Final Grade Calculator
Your average so far, excluding the final.
94.00% on the final
The final grade calculator answers one question: what do I need to score on the final exam to finish with the grade I want? It gives the honest answer even when that is above 100 or below zero, and explains what each of those means rather than clamping the number.
How it works
needed = (target - current x (1 - w)) / w
- current
- your average so far, across everything except the final
- w
- the final exam’s weight as a decimal. 30% becomes 0.3
- target
- the overall grade you want
A result above 100 means the target is unreachable: even a perfect final leaves you short. A result at or below zero means the target is already secured. You could score nothing and still reach it.
The lower the final’s weight, the more extreme the required score becomes. A final worth 10 percent can barely move a grade, which is why a modest target can require an impossible score.
Examples
A reachable target
Current
74%
Final weight
30%
Target
80%
Result
94.00% needed on the final
(80 − 74 × 0.7) / 0.3. Six points of overall improvement requires twenty points above your current average, because the final carries under a third of the grade.
An unreachable target
Current
60%
Final weight
20%
Target
85%
Result
185.00% needed, flagged as not reachable
A perfect final gives 68 percent overall. The tool shows that maximum rather than just reporting an impossible number.
Already secured
Current
92%
Final weight
25%
Target
65%
Result
−16.00%, flagged as already secured
A negative requirement means your existing grade alone clears the target, so even a zero keeps you above it.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need such a high score for a small improvement?
Because the final only carries its own weight. With a final worth 30 percent, every point of overall improvement needs 3.3 points on the exam. The lighter the final, the more extreme the arithmetic, which is why a 10 percent final can make a two-point improvement require an impossible score.
What does a required score above 100 mean?
That the target cannot be reached. The tool also shows what a perfect final would actually give you, which is the more useful number at that point. It tells you the best grade still available rather than only that your target is gone.
What should I enter as my current grade?
Your weighted average across everything except the final, not your average including it. If your coursework components have different weights, calculate that figure with the weighted grade calculator first.
Does this account for grade curves or dropped scores?
No. It assumes the weighting scheme you enter is exactly how the grade is computed. Curves, dropped lowest scores and extra credit all change the result and vary too much between institutions to model.