Final Grade Calculator
Enter your current grade in the class, the overall course grade you want, and how much the final exam is worth. The calculator returns the score you need on the final, plus the grade your non-final work has already locked in.
How to calculate final grade
Your course grade blends the final exam with everything you have already done. The non-final work makes up (1 - w) of the grade and stays fixed at your current average, which locks in current x (1 - w) points before the final is even graded. The final exam supplies the remaining w of the grade, so to hit your desired grade, the final must cover the gap between that target and the points already locked in. Divide the gap by the final's weight (as a fraction of 1) to get the score you need.
Needed = (desired - current x (1 - w)) / w, where w = final exam weight / 100
Worked example
You have a 78% in the class before the final, the final is worth 25% of the course grade, and you want to finish with an 80% overall.
- Convert the weight to a fraction: 25% = 0.25
- Points locked in by non-final work: 78 x (1 - 0.25) = 78 x 0.75 = 58.5
- Gap left for the final to cover: 80 - 58.5 = 21.5
- Divide by the final's weight: 21.5 / 0.25 = 86
Result: You need an 86% on the final exam to finish the course with an 80%.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the grade I need on my final exam?
Subtract the points your non-final work already locks in (current grade times one minus the final's weight) from your desired overall grade, then divide by the final's weight as a fraction. With a 78% current grade, a 25% final, and an 80% target, that is (80 - 78 x 0.75) / 0.25 = 86%.
What if the score I need is over 100%?
A result above 100% means your desired grade is out of reach from the final alone, since even a perfect score would leave you short. You would need to either lower the target grade or raise your average on the non-final work, since that is what the final weight cannot make up on its own.
What if the score I need is zero or negative?
A result at or below zero means your non-final work has already secured your target grade, so any score on the final, including a zero, keeps you at or above it. Check the "grade locked in by non-final work" row: if it already meets or beats your target, the final cannot pull you below it unless its weight is very high.
What counts as my "current grade" for this calculator?
It is your average across everything in the course except the final, homework, quizzes, midterms, papers, and participation. The calculator treats that average as fixed and solves only for the final. If some of that other work is not graded yet, use your best realistic estimate for it.
How much can the final exam actually change my grade?
By exactly its weight. A final worth 25% can move your course grade by up to 25 points between a zero and a perfect score. A final worth 10% has much less room to help or hurt you, which is why a low grade going into a lightly weighted final is hard to fix.
Is this the same as the midterm grade calculator?
It uses the same goal-seek formula, but applied to the final exam instead of the midterm. If you are trying to work out what you need partway through the term, before the final is scheduled, use the midterm grade calculator instead; use this one once you know the final's weight and want the exact score to target.