Your class grade
Scale: 4.0 · plus/minus onChange
Match your school’s grading scale. These settings apply to every GradeHelm calculator.
Your class grade
Enter your scores to see your class grade.
Show the math
What do I need on the final?
Share of the course grade
Overall course grade
Calculate a result first, then set a target.
How to use the grade calculator
Choose how your class is graded:
- Weighted categories. Your syllabus lists categories with percentages, such as “Homework 20%, Quizzes 30%, Tests 50%”. Enter your average score and the weight for each category.
- Total points. Every assignment is worth a number of points and your grade is points earned ÷ points possible. Enter each assignment’s earned and possible points.
The result shows your percentage and letter grade. To see what you need on the final, open “What do I need on the final?”.
The weighted grade formula
Short answer: to calculate a weighted grade, multiply each category’s score by its weight, add the results, and divide by the total weight. With Homework 92% (20%), Quizzes 85% (30%) and Tests 78% (50%), your grade is 18.4 + 25.5 + 39.0 = 82.9%.
Weighted grade = Σ (category score × category weight) ÷ Σ weights
If your weights add up to 100%, that’s simply the sum of score × weight. If they don’t, for example because some categories haven’t been graded yet, the calculator divides by the weights you entered so far, and tells you it did.
Points grade = total points earned ÷ total points possible × 100
Worked example
| Category | Your score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homework | 92% | 20% | 18.4 |
| Quizzes | 85% | 30% | 25.5 |
| Tests | 78% | 50% | 39.0 |
| Total | 100% | 82.9 |
Your class grade is 82.9%, which is a B− on the default scale (80–82.9%). Note that strong homework barely helps here: tests are worth half the grade.
Letter grades come from the rounded percentage that’s displayed. A grade of 82.96% displays as 83.0% and counts as a B, so the number and the letter you see always agree.
Weighted categories vs total points
With total points, a 100-point test counts ten times as much as a 10-point quiz, and the weighting is built into the point values. With weighted categories, the syllabus fixes the weights no matter how many points each assignment has. Your teacher’s syllabus will say which one your class uses; if it lists percentages per category, use weighted categories.
How to calculate a grade average from points
If your class uses total points, add up the points you earned and the points possible, then divide. Don’t average the percentages: that gives a small quiz the same influence as a big test.
| Item | Earned | Possible | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz | 18 | 20 | 90.0% |
| Project | 45 | 50 | 90.0% |
| Test | 88 | 100 | 88.0% |
| Total | 151 | 170 | 88.8% |
- Points grade: 151 ÷ 170 × 100 = 88.8%, a B+ on the default scale
- Simple average of the percentages: (90.0 + 90.0 + 88.0) ÷ 3 = 89.3%, which would be wrong for a points-based class
Percentage to letter grade chart
| Letter | Percentage (default) |
|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100% |
| A | 93–96.9% |
| A− | 90–92.9% |
| B+ | 87–89.9% |
| B | 83–86.9% |
| B− | 80–82.9% |
| C+ | 77–79.9% |
| C | 73–76.9% |
| C− | 70–72.9% |
| D+ | 67–69.9% |
| D | 63–66.9% |
| D− | 60–62.9% |
| F | Below 60% |
Frequently asked questions
What if my weights don’t add up to 100%?
That usually means some categories haven’t been graded yet. The calculator averages over the categories you entered, which matches how most online gradebooks show a “current grade”. You’ll see a note when the weights don’t total 100%.
How do I handle a category with several assignments?
Enter the category’s average score. If you only have individual scores, average them first, or use total-points mode within that category to get the average.
How do I calculate a test grade?
Divide the points you earned by the points possible and multiply by 100. For example, 42 out of 50 is 42 ÷ 50 × 100 = 84%, a B on the default scale. To combine several tests, use total-points mode.
What letter grade is my percentage?
On the default scale, 90% and above is in the A range, 80–89.9% the B range, 70–79.9% the C range and 60–69.9% the D range; below 60% is an F. Within each range, the lowest scores get a minus and the highest a plus: for example, 80–82.9% is a B−. See the chart above, or set your school’s cutoffs in the calculator.
What about extra credit?
Scores above 100% are allowed (up to 150%), so you can include extra credit in a category score.
How do I find out what I need on the final?
Use the “What do I need on the final?” panel. Enter the final’s weight and your target and it uses your current grade from above. The final grade calculator does the same in more detail.