Skip to content
GradeCalc.US

Final Grade Calculator

This final exam calculator shows exactly what you need on your final to keep your A, pull up to a B, or pass the class, based on your current grade and how much the final is worth.

  • Live results
  • U.S. grading scale
  • Private

Your grade before the final. Percent or letter.

%

Check your syllabus. Finals are often 15–30%.

What if I score…

Fill in your grade and weight above.

You need on the final

Enter your current grade and the weight of the final.

How to use the final grade calculator

  1. Current grade: your grade in the class right now, before the final. Use the exact percentage from your portal if you can; a letter like B+ works for a quick estimate.
  2. Final exam weight: the percent of your course grade the final is worth, from your syllabus.
  3. Target grade: pick a letter or enter any custom percentage.

The result shows the score you need and a table for every letter grade, so you can see at a glance which grades are locked in, which are realistic and which are out of reach. Use What if I score… to see your class grade for any final score.

The final exam formula

Needed on final = (Target − Current × (1 − w)) ÷ w

Here w is the final's weight as a decimal (20% = 0.20). The formula comes from the weighted average: your course grade will be Current × (1 − w) + Final × w; solve that for Final.

Worked example

Keeping a B in AP Chemistry

Current grade 84.5%, final worth 25%, target B (83%)?

(83 − 84.5 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = (83 − 63.375) ÷ 0.25 = 78.5%.

For an A- (90%) instead: (90 − 63.375) ÷ 0.25 = 106.5%, not possible without extra credit.

Quick reference: score needed for a 90% (A-)

Find your current grade on the left and your final's weight across the top. A dash means a 90% isn't reachable from the final alone.

Score needed on the final to finish with at least 90% (an A-)
Current gradeFinal 10%Final 15%Final 20%Final 25%Final 30%Final 40%
95%45%61.7%70%75%78.4%82.5%
90%90%90%90%90%90.1%90%
85%—————97.5%
80%——————
75%——————
70%——————

A final exam calculator for high school and college

This works as an exam calculator for any test with its own weight: a high school semester exam, an AP final, or a college midterm. As an exam grade calculator it only needs your current grade and the exam's weight, so it also works as a final grade calculator for college courses, where finals often count for 25–40% of the grade.

Taking a state end-of-course test instead? The EOC calculator uses the same math with EOC-specific guidance.

Tips before your final

  • Check the weight first. A final worth 10% barely moves your grade; one worth 40% can change it by a full letter or more.
  • Know what's already safe. If a grade shows Locked in, you'll keep it even with a 0. Spend your study time on the classes where the final actually decides your letter.
  • Ask about replacement policies. Some U.S. high schools let a final exam score replace your lowest test, which changes the math. Use the grade calculator to model that.
  • Semester finals: if your semester grade combines two quarters plus a final, the semester grade calculator handles that setup directly.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate what I need on my final?

Use: needed = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w, where w is the final's weight as a decimal. With an 85% current grade, a 90% target and a final worth 20%: (90 − 85 × 0.8) ÷ 0.2 = 110%. That means an A isn't possible from the final alone.

What if I need more than 100% on the final?

Then the target isn't reachable through the final exam alone. Look at the next letter down in the results table, and ask your teacher about extra credit, test corrections, or whether any grades can still be replaced.

How much is a final exam usually worth?

In U.S. high schools the semester final is commonly 10–20% of the semester grade. In college courses finals are often 20–35%, and some are worth up to 50%. Your syllabus lists the exact weight.

Can I fail the class if I fail the final?

It depends on the weight. If the final is worth 20% and you have an 80% going in, a 0 on the final leaves you at 64%, still a D. Use the 'What if I score' box to try any final score. Some schools also require passing the final itself.

Does my current grade already include the final?

It shouldn't. Enter your grade before the final is taken. Most online gradebooks show the current grade without the final, which is exactly what this calculator needs.

What if my final is graded in points?

Convert it to a weight first: final points ÷ total course points × 100. A 150-point final in a 1,000-point course is worth 15%.

Does it work for a midterm exam?

Yes. Enter your current grade before the midterm and the midterm's weight. The math is the same for any exam that counts as a fixed percentage of your grade.

Last reviewed by the GradeCalc team. See how we calculate.