Final Grade Calculator
Enter your current course grade, the grade you want to end up with, and how much your final exam is worth, and this calculator tells you exactly what score you need on that final.
How the Final Grade formula works
Solving for the required final exam score:
Needed score = ( Desired grade − Current grade × (1 − Exam weight) ) / Exam weight
Both grades and the exam weight are treated as percentages (0–100), with the exam weight expressed as a decimal fraction of the final course grade.
Step-by-step calculation
- Convert the exam weight from a percentage to a decimal (e.g., 30% → 0.30).
- Multiply your current grade by (1 − exam weight) to find how much of your desired grade is already 'locked in' from non-final coursework.
- Subtract that locked-in amount from your desired grade.
- Divide by the exam weight to find the score you need on the final.
Worked example
Current grade: 84%. Desired final grade: 90%. Final exam weight: 25%. Needed score = (90 − 84×0.75) / 0.25 = (90 − 63) / 0.25 = 108%. Since that's above 100%, hitting a 90% overall isn't achievable — the calculator will flag this and show what grade is realistically achievable instead.
Frequently asked questions
What if the score I need is over 100%?
That means your target grade isn't achievable even with a perfect score on the final, given your current grade and the exam's weight — the calculator will tell you the highest final grade you can still reach.
What if the calculator says I need a negative score?
That means you've already secured your target grade even with a 0% on the final — though you'd still want to confirm your instructor doesn't have a separate minimum-exam-score policy.
Where do I find my final exam's weight?
Check your course syllabus — it's typically listed as a percentage of your total grade, often alongside the weights for homework, quizzes, and other assessments.