Most course grades are weighted averages: homework might count for 20%, quizzes 15%, exams 50% and so on. That makes “what is my grade right now?” surprisingly hard to answer in your head, especially partway through a term. Enter each category’s score and weight below and the calculator gives your current grade, your letter grade, and the average you need on the remaining work to reach a target.
How to use the grade calculator
- For each grading category on your syllabus, enter a name (optional), your score and the category’s weight in percent.
- Scores can be percentages (92) or points (46/50).
- For categories that are not graded yet, such as the final exam, enter the weight and leave the score blank.
- Optionally enter the course grade you want. The tape shows the average you need on the ungraded categories.
Weighted grade formula
The first formula is a weighted average. The second rearranges it to solve for the one unknown: your average on everything still to come.
Worked example
A syllabus and a student’s scores so far:
| Category | Score | Weight | Score × weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homework | 92% | 20% | 1,840 |
| Quizzes | 85% | 15% | 1,275 |
| Midterm exam | 78% | 25% | 1,950 |
| Project | 88% | 15% | 1,320 |
| Final exam | not yet | 25% | — |
- Graded weight: 20 + 15 + 25 + 15 = 75%.
- Weighted points: 1,840 + 1,275 + 1,950 + 1,320 = 6,385.
- Current grade: 6,385 ÷ 75 ≈ 85.13%, a B.
- To finish with 85%: (85 × 100 − 6,385) ÷ 25 = 2,115 ÷ 25 = 84.6% needed on the final.
The tape also shows the range still possible: a 0 on the final would leave 63.85%, and a perfect final would give 88.85%.
Letter grade scale
| Letter | Percent | Letter | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100 | C+ | 77–79 |
| A | 93–96 | C | 73–76 |
| A− | 90–92 | C− | 70–72 |
| B+ | 87–89 | D+ | 67–69 |
| B | 83–86 | D | 63–66 |
| B− | 80–82 | D− | 60–62 |
| F | below 60 |
Some schools use a simpler 90/80/70/60 scale without plus and minus grades, and some round 89.5 up to an A−. Your syllabus is the final word.
Tips for tracking your grade
Use category averages, not single assignments
If homework is 20% of the grade and you have twelve assignments, average them first (or total points earned over points possible) and enter that as the homework score. Dropping the lowest quiz? Remove it before averaging.
Points-based courses
Some courses do not use percentages at all: every assignment is worth points and the grade is total earned ÷ total possible. That is the same as a weighted average where each category’s weight is its points possible. Enter “455/500” style scores with weights equal to points possible, or simply total all points.
Plan for the final
If the final exam is all that is left, the final grade calculator gives a table of the exam score needed for every letter grade. To see how this class affects your overall standing, enter the expected letter grade in the GPA calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a weighted grade?
Multiply each category's score by its weight, add the results, and divide by the total weight. With homework 92% at 20%, quizzes 85% at 15%, a midterm 78% at 25% and a project 88% at 15%, the weighted points add to 6,385 and the weights to 75, so the grade so far is 6,385 ÷ 75 ≈ 85.13%.
What if some categories have no score yet?
Enter their weight and leave the score blank. The calculator reports your grade based only on graded work, the lowest and highest final grades still possible, and the average you need on the ungraded categories to reach your goal.
Can I enter points instead of percentages?
Yes. Type a score as earned/possible, such as 46/50, and it is converted to 92%. Totals such as 455/500 for a whole category work the same way.
What letter grade scale does it use?
A common US scale: A 93–100, A− 90–92, B+ 87–89, B 83–86, B− 80–82, and so on down to D− 60–62, with anything below 60 an F. Many schools differ slightly, so check your syllabus.
What if my weights do not add up to 100%?
When every category has a score, the calculator divides by the total weight you entered, which effectively scales the weights to 100%. Some teachers use points instead of percentages; in that case enter each category's points possible as its weight.