Grade Calculator
Calculate your current grade and find out what you need on upcoming assignments to reach your target grade.
Enter your desired final grade to see what you need on remaining assignments
Letter grades use US standard (A+/A/B/C/D/F)
What is a Grade Calculator?
A grade calculator helps you understand your current standing in a course and plan for success. It takes your scores from different assignments, applies their weights, and shows you exactly where you stand.
Think of it as your academic GPS—it tells you where you are and what you need to reach your destination.
How Weighted Grades Work
Most courses don't treat all assignments equally. A final exam typically counts more than a single homework assignment. This is called weighted grading.
Example:
| Category | Your Score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homework | 95% | 20% | 19% |
| Quizzes | 88% | 15% | 13.2% |
| Midterm | 82% | 25% | 20.5% |
| Final | ? | 30% | ? |
| Participation | 100% | 10% | 10% |
Current grade (before final): 19 + 13.2 + 20.5 + 10 = 62.7% (out of 70% completed)
Actual percentage: 62.7 ÷ 70 × 100 = 89.6%
What Do I Need on My Final?
This is the most common question students ask. Here's how to figure it out:
Using our example above:
- Target grade: 90% (A-)
- Current points: 62.7%
- Remaining weight: 30% (final exam)
Needed on final: (90 - 62.7) ÷ 30 × 100 = 91%
Use our calculator above! Just enter your target grade and it will automatically tell you what you need on remaining assignments.
Common Grading Structures
Different courses weight things differently:
Exam-Heavy Courses (Sciences, Math)
- Midterm: 30%
- Final: 40%
- Homework: 20%
- Labs: 10%
Project-Based Courses (CS, Design)
- Projects: 50%
- Midterm: 20%
- Final: 20%
- Participation: 10%
Discussion Courses (Humanities)
- Papers: 40%
- Participation: 25%
- Midterm: 15%
- Final: 20%
Strategies for Grade Improvement
1. Focus on High-Weight Categories A 10% improvement on your final (30% weight) adds 3% to your grade. The same improvement on homework (10% weight) only adds 1%.
2. Don't Neglect "Easy" Points Participation and homework are often the easiest to max out. A 100% in participation can compensate for a lower exam score.
3. Calculate Break-Even Points If you're happy with a B (83%), calculate the minimum you need on remaining work to secure it. Sometimes you can allocate study time more strategically.
4. Track Throughout the Semester Don't wait until finals week. Regular tracking helps you identify problems early when there's still time to improve.
Check your syllabus! Some courses have minimum requirements (e.g., must pass the final to pass the course) that override weighted calculations.
Standard Letter Grade Scale
| Percentage | Letter | GPA Points |
|---|---|---|
| 97-100% | A+ | 4.0 |
| 93-96% | A | 4.0 |
| 90-92% | A- | 3.7 |
| 87-89% | B+ | 3.3 |
| 83-86% | B | 3.0 |
| 80-82% | B- | 2.7 |
| 77-79% | C+ | 2.3 |
| 73-76% | C | 2.0 |
| 70-72% | C- | 1.7 |
| 67-69% | D+ | 1.3 |
| 63-66% | D | 1.0 |
| 60-62% | D- | 0.7 |
| Below 60% | F | 0.0 |
Some professors curve grades or use different scales. Always check your syllabus for the specific grading policy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Forgetting Weights Must Sum to 100% If your weights add up to more or less than 100%, your calculation will be wrong.
❌ Confusing Points with Percentages If homework is worth 100 points total and you got 85, that's 85%—not 85 points toward your final grade.
❌ Ignoring Extra Credit Some courses offer extra credit that can push your grade above what's mathematically possible from regular assignments.
❌ Not Accounting for Dropped Scores Many courses drop your lowest quiz or homework score. Make sure you're calculating based on what actually counts.