ExamTally → Points Grade Calculator
Points Grade Calculator
Add up several assignments — points earned out of points possible — and ExamTally stamps one overall percentage and letter grade.
A points-based grade is the total points you earned divided by the total points possible, times 100. Across assignments worth 270 out of 300 points, that is 270 ÷ 300 × 100 = 90%, an A. Enter your own assignments below.
Key takeaways
- Total % = Σ earned ÷ Σ possible × 100.
- 270 of 300 points → 90% → A.
- Bigger assignments count more automatically — points set the weight.
- Letters use the default US scale (A 90+, B 80+, C 70+, D 60+, F < 60).
- Confirm your school's cutoffs — pluses, minuses, and curves vary.
How the points grade calculator works
In a points-based gradebook, every assignment contributes the points it is worth. To find your overall grade, add up all the points you earned, add up all the points available, and divide. A big assignment naturally pulls the average more than a small one because it brings more points to both totals.
This is different from weighted grading, where categories such as “Tests = 50%” are fixed in advance. In a points system the weight is implicit: a 200-point final simply contributes 200 to both totals, so it counts ten times as much as a 20-point quiz.
Worked example: three assignments
Suppose you scored 90 / 100 on a test, 27 / 30 on homework, and 153 / 170 on a project. Add the earned points: 90 + 27 + 153 = 270. Add the possible points: 100 + 30 + 170 = 300. Divide: 270 ÷ 300 = 0.90, so the overall grade is 90% — an A.
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.
If your class uses fixed category weights instead of raw points, use the weighted grade calculator or the semester grade calculator. For a single assignment, the percentage grade calculator is quicker.
Frequently asked questions
How does a points-based grade work?
Add up all the points you earned across every assignment, add up all the points those assignments were worth, then divide and multiply by 100. For example, 270 earned out of 300 possible is 270 ÷ 300 × 100 = 90%, an A.
Is a points system the same as weighted grading?
Not quite. In a points system, an assignment’s influence is set by how many points it is worth — a 200-point final counts more than a 20-point quiz automatically. Weighted grading instead assigns a fixed percentage to each category. Use the weighted grade calculator for category weights.
What letter grade is each percentage?
On the default US scale: A is 90–100%, B is 80–89%, C is 70–79%, D is 60–69%, and F is below 60%. Schools often add pluses and minuses or shift the cutoffs, so confirm your class’s scale.
How many assignments can I add?
As many as you need. Use the “Add assignment” button to insert another row, and the running total and percentage update as soon as you type. Remove any row with its delete button.
Can I leave a row blank or partly filled?
Blank rows count as zero and do not affect the total. A row with possible points but no earned points lowers your percentage, which is exactly what an ungraded or missed assignment does in a real gradebook.
What if my total possible points is zero?
A percentage needs a non-zero denominator, so until at least one assignment has possible points greater than zero, there is no grade to show. Add a possible-points value and the percentage appears immediately.
The grade calculation is mathematical: overall percentage equals the sum of points earned divided by the sum of points possible, times 100. 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, pluses/minuses, and rounding rules.
Last reviewed 2026-06-28