Final Grade Calculator
Find out exactly what score you need on your final exam.
Calculator
Final grade inputs
Current grade is your grade before the final exam. Extra credit can make this above 100% in some classes.
Desired grade is the final course grade you want.
Final exam weight is the percent of your total course grade from the final.
Optional: estimate the course grade if you score this on the final.
Required final exam score
108.7%
Score needed to hit your target.
Status
Target not achievable
Based on a 0-100% final exam score.
Maximum possible grade
87.4%
If final exam score is 100%.
Minimum possible grade
57.4%
If final exam score is 0%.
Current coursework weight
70%
Portion already represented by your current grade.
What-if final grade
82.9%
If final exam score is 85%.
This target is not achievable with the current inputs because it requires 108.7% on the final.
Interpretation
What your result means
Required score
You need 108.7% on the final exam to finish with 90% overall.
Final weight
Because the final is worth 30%, it can meaningfully change your course grade.
Best case
Even with 100% on the final, your maximum possible grade is 87.4%.
Formula
Formula block
Final course grade
Final Grade = Current Grade x (1 - Final Weight) + Final Exam Score x Final Weight
Required final exam score
Required Final Score = (Desired Grade - Current Grade x (1 - Final Weight)) / Final Weight
Maximum possible course grade
Maximum Grade = Current Grade x (1 - Final Weight) + 100 x Final Weight
Minimum possible course grade
Minimum Grade = Current Grade x (1 - Final Weight)
Variables
Variable explanations
Current grade
Your grade before the final exam.
Desired grade
The target course grade you want after the final.
Final exam weight
The percentage of your course grade represented by the final exam.
Coursework weight
The rest of the grade, equal to 100% minus final exam weight.
Required final score
The final exam percentage needed to reach your desired grade.
Maximum grade
The best possible course grade if your final exam score is 100%.
Examples
Worked examples
Need 90% overall
Current 82%, target 90%, final 30%
Formula: (90 - 82 x 0.70) / 0.30
Answer: 108.67%
This target requires more than 100%, so it is not achievable without extra credit.
Need 75% overall
Current 70%, target 75%, final 40%
Formula: (75 - 70 x 0.60) / 0.40
Answer: 82.5%
The final has enough weight to move the course grade upward.
Impossible target
Current 60%, target 90%, final 25%
Formula: (90 - 60 x 0.75) / 0.25
Answer: 180%
Even a perfect final cannot raise the course grade to 90%.
Low-weight final
Current 84%, target 90%, final 10%
Formula: (90 - 84 x 0.90) / 0.10
Answer: 144%
A 10% final has limited ability to change the course grade.
What-if score
Current 82%, final score 85%, final 30%
Formula: 82 x 0.70 + 85 x 0.30
Answer: 82.9%
This shows the final course grade if you score 85% on the final.
Weighting
Current grade vs final exam weight
Higher final weight
A higher final exam weight means the exam has more power to raise or lower the course grade.
Lower final weight
A lower final exam weight means your current grade matters more and the final has limited impact.
Scenarios
Grade goals and scenarios
| Target course grade | Required final score | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 60% | 8.7% | Achievable target |
| 70% | 42% | Achievable target |
| 80% | 75.3% | Achievable target |
| 90% | 108.7% | Target not achievable |
Pass target
Use a 60% or 70% target if that matches your course scale.
A target
Use 90% as a common A-range scenario, but check your syllabus.
Above 100%
A required score above 100% means the target is usually not realistic without extra credit.
Safe buffer
Aiming slightly above the required score can provide room for exam-day variation.
Pitfalls
Common mistakes
FAQ
Final grade calculator questions
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