Find out what score you need on your final exam to reach your target course grade. Enter your current grade, the weight of the final, and your desired final grade.
Enter your current course grade, the weight of your final exam, and your desired course grade.
To calculate the score you need on your final exam, combine your current course grade with the percentage weight of the final and your desired overall course grade.
The calculator determines how much of your final course grade is already represented by your current grade, then calculates the exam score required to reach your target.
Convert the final exam weight from a percentage to a decimal before using the formula. For example, a 30% final exam weight becomes 0.30.
Suppose your current course grade is 82%, your final exam is worth 30% of the course grade, and you want to finish the class with an 85%.
| Value | Amount |
|---|---|
| Current Grade | 82% |
| Final Exam Weight | 30% |
| Desired Course Grade | 85% |
You need a 92% on the final exam to finish the course with an overall grade of 85%.
If the required final exam score is above 100%, your target course grade is not mathematically achievable under the entered grading weights without extra credit or another adjustment.
For example, if your current grade is 70%, the final is worth 20%, and your target grade is 80%, you would need:
Because 120% is above the normal maximum score, you would need extra credit, a grading adjustment, or a lower target grade.
The more your final exam is worth, the more it can change your overall course grade. A heavily weighted final gives you more opportunity to improve your grade, but it can also lower your final result more significantly if you perform poorly.
| Final Exam Weight | Impact on Course Grade |
|---|---|
| 10% | Relatively small impact |
| 20% | Moderate impact |
| 30% | Significant impact |
| 40% or more | Very large impact |
Always use the exact final exam weight listed in your syllabus or gradebook.