Your class
Scale: 4.0 · plus/minus onChange
Match your school’s grading scale. These settings apply to every GradeHelm calculator.
You need on the final
Enter your current grade, the final’s weight and your target.
Show the math
Don’t know your current grade?
Work it out from your category scores or points first, then come back.
Calculate a result first, then set a target.
How to use the final grade calculator
- Enter your current grade in the class as a percentage, before the final. Your teacher’s gradebook or course portal usually shows it.
- Enter the final exam weight: how much of the overall grade the final is worth. Your syllabus normally says, for example “Final exam: 20%”.
- Enter the grade you want for the whole course, or tap A, B, C or D to use your scale’s cutoff.
- The result shows the score you need on the final, plus the score needed for every letter grade.
The final grade formula
Short answer: to find the score you need on your final, multiply your current grade by (1 − final weight), subtract that from the grade you want, then divide by the final weight. With an 85% current grade, a 20% final and an 80% target, you need (80 − 85 × 0.80) ÷ 0.20 = 60.0% on the final.
Your course grade is a weighted average of the work you’ve already done and the final exam. Rearranging that average gives the score you need:
Required final score = (target grade − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight
Use the weight as a decimal: 20% = 0.20.
Worked examples
Reachable target. Your current grade is 85% and the final is worth 20%. To finish with 80%:
- Your current work counts for 80% of the course: 85 × 0.80 = 68.0 points
- You need 80 − 68.0 = 12.0 more points from the final
- 12.0 ÷ 0.20 = 60.0% on the final
Unreachable target. Same class, but you want 90% overall: (90 − 68.0) ÷ 0.20 = 110.0%. Unless your teacher gives extra credit, that’s not possible. The calculator will tell you so and show the best overall grade you could still get with a perfect final (in this case 88.0%).
How much the final’s weight matters
| Current grade | Final weight | Score needed for 80% | Score needed for 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85% | 10% | 35.0% | 135.0% |
| 85% | 20% | 60.0% | 110.0% |
| 85% | 30% | 68.3% | 101.7% |
| 85% | 40% | 72.5% | 97.5% |
Will my final exam bring my grade down?
Only if you score below your current grade. Your course grade moves toward your final exam score, by an amount set by the final’s weight. With an 85% current grade and a 20% final:
| Final | Course grade | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | 88.0% | B+ |
| 85% | 85.0% | B |
| 70% | 82.0% | B− |
| 50% | 78.0% | C+ |
| 0% | 68.0% | D+ |
If the best grade you can still reach is a D, see is a D a passing grade? to check whether it still earns credit.
Frequently asked questions
What if I need more than 100% on the final?
Your target isn’t reachable with the final alone. Ask your teacher whether there’s extra credit, a curve or a retake policy, and aim for the best grade you can still get. The calculator shows that number.
What if the result is 0% or less?
Then you’ve already secured your target grade, even if you score zero on the final (assuming the final doesn’t have a minimum pass requirement). It’s still worth studying: many classes require you to pass the exam.
What do I need on my final to pass the class?
Enter your school’s passing grade as the target. On the default scale the lowest passing letter, D−, starts at 60%, but many courses, especially prerequisites and major requirements, need a C (70%) or higher. Your syllabus says which applies.
Is a D a passing grade?
In many US schools a D earns credit, so it counts as passing. But a D often doesn’t meet requirements for prerequisites, your major or transfer credit, which may need a C or C−. Check your school’s grading policy.
How do I find my current grade?
Check your gradebook or course portal. If you only have category scores (homework, tests, etc.), use the weighted grade calculator to work out your current grade first.
My final replaces my lowest test score. Does this work?
Not directly, because the formula assumes the final simply adds to your other work. Use the weighted grade calculator and enter the categories as they’ll be after the replacement.