How to Find Your Final Exam Grade: The Score You Need

Before finals, most students ask about their final exam grade: what do I need on the exam to get the class grade I want? The answer comes from one formula, and our grade calculator does it for you.

The formula

Needed score = (target grade − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight. Write the weight as a decimal, so 30% becomes 0.30.

Example 1: a reachable goal

Your current grade is 80%, the final counts for 30%, and you want 85%. Current grade times the remaining share is 80 × 0.70 = 56. Then (85 − 56) ÷ 0.30 = 96.7. You need about 96.7% on the final.

Example 2: a goal that is out of reach

With the same numbers, a target of 90% needs (90 − 56) ÷ 0.30 = 113.3%. Anything above 100% means the goal is not possible without extra credit, so aim for a lower grade or ask your instructor about options.

Things to check

Make sure your current grade only includes work already graded, and that the final weight comes from your syllabus. Some courses drop the lowest score or curve the final, which changes the result.

To see how your whole course adds up first, read how GPA is calculated.