80% current grade, 40% final, 86% target
(86 − 80 × 0.60) ÷ 0.40 = 95%
The non-final contribution is 48 percentage points. The final must supply 38 more, so the required exam score is 95%.
Education
Final Grade Calculator
Find the exam score you need for your target grade, or see how a final exam score changes your overall course percentage.
Calculate a final exam or course grade
Required final exam score
Enter the final weight and grades, then select Calculate.
- Overall grade with a 0% final
- Overall grade with a 100% final
Calculation steps
Calculations run in your browser. Successful results appear in this tab's Recent calculations. Display precision changes do not add a new entry.
Formulas and worked examples
80% current grade and 90% on a 40% final
80 × 0.60 + 90 × 0.40 = 84%
The current work contributes 48 percentage points and the final contributes 36. The overall course grade is 84%.
80% current grade, 30% final, 81% target
Required = 250/3% ≈ 83.33%
An exam score of 83.33% gives an overall grade of 80.999%, slightly below the exact target. If exam scores come in steps of 0.01 percentage point, the minimum is 83.34%.
80% current grade, 20% final, 85% target
Required = 105%
Even a 100% final gives 80 × 0.80 + 100 × 0.20 = 84%. The 85% target is outside this tool's 0–100 score model.
The weighted percentage model
Let C be the normalized non-final grade, F the final exam score, T the target, and w the final weight divided by 100. The overall grade is C × (1 − w) + F × w. For w greater than zero, the minimum algebraic final score is [T − C × (1 − w)] ÷ w.
Scores and weights must be from 0 to 100. A 0% final weight leaves the overall grade unchanged; a 100% final weight makes the overall grade equal the final exam score. Inputs that have no effect are hidden and ignored.
Reference for the weighted model: Pearson — Final Grade Calculator. The worked examples and presentation here are specific to CalculateSite.
Common questions
Is the current grade the number shown in my gradebook?
Only if that number is the normalized weighted grade for all non-final work. Some gradebooks include an ungraded final as zero or omit unfinished assignments. For a final worth 40%, non-final work worth 48 out of the other 60 course points gives a current grade of 80%, not 48%. Check how your course gradebook treats missing work.
Why is the minimum score different from the rounded answer?
The main decimal rounds to the nearest value, with halfway cases away from zero. A minimum score must round upward to reach the target. For an exact threshold of 83⅓%, 83.33% is too low, while 83.34% reaches the target. The separate minimum assumes final scores can occur in steps of 0.01 percentage point; a points-based exam may allow different increments.
What if the required score is negative or greater than 100%?
A zero or negative threshold means even a 0% final reaches the target in this weighted model. The algebraic threshold remains visible, while the minimum allowed score is 0%. An exact threshold above 100% means the target cannot be reached under the 100% score cap, even when the rounded display says approximately 100%.
Does the calculator include letter grades, extra credit, or a passing rule?
No. This tool calculates weighted percentages without extra credit, curves, dropped scores, attendance requirements, or a separate requirement to pass the final. It does not apply school-specific rounding or letter-grade boundaries. For example, a policy that rounds 89.5% to 90% must be checked with your instructor; this calculator tests the target percentage exactly.
How are decimals and precision handled?
Finite decimal inputs are converted to exact fractions. The score threshold and achievable range are calculated before display rounding. Choose 0, 2, 4, 6, or 10 decimal places; unnecessary trailing zeros are omitted, and ≈ marks a rounded display. The practical minimum always uses 0.01-percentage-point increments regardless of the display setting. Numeric fields accept correctly grouped commas, but every grade and weight must still be between 0 and 100. The common limits are 64 input characters, 15 integer digits, and 10 fractional digits; expressions and scientific notation are not accepted.