages, divide the points you have by the points possible so far to get the current grade.
The final grade formula
needed = (target − current × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight
course grade = current × (1 − weight) + final × weight
weight as a decimal: 30% = 0.3The idea is simple. Your work so far fills the part of the course that is not the final. Whatever is still missing from your target has to come from the final, and because the final only counts for part of the course, each point you need is divided by its weight.
Worked example: 82% now, final worth 30%, aiming for 85%
- Work so far counts for 70%: 82 × 0.7 = 57.4%
- Still needed from the final: 85 − 57.4 = 27.6% of the course
- Score needed: 27.6 ÷ 0.3 = 92%
You need 92% on the final to finish with 85%. With the same numbers, a perfect 100% on the final would give 87.4%, and a 0% would leave you at 57.4%.
| Course grade wanted | Score needed on the final |
|---|---|
| 60% | 8.67% |
| 65% | 25.33% |
| 70% | 42% |
| 75% | 58.67% |
| 80% | 75.33% |
| 85% | 92% |
| 90% | 108.67% (not reachable) |
| 95% | 125.33% (not reachable) |
Things that change the answer
- Grade categories. If homework, quizzes and tests carry their own weights, your current grade should already include them. Use the overall figure your grade book shows.
- Rounding rules. Some teachers round 89.5% up to 90%; others do not. Aim a little above the line.
- Curves, dropped scores and extra credit can all move the result. Check the syllabus.
- Letter cutoffs differ between schools. For your grade point average across courses, use the GPA calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate what I need on my final?
Take your target grade, subtract your current grade times the part of the course that is not the final, and divide by the final’s weight. With 82% now, a final worth 30% and a target of 85%: (85 − 82 × 0.7) ÷ 0.3 = 92%. The calculator above does this for you.
What if I need more than 100% on the final?
Then the target cannot be reached through the final exam alone, unless it has extra credit or your teacher curves the grades. Lower the target to see what is possible: the calculator lists the score needed for 90%, 80%, 70% and 60% overall, so you can see which grade is within reach.
How much does a final exam affect my grade?
Exactly as much as its weight. A final worth 25% moves your course grade by a quarter of the difference between your final score and your current grade. Scoring 20 points below your current grade on a 25% final lowers your course grade by 5 points.
What is my grade if I get a zero on the final?
Multiply your current grade by the part of the course that is not the final. With 82% now and a final worth 30%, a zero leaves you at 82 × 0.7 = 57.4%. The calculator shows this line with every answer, so you can see the worst case.
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