How weighted grades work
Grade = Σ (category score × category weight) ÷ Σ (weights entered)
Each category counts for a fixed share of your grade, no matter how many assignments are in it.
If exams are 50% of the course, one bad quiz barely moves your grade and one bad exam moves it a lot.
Example:
| Category | Your score | Weight | Score × weight |
|---|
| Homework | 92% | 20% | 1840 |
| Quizzes | 85% | 15% | 1275 |
| Midterm | 78% | 25% | 1950 |
| Total | | 60% | 5065 |
5065 ÷ 60 = 84.4%, a B. The final (the other 40%) hasn't happened yet, so
dividing by 60 instead of 100 gives your grade on the work done so far. To finish with a 90%, you'd
need (90 − 84.4 × 0.6) ÷ 0.4 = 98.4% on the final.
Points-based grading
In a points-based class, every assignment is worth a set number of points and your grade is simply
points earned ÷ points possible. A 100-point midterm counts five times as much as a
20-point homework. Switch the calculator to Total points and enter the course total
(often 1000) to see how many of the remaining points you need.
Where to find your weights
Your syllabus has a grading breakdown, usually a table or list near the top or bottom.
If the weights in your LMS gradebook don't match it, trust the syllabus, and ask your professor.
Mismatched weights are one of the most common reasons a Canvas grade is wrong.
Heading into finals? The final grade calculator answers
"what do I need on the final?" in one step.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate a weighted grade?
Multiply your score in each category by that category's weight, add the results, and divide by the total weight. Example: Homework 92% × 20, Quizzes 85% × 15, Midterm 78% × 25. That gives 1840 + 1275 + 1950 = 5065, and 5065 ÷ 60 = 84.4%.
Why do I divide by the weight entered instead of 100?
Because the rest of the course hasn't been graded yet. If only 60% of your grade is in, dividing by 100 would treat the missing 40% as zeros. Dividing by 60 gives your grade on the work you've actually done, which is what most gradebooks show.
What is the difference between weighted and points-based grading?
Weighted grading splits your grade into categories with fixed percentages (Exams 50%, Homework 20%…), no matter how many points each category has. Points-based grading adds up every point you earned and divides by every point possible, so a 200-point exam counts ten times as much as a 20-point quiz. Your syllabus says which one your class uses.
How do I calculate my grade in a points-based class?
Add up the points you earned and divide by the points possible so far. 850 earned out of 1000 possible is 85%. To find what you need on the rest, enter the total points in the course. The calculator works out how many of the remaining points you need for each letter grade.
My category weights add up to more than 100%. What went wrong?
Usually a typo, or extra credit listed as its own category. Check the grading breakdown table in your syllabus. If the course really does offer bonus weight, the calculator still works, but your grade can go above 100%.
