ExamTally → Final Grade Calculator
Final Grade Calculator
Enter your current grade, the final exam’s weight, and the grade you want — ExamTally works out exactly what you need on the final, and flags impossible targets.
To find the score you need on the final, use needed = (desired − current × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight. With a current 88%, a final worth 20%, and a target of 90%, you need 98% on the final. Enter your own numbers below.
Key takeaways
- needed = (desired − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w, with w as a decimal.
- Current 88%, final 20%, want 90% → need 98%.
- Over 100% needed? The target is impossible with this final.
- 0% or less needed? You have already secured the target.
- Confirm your weight and current grade against your syllabus.
How the final grade calculator works
Your final course grade is a weighted blend of the grade you already have and the score you get on the final. If the final is worth a fraction w of the course, your current grade carries the other (1 − w). Setting that blend equal to your target and solving for the final score gives a single, exact answer.
If the needed score is above 100, no final can reach the target — the calculator flags it and shows your best possible overall grade. If the needed score is at or below 0, the target is already locked in even with a zero on the final.
Worked example: current 88%, final 20%, want 90%
Convert the weight: 20% means w = 0.20, so your current grade carries 0.80. Your current 88% already contributes 88 × 0.80 = 70.4 points. To reach 90 overall you need the final to supply 90 − 70.4 = 19.6 points, and since the final is worth 0.20, the score must be 19.6 ÷ 0.20 = 98%. That is achievable, so it is not flagged.
Standard A–F grading scale
| Letter | Percentage | GPA points (4.0) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90–100% | 4.0 |
| B | 80–89% | 3.0 |
| C | 70–79% | 2.0 |
| D | 60–69% | 1.0 |
| F | Below 60% | 0.0 |
This is the most common US scale. Your school may use plus/minus grades or different cutoffs — always confirm.
Want the full term picture instead of just the final? Use the semester grade calculator or the weighted grade calculator to combine every category.
Frequently asked questions
What grade do I need on the final exam?
Subtract the points your current grade already contributes from your target, then divide by the final’s weight. The formula is needed = (desired − current × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight. For a current 88%, a final worth 20%, and a target of 90%, you need 98% on the final.
What does the “final weight” mean?
It is the share of your overall course grade that the final exam is worth, as a percentage. If the syllabus says the final counts for 20% of the grade, enter 20. The rest of your grade — 80% here — is your current grade going into the final.
What if the score I need is over 100%?
Then the target is impossible with this final alone — even a perfect exam will not get you there. The calculator flags this and shows the highest grade you can still reach, so you can set a realistic target or look for extra-credit.
What if I have already passed?
If the needed score is zero or negative, you have already locked in your target even if you score zero on the final. The calculator flags this as already achieved, though you should still take the exam unless your teacher says otherwise.
Does the final weight have to be a round number?
No. Enter any weight from just above 0 up to 100, including decimals such as 17.5%. A weight of 0 has no defined answer because the final would not affect your grade at all, so the calculator waits for a positive weight.
Is the result a guarantee of my final grade?
It is an estimate based on the numbers you enter. Rounding rules, extra credit, dropped scores, and category weighting can shift the real result. Confirm your current grade and the final’s weight against your syllabus or gradebook.
The needed-score formula is algebra: solving Overall = Current × (1 − w) + Final × w for the final score. Letter-grade bands use the common US scale (A 90+, B 80+, C 70+, D 60+, F below 60); individual schools and districts set their own cutoffs, weighting, and rounding rules.
Last reviewed 2026-06-28