Semester Grade Calculator
Enter your two quarter grades and your final exam score, with the weight of each. The calculator combines them into your overall semester grade. The default weights (40/40/20) match the most common US high school setup.
How to calculate semester grade
A semester grade is a weighted average of the marking periods and the final exam. Multiply each quarter grade and the final exam grade by its weight, add them, then divide by the total of the weights. Many US high schools weight each quarter at 40% and the final exam at 20%, but schools vary, so enter your own weights. Dividing by the total weight keeps the result correct even if the weights do not sum to 100.
Semester grade = (Q1 x w1 + Q2 x w2 + final x wF) / (w1 + w2 + wF)
Worked example
You earned 88 in Quarter 1, 82 in Quarter 2, and 90 on the final, weighted 40/40/20.
- Weight each grade: 88 x 40 = 3,520; 82 x 40 = 3,280; 90 x 20 = 1,800
- Add the products: 3,520 + 3,280 + 1,800 = 8,600
- Add the weights: 40 + 40 + 20 = 100
- Divide: 8,600 / 100 = 86
Result: Your semester grade is 86%.
Frequently asked questions
How is a semester grade calculated?
It is a weighted average of your quarter grades and final exam. Multiply each by its weight, add them, and divide by the total weight. With quarters of 88 and 82 and a final of 90 weighted 40/40/20, the semester grade is 8,600 / 100 = 86%.
How much does the final exam affect my semester grade?
It depends on the final's weight. At the common 20% weight, the final can move your semester grade by a few points. Raise the weight and its impact grows. Enter different final scores to see exactly how much it changes your result.
What if my school weights quarters differently?
Just change the weights. Some schools use 45/45/10, others count the final as a third quarter. Because the calculator divides by the total weight, any combination works as long as it reflects your school's policy.
What grade do I need on the final to pass the semester?
Enter your quarter grades and weights, then try final scores until the semester grade reaches your target. Because the final is usually weighted less than the quarters combined, a low quarter average can be hard to fully offset with the final alone.