Final Grade Calculator
Find out what score you need on your final exam to achieve your desired grade. Enter your current grade, the final exam weight, and your target grade to see exactly what you need to score.
How to Use This Final Grade Calculator
Enter your current overall grade in the class before the final exam. This is typically your weighted average from all assignments, quizzes, midterms, and participation up to this point. Next, enter the percentage weight of your final exam as stated in your syllabus (commonly 15-40%). Finally, enter the grade you want to achieve in the course. The calculator will instantly tell you the minimum score you need on the final exam to reach your goal.
The grade table below shows what score you would need for each letter grade, making it easy to see all your options at a glance.
What is a Final Grade Calculator?
A final grade calculator is a tool that determines what score you need on a final exam to achieve a specific overall course grade. It uses weighted average calculations based on how much your final exam counts toward your total grade. This is especially useful during finals week when students need to prioritize their study time across multiple courses.
Understanding what you need on each final helps you make strategic decisions about where to focus your efforts. If you only need a 60% to keep your A in one class but need a 95% to get a B in another, you know where to allocate more study time.
The Final Grade Formula
Your final course grade is calculated as a weighted average of your current grade and final exam score:
Final Grade = Current Grade x (1 - Final Weight) + Final Score x Final Weight
Solving this equation for the required final exam score gives us:
Required Score = (Desired Grade - Current Grade x (1 - Final Weight)) / Final Weight
For example, if you have an 85% and the final is worth 25% and you want a 90%, you need: (90 - 85 x 0.75) / 0.25 = (90 - 63.75) / 0.25 = 105%. This means a 90% is not achievable.
What If I Need Over 100%?
If the calculator shows you need more than 100% on your final, your desired grade is mathematically impossible even with a perfect final exam score. In this situation, you have several options:
- Lower your target grade to something achievable
- Ask your professor about extra credit opportunities
- Check if any previous assignments can be resubmitted
- Focus your energy on other courses where improvement is possible
Understanding Final Exam Weight
The weight of your final exam significantly affects how much it can change your grade. A final worth 40% of your grade has much more power to raise (or lower) your grade than one worth only 15%. Check your course syllabus carefully for the exact percentage, as some professors split the weight between midterms and finals differently.
Tips for Final Exam Success
- Start early: Begin reviewing material at least a week before the exam - cramming is less effective for retention
- Use past exams: Review previous exams and practice problems to understand the format and common question types
- Focus on weaknesses: Spend more time on concepts you struggled with during the semester
- Sleep well: Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep before the exam - fatigue impairs memory and reasoning
- Set a target: Knowing exactly what score you need helps maintain motivation and manage test anxiety
- Create a study schedule: Break material into manageable chunks and review over several days