Boneyard Tools

Final Grade Calculator

Work out the exact score you need on a final exam to finish a course at your target grade. Enter your current grade, the overall grade you are aiming for, and the percent of the grade the final is worth, and the tool solves the weighted-average formula for you. It also flags whether that score is realistic, out of reach above 100, or already guaranteed by the work you have banked.

How to find the score you need

  1. Type your current grade in the course as a percent into the first field.
  2. Enter the overall grade you want to finish with in the second field.
  3. Enter how much the final exam is worth, from just above 0 up to 100 percent.
  4. Read the large percent, which is the score you need on the final.
  5. Check the verdict badge for Achievable, Not achievable, or Already locked in.

Examples

Current 85, goal 90, final worth 30%

current 85%, desired 90%, final weight 30%
You need 101.67% on the final, which is not achievable

Current 78, goal 80, final worth 40%

current 78%, desired 80%, final weight 40%
You need 83% on the final, which is achievable

Current 90, goal 60, final worth 20%

current 90%, desired 60%, final weight 20%
You need -60% on the final, already locked in

Frequently asked questions

How is the score I need calculated?

Your overall grade is a weighted average of the work so far and the final. The needed final score equals the desired grade minus your current grade times one minus the weight, all divided by the weight.

What does not achievable mean?

It means the required score comes out above 100 percent, so even a perfect final would fall short. To make the goal reachable you would need to raise your current grade first or lower the target.

What if the result is zero or negative?

Then your target is already locked in. A needed score of zero or below means even a blank final keeps your overall grade at or above the goal you set.

Where do I find the final exam weight?

Check your syllabus or grading breakdown. The final is usually listed as a percent of the course grade, such as a final worth 20 or 30 percent, alongside homework and midterm weights.

Does this work for a single test or a whole category?

Yes. Treat any upcoming assessment as the final and its share of the grade as the weight. The same formula tells you what you need on a project, a midterm, or a graded category.

Do I enter grades as percents or letters?

Enter everything as percents. If your school uses letters, convert them first, for example a B might map to 85 percent, then read the needed score back as a percent.

Can the current grade and desired grade be the same?

Yes. If you want to hold your current grade exactly, enter the same value for both, and the tool returns the score that keeps your average steady, which is your current grade itself.

Why is a final weight above 100 or zero rejected?

The weight is the final exam's share of the whole grade, so it must be greater than 0 and at most 100 percent. A weight of 0 would mean the final does not count, which leaves nothing to solve for.

Is my information saved anywhere?

No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser, so your grades and targets are never uploaded or stored on a server.

Learn more

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