How to Use the Final Grade Calculator

Finals week is stressful enough without having to do complex algebra in your head. Our Final Grade Calculator is designed to answer the one question every college student asks at the end of the semester: "What do I need to score on my final exam to get an A?"

Here is how to find out your required score in seconds:

• Current Grade (%): Enter your current grade in the class before the final exam. You can usually find this on Canvas, Blackboard, or your syllabus.
• Target Grade (%): Enter the grade you want to end up with for the semester (e.g., 90% for an A, 80% for a B).
• Final Exam Weight (%): Enter how much your final exam is worth. This is typically 15%, 20%, or sometimes up to 50% of your total grade.

The Math Behind the Calculator

Curious about how the numbers work? If you want to calculate it manually, here is the formula we use:

Required Score = (Target Grade - (Current Grade × (100% - Final Weight))) / Final Weight

For example, if you have an 85% average, you want a 90% (A) in the class, and your final is worth 20%, the calculation would show that you need an impossible 110% on the final. Time to adjust that target grade to a B+!

Common College Grading Scale (US)

While every professor and university is different, here is the standard grading scale used in most US colleges:

• A: 90% - 100% (4.0 GPA)
• B: 80% - 89% (3.0 GPA)
• C: 70% - 79% (2.0 GPA)
• D: 60% - 69% (1.0 GPA)
• F: 0% - 59% (0.0 GPA)

Study Tips to Hit Your Target Grade

Now that you know the score you need, it's time to focus. Don't forget to check out our Study Room to use the Pomodoro timer with Lo-Fi music, or use our Citation Helper to finish those final papers faster.