What grade do I need on my final?

The quick answer

If you want the result right now, use our free final grade calculator. Enter your current grade, the weight of the final and the grade you want. It tells you the score you need.

If you want to do it by hand, or understand why the number is what it is, keep reading. It is only one line of arithmetic.

The formula

Write every percentage as a decimal (85% becomes 0.85), then use:

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

• Target is the course grade you want.
• Current is your grade on everything graded so far.
• W is the weight of the final. A final worth 30% of the course is 0.30.

The idea is simple. The part of the course already graded locks in a number of points. The final has to supply whatever is missing to reach your target.

Worked example: percentage weights

Say your current grade is 82% and the final is worth 30% of the course. The graded part is worth the other 70%, so it contributes 0.82 × 0.70 = 57.4 points toward your course grade. Now see what the final must add for different targets:

Read the table like this: a 70% is nearly guaranteed, an 80% is realistic with solid preparation, an 85% needs an excellent exam, and a 90% is out of reach on the final alone.

Worked example: points instead of percentages

Some courses just add up points. Suppose the course is 1,000 points, you have earned 720 out of the first 800, and the final is worth the last 200.

• For 90% you need 900 points in total, so 900 − 720 = 180 out of 200, which is 90% on the final.
• For 85% you need 850 points, so 850 − 720 = 130 out of 200, which is 65% on the final.

In a points course the weight is simply the final's points divided by the total points.

Before you trust the number

• Check where your current grade comes from. It must cover only graded work. If your gradebook counts ungraded items as zero, it will look worse than it is.
• Confirm the real weight. Read the grading breakdown in your syllabus. Some courses weight the final differently from what students assume.
• Look for special rules. Some instructors drop the lowest score, replace a low midterm with the final, or curve. Others require a minimum score on the final to pass. These vary by school and by instructor, so check your syllabus.
• Know your cutoffs. A B+ at one school might start at 87% and at another at 88%. Use the cutoffs your instructor published.

What if the number is over 100%?

Do not panic and do not give up on the course. An answer above 100% only means that grade is out of reach on the final alone. Here is what to do:

• Move down one grade and recalculate. The next target is often well within reach, and it is the one you should plan for.
• Check for extra credit or remaining assignments. Anything still ungraded changes the sum.
• Ask your instructor how final grades are rounded, and whether they offer any options. A short, polite email is enough.

What if the number is low?

If you only need 40% to hold your grade, you can relax a little, but do not skip the final. Many courses require a minimum score to pass, and a very low result can still hurt your confidence for the next course in the sequence. Spend your extra study time on the classes where the final can actually change your result. Our finals week study plan shows how to rank your exams by what is at stake.

Turn the number into a study target

A needed score is more useful when you know what it means. If you need 75%, that is roughly a solid pass with a few mistakes allowed. If you need 92%, you cannot afford many gaps. Use it to decide how many study sessions each exam deserves, and use practice exams to check whether you are at that level yet.

Once you know your grades per course, you can also see what they do to your overall average with the GPA calculator.

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