Final Grade Calculator

The final exam grade formula

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

Write the final weight as a decimal: 25% is 0.25. Your current grade already accounts for everything except the final, so it covers (1 − final weight) of your course grade. The final fills in the rest.

Worked example

You have an 82% going into a final worth 25%.

• For a B (80%): (80 − 82 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = (80 − 61.5) ÷ 0.25 = 74%
• For a C (70%): (70 − 61.5) ÷ 0.25 = 34%
• For an A (90%): (90 − 61.5) ÷ 0.25 = 114%, not possible without extra credit

Your final grade will land between 61.5% (a 0 on the final) and 86.5% (a perfect final). The calculator shows that range so you know the best and worst case before you start studying.

Three things that throw the math off

1. Your "current grade" isn't really current. If some assignments are still ungraded, or your LMS weights categories differently from the syllabus, the starting number is wrong. Recompute it with the weighted grade calculator.
2. The final replaces a lower score. Some professors let a strong final replace your lowest midterm. That changes the weights, so read the grading policy.
3. Cutoffs aren't always 90/80/70/60. Plenty of syllabi use 93 for an A or curve at the end. Type your syllabus's exact cutoff into "Grade you want".

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate what I need on my final exam?

Use: needed score = (target grade − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight, with the weight as a decimal. Example: you have an 82%, the final is worth 25%, and you want a 90%. (90 − 82 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = (90 − 61.5) ÷ 0.25 = 114%. That A is out of reach, but a B (80%) needs only (80 − 61.5) ÷ 0.25 = 74%.

What does it mean if I need more than 100% on the final?

It means your target is not reachable from the final exam alone. A perfect score would still leave you short. Look for extra credit, dropped-lowest-score policies, or curves in your syllabus, or set a lower target. The calculator shows the highest grade you can still reach.

What if the needed score is zero or negative?

Then you have already locked in that grade. Even a 0 on the final keeps you at or above your target. Check your syllabus first, though: some courses require you to pass the final, or even just take it, to pass the class, whatever your average.

Where do I find my final exam weight?

It's in the grading breakdown of your syllabus, usually a table like "Homework 20%, Midterm 25%, Final 30%". If your class uses total points instead, divide the final's points by the course total (e.g. 200 of 1000 points = 20%).

Is my current grade in Canvas accurate?

Not always. Canvas and other LMS gradebooks often show a grade out of only the work graded so far, and weighted categories are sometimes not set up to match the syllabus. If the number looks off, recompute it with the weighted grade calculator using your syllabus's weights.