ExamTally → Semester Grade Calculator
Semester Grade Calculator
Enter each category’s grade and weight — tests, homework, quizzes, the final — and ExamTally combines them into one overall semester percentage and letter grade.
A semester grade is each category’s grade times its weight, summed, then divided by the total weight. With tests 90% (×40), homework 85% (×30), final 80% (×30), the overall grade is 85.5%, a B. Enter your own categories below.
Key takeaways
- Overall = Σ(grade × weight) ÷ Σweight.
- Tests 90 (×40), HW 85 (×30), final 80 (×30) → 85.5% → B.
- Weights need not sum to 100 — they are normalized for you.
- Letters use the default US scale (A 90+, B 80+, C 70+, D 60+, F < 60).
- Confirm your school's cutoffs and category weights.
How the semester grade calculator works
Most courses split your grade into weighted categories — tests, homework, quizzes, participation, a final. Your semester grade is a weighted average: each category’s grade contributes in proportion to its weight. Multiply, add, and divide by the total weight to get the overall percent.
Because the calculator divides by the total weight you enter, the weights do not have to add to 100. Entering 40, 30 and 30 gives the same answer as 4, 3 and 3 — only the proportions matter — which makes it easy to leave out a category you have not finished yet.
Worked example: three categories
Take tests at 90% with weight 40, homework at 85% with weight 30, and a final at 80% with weight 30. The weighted points are (90 × 40) + (85 × 30) + (80 × 30) = 3600 + 2550 + 2400 = 8550. The total weight is 40 + 30 + 30 = 100. Divide: 8550 ÷ 100 = 85.5%, a B.
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.
Working out only what the final does to your grade? Use the final grade calculator. For a single weighted course total, the weighted grade calculator covers the same maths.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate a semester grade?
Multiply each category’s grade by its weight, add those products together, then divide by the total weight. For example, tests at 90% (weight 40), homework at 85% (30), and a final at 80% (30) give an overall grade of about 85.5%, a B.
Do my weights have to add up to 100?
They do not. The calculator divides by the total weight you enter, so weights of 40, 30 and 30 work the same as 4, 3 and 3. This means you can leave out a category you have not started yet and still get a fair running grade.
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 is a semester grade different from a simple average?
A simple average treats every category equally. A semester grade weights them, so a final worth 30% of the grade moves your total far more than a homework category worth 10%. Use weights that match your syllabus for an accurate result.
Can I add or remove categories?
Yes. Use the “Add category” button for as many categories as your course uses, and remove any row with its delete button. The overall grade recalculates as soon as you change a grade or weight.
What if my total weight is zero?
With every weight at zero there is nothing to divide by, so no overall grade can be shown. Enter a weight above zero for at least one category and the percentage appears immediately.
The semester grade is a weighted average: the sum of each category’s grade times its weight, divided by the total weight. 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, category weights, and rounding rules.
Last reviewed 2026-06-28