Final Grade Calculator
Find out exactly what you need to score on your final exam to land the overall grade you're aiming for in the class.
You need on the final
108.67%
Not possible — score above 100% would be required.
Formula
Needed = (Target − Current × (1 − W)) ÷ W, where W = final exam weight ÷ 100
Worked example
Current grade 82, target 90, the final exam is worth 30% of the course grade.
- W = 0.30, so the rest of the course is weighted 0.70
- Contribution from work so far: 82 × 0.70 = 57.4
- Points still needed from the final: 90 − 57.4 = 32.6
- Score needed on the final: 32.6 ÷ 0.30 = 108.67
Answer: 108.67% (not achievable from the final alone)
How it works
Your overall grade is a weighted average of your work so far and your final exam. The non-final weight (1 − W) is applied to your current grade, and W is applied to the final exam score.
Solving the weighted-average equation for the final exam score gives a clear number to aim for. If the answer is above 100, the target isn't reachable from the final alone — you'd need extra credit or a higher current grade.
If the answer is at or below zero, you've already locked in the target no matter what you score on the final.
Common mistakes
- Using your last assignment's grade as your current grade instead of the weighted average of all coursework so far.
- Entering the final exam weight as a decimal (0.30) instead of a percentage (30).
- Treating an above-100 answer as still possible without extra credit.
FAQ
- Why is my needed score above 100?
- It means the target isn't possible from the final alone — you'd need extra credit or a higher current grade.
- What weight should I use?
- Use the final exam's weight from your syllabus, for example 25% or 30%.
- What if my current grade already meets the target?
- The calculator says you've already achieved your target and shows the minimum score that keeps you there.
- Does this include my final exam in the current grade?
- No — "current" is your average from coursework before the final exam.
- How do I calculate my current grade?
- Average your past grades using their weights. If everything was equally weighted, a simple average works fine.