Check the “replaces lowest” rule
Some classes let the final replace your lowest exam. If yours does, your current grade after the swap is the number to enter.
Final grade calculator
Your grade now, what the final is worth, and the grade you are aiming for.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate what I need on my final?
Needed score = (grade you want − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight. With an 84% now, a final worth 25% and an 85% target: (85 − 84 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = (85 − 63) ÷ 0.25 = 88%.
How do I calculate my final grade in a class?
Final grade = current grade × (1 − final weight) + final exam score × final weight. An 84% going in, a 25% final and an 80% on it give 63 + 20 = 83%.
What if I need more than 100%?
Then the target is out of reach without extra credit or a curve. The table in the result shows the best grade you can still reach and what each lower grade needs.
Where do I find the final exam weight?
In the syllabus, usually under grading. If the final is a number of points instead, its weight is those points divided by the course’s total points.
The formula
Your current grade counts for everything except the final: if the final is worth 25%, your current grade makes up the other 75%. Subtract that share from the grade you want, and divide what is left by the final’s weight.
Score needed = (G − (1 − w) × C) ÷ w, where C is your current grade, G the grade you want and w the final’s weight as a decimal.
A worked example
You have an 84% and want an 85%. The final is worth 25%. Your 84% counts for 84 × 0.75 = 63 points. You need 85 − 63 = 22 more points from the final, which is worth 25: 22 ÷ 0.25 = 88%.
| Grade you want | Final score needed (84% now, final 25%) |
|---|---|
| 90% | 108% — not possible |
| 85% | 88% |
| 80% | 68% |
| 70% | 28% |
Work out your current grade first
If you only have scores and weights, the grade calculator gives your current grade to plug in here.
What this calculator assumes
- Your current grade already reflects everything except the final, with weights applied.
- The final’s weight is a share of the whole course grade. No curve, drops or extra credit are applied.
- Letters use plus/minus bands from The Princeton Review’s table, or ten-point bands if you choose them.