What it does
Enter your current grade, how much the final exam counts and the grade you’re aiming for, and you’ll see the exact score you need on the final. It also lists what you’d need for an A, a B, a C and a D, so you can see at a glance which goals are realistic. If the required score is above 100%, the goal is out of reach without extra credit, and the calculator tells you the best grade you can still get. If it’s 0% or less, you’ve already secured that grade. You can also work the other way round: type a final exam score to see the course grade it would give you. The calculation assumes the final is a fixed share of the grade, as most syllabuses describe it.
How to use it
- In “Current grade”, enter your grade in the course so far as a percentage, as shown in your gradebook or portal.
- In “Final exam is worth”, enter how much the final counts towards the course grade, for example 30% (check the syllabus).
- In “Grade you want”, enter the course grade you’re aiming for. The score you need on the final appears straight away, with the scores needed for an A, B, C and D under it.
- To check a result the other way round, type a final exam score under “If I score…” to see the course grade it gives.
Common uses
- Planning how much to study for each final when several exams fall in the same week
- Checking whether an A is still possible before deciding to take a course pass/fail
- Seeing how a disappointing midterm affects the grade you can still reach
- Setting a realistic target score with a student you tutor
Tips
- Use the grade from your gradebook after all other work is marked. If homework or projects are still due, your current grade can still move, and so does the score you need.
- The final’s weight is in the syllabus, usually listed as a percentage of the course grade, such as “Final exam: 30%”.
- Letter grade cut-offs differ between schools. The table uses the common 90/80/70/60 scale; if yours is different, type your own cut-off as the goal.